How a distinguished Army officer used a newspaper to shape American isolationism

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before he was the influential 'Colonel' of the Chicago Tribune, Robert R. McCormick was a decorated officer on the Western Front. His transition from military service to media mogul allowed him to wield immense power, using idiosyncratic editorials to challenge presidents and steer the nation's political course.

Robert Rutherford McCormick, known to many as 'Colonel' McCormick, was a figure of immense influence in American journalism. While he is primarily remembered as the conservative, nationalist-isolationist force behind the Chicago Tribune, his identity was forged in the crucible of World War I. Serving as a distinguished officer in the U.S. Army, his military experiences contributed to the moniker that would follow him throughout his career in publishing and law. His legal background was equally notable; he co-founded the firm that would become Kirkland & Ellis in 1908. He remained a partner in this practice until 1920.

McCormick’s leadership of the Tribune marked a significant ideological shift for the institution. Under his direction, the paper moved away from the more liberal, abolitionist roots established by his maternal grandfather, Joseph Medill, toward a staunchly conservative stance. From 1914 to 1925, McCormick shared the responsibilities of editor-in-chief and publisher with his cousin, Joseph Medill Patterson. It was only after Patterson departed to found the New York Daily News that McCormick became the newspaper's sole guiding force. The paper's legacy is vast, having earned roughly 25 Pulitzer Prizes over the decades. This era of leadership followed the 1874 ownership shift by his grandfather.

His editorial influence was characterized by unceasing opposition to major political figures. He was a vocal critic of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency between 1933 and 1945, and even challenged the 1950 candidacy of the moderate Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower. This nationalist-isolationist perspective was a hallmark of his tenure, as he used the Tribune's massive circulation to advocate for a specific, often strident, vision of American interests, resisting the globalist shifts of the mid-20th century. His political reach extended beyond the press, as he previously served as a Republican alderman for Chicago. This period of influence concluded with his death in 1955.

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