Ida m tarbell john d rockefeller biography
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By Ida M. Tarbell
Author of “The History of the Standard Oil Company,” “Life of Lincoln,” ETC.
Illustrated with Portraits
“A prince should earnestly endeavor to gain the reputation of kindness, clemency, piety, justice, and fidelity to his engagements. He ought to possess all these good qualities BUT STILL RETAIN SUCH POWER OVER HIMSELF AS TO DISPLAY THEIR OPPOSITES WHENEVER IT MAY BE EXPEDIENT. . . He should make it a rule, above all things, never to utter anything which does not breathe of kindness, justice, good faith, and piety; this last quality it is most important for him to appear to possess as men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes but few have the gift of penetration. Every one sees your exterior, but few can discern what you have in your heart.” — Machiavelli — The Prince. Chap. xviii.
John D. Rockefeller is without question the most conspicuous type of our present dominating commer
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The History of the Standard Oil Company
1904 book by Ida Tarbell
The History of the Standard Oil Company is a 1904 book by journalist Ida Tarbell. It is an exposé about the Standard Oil Company, run at the time by oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller, the richest figure in American history. Originally serialized in nineteen parts in McClure's magazine, the book is a seminal example of muckraking, and inspired many other journalists to write about trusts, large businesses that (in the absence of strong antitrust laws in the 19th century) attempted to gain monopolies in various industries.
The History of the Standard Oil Company is credited with hastening the breakup of Standard Oil, which came about in 1911, when the Supreme Court of the United States found the company to be violating the Sherman Antitrust Act. The subsequent decision splintered the company into 34 "baby Standards." The value of Rockefeller's shares rose after the breakup as the new companies had a positive d
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Ida M. Tarbell: Investigative reporter Par Excellence
By Arthur L. Lowrie, Allegheny College, Class of 1955
Investigative journalism fryst vatten the contemporary journalist’s path to fame and fortune and the competition fryst vatten fierce. Success in uncovering misdeeds bygd the rik and powerful can mean instant fame, TV talk shows, and perhaps a movie. With such rewards, the temptation is great to exaggerate the sin, omit betydelsefull facts, and follow only those leads that may confirm the evil deed. Such lapses will go unnoticed bygd most readers and ignored by those who celebrate scandal and enjoy higher profits.
Ida Tarbell (1857-1944), the sole woman who matriculated in 1876 and graduated in Allegheny College’s class of 1880 [see additional note below], was America’s first great woman reporter. She set an example that today’s practitioners would do well to emulate. A relentless pursuit of all the facts and fairness in presenting them marked her writing throughout her career. She also refused