James M. Cox

James Middleton Cox was an American businessman and politician. He was born on March 31, 1870, and died on July 15, 1957.

He served as the 46th and 48th governor of Ohio and also worked as a two-term U.S. Representative from Ohio. In the 1920 presidential election, he ran as the Democratic nominee for President of the United States but lost to another Ohioan, Warren G. Harding. His running mate was Franklin D. Roosevelt, who later became president.

Cox began his career as a newspaper copy reader. He later became the owner of the Dayton Daily News. As a newspaper owner, he introduced new ideas and worked against the local Republican Party leader. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives from 1909 to 1913 and then became Governor of Ohio. During his time as governor, he supported many changes to help people and backed Woodrow Wilson during World War I.

After losing the 1920 election, Cox focused on growing his newspaper business, which later became Cox Enterprises, a big media company. By 1939, his newspapers reached from Dayton to Miami. He stayed involved in politics, helping Roosevelt with his campaigns and went to the 1933 London Economic Conference.

Early life and career

James Middleton Cox was born on a farm near Butler County, Ohio in the village of Jacksonburg. He was the youngest of seven children. After his parents divorced, he moved to Middletown, Ohio and started working at a local newspaper.

Cox later worked at the Cincinnati Enquirer and then bought a struggling newspaper in Dayton. He turned it into the successful Dayton Daily News. He served two terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1909 to 1913 before becoming Governor of Ohio.

Governor of Ohio

James M. Cox was elected Governor of Ohio in 1912. He beat three other candidates and served three terms. His first term began in 1913. He lost an election in 1914 but won again in 1916 and 1918, serving until 1921.

As governor, Cox made many improvements. He helped build a unified highway system for Ohio. He created a fairer system to help workers who got hurt and worked to keep children out of dangerous jobs. He changed how elections were held, gave cities more control over their own rules, and improved schools and prisons. During World War I, Cox encouraged teamwork between businesses, workers, and the government. He supported allowing women to vote and agreed with the international policies of Woodrow Wilson, including joining the League of Nations.

Bid for presidency

James M. Cox was chosen to run for president by the Democratic Party in 1920. He traveled across many states and gave speeches about issues inside the country. He wanted to lower taxes to help with jobs and prices. He also supported laws to help workers and promised to back the Volstead Act.

Even though he worked hard, Cox lost the election to Warren G. Harding. People wanted a break from difficult times during Woodrow Wilson's presidency, and Harding promised to bring things back to normal. Cox's partner in the election was Franklin D. Roosevelt, who later became president. Some people thought Cox would have been a better leader.

Later years and death

After leaving public service, James M. Cox focused on growing a big media company called Cox Enterprises. He bought several newspapers, including the Miami Daily News and the Canton Daily News. Later, he bought papers in Atlanta just before the city showed the movie Gone with the Wind. This also gave him a radio station that joined his others across many places from the Great Lakes to Latin America.

Cox stayed active in politics and supported his old friend Franklin D. Roosevelt in several elections. In 1946, when he was 76, he wrote a book about his life called Journey through My Years.

Cox built a large home in Kettering, Ohio in 1915. It had many special features like tennis courts and a swimming pool. He named the home Trailsend.

Cox passed away at Trailsend on July 15, 1957, after some health problems. He is buried in Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum, Dayton, Ohio.

Election history

President of the United States, 1920

James M. Cox ran for President of the United States in 1920 but lost to Warren G. Harding. Cox was from Ohio, just like Harding.

Governor of Ohio

United States House of Representations

In 1910, James M. Cox won the election for Ohio's 3rd Congressional District. His main opponent, George R. Young, did not get as many votes.

In 1908, Cox also won the election.

Ohio's 3rd Congressional District J. Eugene Harding

Family

James M. Cox married twice. His first wife was Mayme Simpson Harding, and they were married from 1893 to 1912. In 1917, he married Margaretta Parker Blair, who lived longer than he did. Cox had six children. Three were from his first marriage: sons named James McMahon and John William, and a daughter named Helen. One son from this marriage passed away when he was very young. From his second marriage, he had two daughters named Anne Cox Chambers and Barbara Cox Anthony.

One of his sons, James M. Cox Jr., took care of the family business after his father passed away. He led important companies such as Cox Enterprises, Cox Communications, and Cox Media Group in Atlanta. Sadly, his daughter Helen passed away in 1921. Her husband, Daniel Joseph Mahoney, was the leader of Cox Newspapers. Many of Cox’s family members, like Blair Parry-Okeden, James C. Kennedy, James Cox Chambers, Katharine Rayner, and Margaretta Taylor, became important owners of Cox Enterprises.

Legacy

James M. Cox had many different jobs, like farmer, reporter, newspaper publisher, and politician. In Ohio, people remember him best for his work at the Dayton Daily News. A room in the newspaper’s building is called the Governor’s Library to honor him. The James M. Cox Dayton International Airport, often just called Dayton International Airport, was also named after him.

Cox once said if he could live his life again, he would choose a life that smells like printer’s ink. A building for arts at the Ohio Expo Center and State Fair in Columbus is named after him too.