James Middleton Cox

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"My mother taught me that I should lead others, that I should be a worker and a leader, rather than a loafer and a follower."

“Hating another develops an internal poison that does the hater no good.”
 

Cox's running mate, Franklin D. Roosevelt, had name recognition and was from New York.

Governor Cox

​Cox was the 1920 Democratic nominee for President, Governor of Ohio, former U.S. Representative, and an established newspaper owner who helped modernize journalism. He gave 110% but the paper was always his passion. He learned every aspect of the industry working as a reporter, typesetter and delivery boy for a local Middletown, Ohio operation. He took pride in presenting factual, accurate and simple articles that the average reader could understand. In 1892, he took a job with the Cincinnati Enquirer that exposed him to city life, a large operation and the politics that go along with it. He realized that a commercial enterprise curtails one’s freedom of expression where big business interests are concerned. Based on his experience, in 1898, he purchased a failing small town paper wanting a community focused local operation. 

“What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?”

​In two years Cox transformed the paper into a profitable operation. He expanded coverage to national and international news, sports, local interests and investigative reporting. Up until the 1900’s papers were used as a vehicle for political parties to express their opinions with news events taking a back seat. He took a neutral approach to both political views and advertisements so his paper was acceptable to all and focused on advocating for the public interest.
 
Cox’s operation would become one of the largest privately held media conglomerates in the world. Maybe commercial enterprises were not so bad as long as he was in charge.

​​As Governor, Cox proved to be a very effective administrator implementing a workmen’s compensation program, improving state roadways, prison reforms, modernizing the schools and budget process. He still holds the distinction of being the only Democrat in the state’s history to serve three terms.

In the four months leading up to the election, Cox stumped with tireless energy traveling 22K miles and speaking before 2 million people. One of his tours devoted 29 days speaking in 18 Western states from which he did not receive a single electoral vote.  He supported Wilson’s record and entry to the League of Nations neither of  which was popular.

Cox's "Trailsend" Mansion built in 1915.

​ During his first term, the 1913 catastrophic flood crippled the state of Ohio. He pushed for a long-term solution so that people 100 years from then would not have the same problem. With great foresight, he insisted on establishing the Miami River Conservancy District to address future flooding issues.