Podcast Summary: Stuff You Missed in History Class

Episode: Marjorie Merriweather Post

Hosts: Holly Fry & Tracy V. Wilson
Date: November 12, 2025
Podcast by: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the remarkable life of Marjorie Merriweather Post—heiress, businesswoman, philanthropist, and the builder of Mar-a-Lago. Holly and Tracy break down how Post inherited and transformed the Postum Cereal Company (which became General Foods) while navigating societal expectations for women, managing complicated relationships, and pursuing a lavish yet generous life. With compassion and keen detail, the hosts highlight Post's influence in American business, culture, and even international diplomacy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. C.W. Post’s Early Ventures and Influence

• Background on Marjorie's father, Charles William (C.W.) Post (04:06), his failed businesses, and eventual founding of Postum after inspiration from John Harvey Kellogg’s sanitarium.
• C.W.'s belief in the power of the mind for healing, reflected in his book "I Am Well," and how this ethos influenced his daughter (06:01).

2. Marjorie’s Upbringing & Education

• Raised as the sole heir, Marjorie was actively taught by her father to learn business, handling company matters from a young age—despite not being able to vote or hold credit (08:50).
• Her education at Mount Vernon Seminary was partly intended to help her fit into upper society (09:29).

3. Family Turmoil and Inheritance Drama

• C.W.'s sudden remarriage put a strain on Marjorie's relationship with her father (09:45).
• Upon C.W.'s suicide (trigger warning at 03:51), Marjorie fought her stepmother in court to retain control over the Postum business, using an earlier legal document as leverage (17:54, 18:31).

4. Taking Control: Young Female CEO

• At 27, Marjorie was thrust into the company’s leadership, but societal norms meant her husband, Ed Close, had to act as her business proxy for board meetings (19:36, 20:11).

5. Early Marriage(s) and Personal Life

• Married Ed Close at 19, had two daughters, but the marriage soured after years—especially during and after WWI when Marjorie grew more independent and active in the suffrage movement (15:04, 23:05, 23:32).
• Reflecting on marital challenges:

  “She had really enjoyed her life of independence during the war, where she didn’t have to consult with or even consider Ed when making decisions.” – Tracy (23:32)

6. Partnership with E.F. Hutton and Corporate Expansion

• Second marriage to stockbroker E.F. Hutton, who respected her business responsibilities (24:58).
• Together, they revitalized the company, made it public, and, notably, acquired Clarence Birdseye’s frozen food company—seen as visionary but risky at the time (26:00, 36:09).
• Quote on the Birdseye acquisition:

  “This worked. Post became a millionaire and he was also accused on multiple occasions of stealing recipes from Kellogg.” – Holly (07:47)

7. Philanthropy During the Great Depression

• Marjorie opened canteens feeding thousands in Manhattan, deeply committed to charity not just by donations but by hands-on involvement (37:02).
• Shifted from high spending to directed giving and art collecting as an investment in the public good (37:02).

8. Building Mar-a-Lago

• Detailed process of designing the Palm Beach estate—her eye for resilience and beauty, Urban’s elaborate architectural plans (33:32, 34:05).
• Marjorie insisted on keeping construction to employ workers during the mid-1920s bust (35:26).

9. Later Marriages and International Life

• Third marriage to Joseph Davies, U.S. Ambassador to the USSR, where Marjorie’s social skills aided diplomatic relations (40:14, 41:06).
• Disputes over property and assets led to divorce, as with previous marriages (42:38, 44:07).

10. Legacy: Art, Estates, & Lasting Influence

• Post’s later years focused on Hillwood in Washington, D.C., designed as a home and future museum, displaying her vast art collection (44:32).
• Her fourth marriage ended in scandal when her husband’s affairs became public; she divorced him but cared for his health bills (47:14).
• Both Hillwood and Mar-a-Lago were intended for the public good but ran into logistical and bureaucratic obstacles after her death (48:17, 49:39).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Philanthropy:

  "She was not a woman who just sat in her beautiful home and wrote checks. She was involved in these efforts.” – Tracy (37:02)

• On Women in Business:

  "He (Ed) was sort of serving as her proxy throughout all of this, because even though she had been to board meetings when she was younger, it was like, oh, she is the guest of the owner. That’s okay. But as a woman herself, just without a dad to accompany her—as gross as it makes me feel to even say that phrase—not accepted.” – Tracy (20:11)

• On Inheritance and Wealth:

  “Keep it moving, make it work, make it create, make it do good, and make it help in many hundreds of ways.” – Marjorie (quoted by Holly, 51:14)

• On Personal Change:

  “She was no longer the amiable, positive person she had been for more than 80 years.” – Tracy, on Marjorie’s declining health (48:53)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:24] Introduction—Why Post is in the news (Mar-a-Lago connection)
• [04:06] C.W. Post’s life & influence
• [09:29] Marjorie’s education and family stress
• [17:54] C.W. Post’s death and inheritance battle
• [19:36] Marjorie’s leadership and gendered barriers
• [23:05] Philanthropy and suffrage during WWI
• [24:58] Marriage to E.F. Hutton and business collaboration
• [33:32] Mar-a-Lago’s conception and construction
• [36:09] Purchase of the Birdseye company
• [37:02] Philanthropy during the Depression
• [41:06] Diplomatic life in USSR
• [44:32] Planning the Hillwood museum estate
• [47:14] Final marriage and scandal
• [49:39] Fate of her estates after her death
• [51:14] Marjorie’s philosophy on using wealth for good

Tone & Style

Tracy and Holly blend warmth, curiosity, and wit, openly admiring Marjorie while acknowledging contradictions and societal limitations of her era. The discussion is lively (“Girl, Marjorie, and we'll talk about all…”), empathetic in discussing marital struggles and mental health, and respectful when handling sensitive subjects (03:51).

Conclusion

The episode presents Marjorie Merriweather Post as a boundary-breaking, resilient, and surprisingly modern figure: adept in business, attuned to social responsibility, and forcefully independent. Her mark endures in food, philanthropy, art, and even global politics—while the fate of her grand estates remains a symbol of the complexities of legacy.

End of Summary