Podcast Summary: "Joseph Medill"
Podcast: Stuff You Missed in History Class
Hosts: Holly Fry & Tracy V. Wilson
Episode Date: December 22, 2025
Overview
This episode delves into the life and legacy of Joseph Medill, a towering figure in 19th-century American journalism and politics. The hosts explore Medill's journey from his early days in Canada and Ohio, through his pivotal role as the editor and owner of the Chicago Tribune, to his leadership in Chicago's rebirth following the 1871 Great Fire. The episode notably highlights Medill's outspoken partisanship, his profound influence on Abraham Lincoln's political career, and his transformative (if controversial) tenure as Chicago's mayor.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Early Life and Self-Education
- Birth and Family Origin: Born April 6, 1823, in New Brunswick, Canada, to parents of French Huguenot descent who later settled in Ohio (05:19).
- Autodidact: Walked nine miles to Canton, Ohio, for sporadic lessons and earned a patchwork but deep education (06:03).
- Quote: "He was truly an autodidact." – Holly Fry (06:03)
- Family Hardship: Aspiration for college ended when the family home burned down in 1844 (06:36).
- Teaching & Law: Brief, unsuccessful teaching stint; apprenticed and practiced law, but found little satisfaction in either (07:08, 08:28).
2. Introduction to Journalism
- Early Journalism Exposure: Gained practical newspaper experience at the Tuscarawas Chronicle, run by his eventual father-in-law (07:37).
- Law Connections: Professional friendships with Salmon Chase and Edwin Stanton would later be significant (08:28).
3. Political Journalism and Party Formation
- Owning Newspapers: Bought the Coshocton Whig (renamed Coshocton Republican) in 1849, pushing for anti-slavery and the emerging Republican Party (09:07).
- Political Strategy: Helped shift regional allegiance from the Whigs to the Republicans (09:51).
- Move to Cleveland: Ran another newspaper, backed Whig candidate Winfield Scott, but soon became a committed Republican after the Whig collapse (09:51).
- Horace Greeley Collaboration: Wrote for the New York Tribune, helping to solidify and name the new Republican Party (10:45).
- Quote: "[Medill] had very vehemently campaigned for the adoption of the Republican label for the party." – Tracy V. Wilson (10:45)
4. Personal Life
- Marriage to Kitty Patrick: She became a business partner, contributing her newspaper skills (11:30).
- Family: First daughter born in 1853.
5. The Move to Chicago and Tribune Transformation
- Entry to Chicago Tribune: Initially reluctant, Medill bought into the struggling Chicago Tribune on Greeley’s recommendation, teaming with Charles Ray (14:09, 15:08).
- Not sole owner, but held the largest single stake.
- Rapid Success:
- Editorial leadership doubled subscriptions in months (16:11).
- Shifted the paper toward political news and overt partisanship.
6. Relationship With Abraham Lincoln
- Lincoln as Subscriber and Friend: Lincoln, drawn by Medill’s editorial direction, subscribed to the Tribune, and a personal/political alliance blossomed (16:51).
- Political Influence:
- Medill became the Tribune's Washington correspondent, closely following and supporting Lincoln (17:26).
- Present at the Illinois State Republican Convention for Lincoln’s “Lost Speech.”
- Quote: "It is the regret of my life that this speech of Lincoln's was not preserved." – Joseph Medill (via Tracy V. Wilson, 17:54)
7. Civil War Era Activism
- Unwavering Support: Despite occasional disagreement, the Tribune always backed Lincoln and played a significant role in influencing public opinion in his favor (21:16).
- Quote: "There was no way to claim the Tribune was unbiased in the news coverage." – Tracy V. Wilson (20:30)
- Critical Encounter With Lincoln: Lincoln called Medill out for not supporting recruitment after agitating for war.
- Quote: "You...are acting like a coward." – Abraham Lincoln to Medill (22:08)
8. Post-War Professional and Political Shift
- Internal Tribune Struggles: Lost some power at the Tribune due to management rifts but remained influential, joined the Illinois Constitutional Committee (23:17, 24:06).
9. The Great Chicago Fire and Civic Leadership
- Immediate Response: When the Tribune burned, Medill led efforts to rebuild, wrote moving editorials to rally the city (26:26, 27:13).
- Quote: "All is not lost...Chicago still exists." – Joseph Medill, Tribune editorial (27:13)
- Elected Mayor: Quickly nominated and elected mayor by the "Union Fireproof" party just weeks after the fire (28:02).
10. Mayor of Chicago: Policy, Reform, and Challenges
- Inaugural Address: Detailed disaster losses and city finances with unusual transparency (28:32, 30:35).
- Quote: "Such a tremendous loss cannot befall the people at large without seriously affecting their municipal affairs." – Joseph Medill, inaugural speech (29:50)
- Fiscal Discipline: Emphasized austerity ("retrenchment"), condemned reckless borrowing, advocated for overhauling department inefficiencies and rooting out corruption (31:31, 33:37).
- Quote: "There is nothing that will afford such financial relief to the city at this time as retrenchment." – Joseph Medill (33:37)
- Urban Reform: Called for banning new wooden construction and improving fire safety (35:19).
- Emergency Powers: Used expanded mayoral powers post-fire to accelerate reform and raise funds for rebuilding (37:43).
- Public Library Creation: Facilitated establishment of Chicago's public library (37:43).
- Criticism and Resignation: Practice of appointing friends to city roles fostered discontent; lack of immigrant and minority representation. Health suffered and he left the post before term’s end (38:32, 39:30).
11. Return to Journalism and Legacy
- Regaining Tribune Control: Raised $300,000 to become majority owner and editor-in-chief once again (40:12).
- More Conservative Editorial Stance: Used the Tribune as an anti-union platform in later years (40:47).
- Final Years and Death: Spent winters in Texas, died March 16, 1899; reported last words: "What's the news this morning?" (41:16).
- Enduring Influence: Three grandchildren became major publishers; Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern founded in his honor (41:54).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the "Lost Speech":
"It is the regret of my life that this speech of Lincoln's was not preserved. It was easily his greatest, and very likely it was the first of the series of events which made him president."
— Joseph Medill (via Tracy V. Wilson, 17:54) -
On Being Called Out By Lincoln:
"You called for war until we had it. Now you come here begging to be let off from the call for men which I have made to carry out the war you have demanded. And you, Medill, are acting like a coward."
— Abraham Lincoln to Joseph Medill (22:08) -
Fire Recovery Editorial:
"All is not lost. Though $400 million worth of property has been destroyed, Chicago still exists. She was not a mere collection of stone and bricks and lumber. Those were but evidence of the power which produced these things."
— Joseph Medill (27:13) -
Fiscal Policy as Mayor:
"There is nothing that will afford such financial relief to the city at this time as retrenchment. It is our surest resource and better than any credit."
— Joseph Medill (33:37) -
Last Words:
"What's the news this morning?"
— Joseph Medill (41:54)
Timestamps for Major Segments
- 04:40 — Introduction and Medill’s place in press history
- 05:19 — Early life and self-education
- 07:37 — Early exposure to journalism and legal career
- 09:07 — Newspaper ownership and political positioning in Ohio
- 10:45 — Collaboration with Horace Greeley, Republican Party origins
- 11:30 — Marriage and family contributions to journalism
- 14:09 — Decision to move to Chicago, Tribune purchase
- 16:11 — Tribune’s turnaround and Medill’s editorial leadership
- 16:51 — Abraham Lincoln’s entrance into Medill’s life
- 17:54 — The “Lost Speech” and Medill’s reminiscence
- 20:30 — Chicago Tribune’s overt support of Lincoln
- 22:08 — Confrontation between Lincoln and Medill
- 23:17 — Post-war Tribune politics and Medill’s growing focus on government
- 26:26 — Chicago Fire: Medill’s response and Tribune recovery
- 28:02 — Medill elected mayor, fire aftermath
- 30:35 — Inaugural speech: city finances, fiscal reform
- 35:19 — Urban reforms: fire code, anti-corruption drive
- 38:32 — Nepotism issues, minority underrepresentation, and Medill’s declining health
- 40:12 — Return to journalism, increased conservatism
- 41:54 — Medill’s legacy and descendants
Episode Tone and Style
The hosts maintain a conversational, friendly, and slightly quirky tone throughout—balancing clear-eyed historical analysis with personal details, contextual asides, and the occasional humorous interjection.
Summary Takeaway
Through engaging narrative and insightful commentary, Holly and Tracy reveal Joseph Medill to be a deeply influential, sometimes polarizing figure who helped shape the modern American press and steered a great city through disaster and recovery. His legacy endures not just in journalism, but in the civic memory of Chicago and the evolution of American politics.