\"Secretary of the Navy\" Josephus Daniels Signed \"Cut\" Signature COA For Sale

Josephus Daniels (May 18, 1862 – January 15, 1948) was a progressiveDemocrat, and newspaper editor and publisher from NorthCarolina who became active in politics. He was appointed by United StatesPresident Woodrow Wilson to serve as Secretary of the Navy during World War I.He became a close friend and supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who served as hisAssistant Secretary of the Navy and later was elected as United Statespresident. Roosevelt appointed Daniels as his Ambassador to Mexico,1933-41. Daniels was a newspaper editor and publisher from the 1880s to hisdeath; he controlled the Raleigh News and Observer for decades. As achampion of white supremacy in the 1898 and 1900 elections,as the Democratic Party fought to regain control in the state, Daniels arguedthat as long as African Americans had any political power, they (asRepublicans) would block progressive reforms. He was highly influential in thestate legislature\'s passage in 1900 of a suffrage amendment that effectively disenfranchised most blacksin the state, excluding them from the political system for decades until thelate 20th century. They were also excluded from juries and subject to legalracial segregation. As Secretary of the Navy, Daniels handled policy andformalities in World War I while his top aide Franklin Delano Roosevelt, handled themajor wartime decisions. As ambassador to Mexico after its revolution, Danielsdealt with the anti-American government and its expropriation of American oilinvestments. In North Carolina in the early 20th century, he had been a leadingprogressive,supporting public schools and public works, and calling for more regulation oftrusts and railroads. He supported prohibitionand women\'s suffrage, and used his newspapers tosupport the regular Democratic Party ticket. He was a powerful supporter of theKu Klux Klanalthough never a member.