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John B. OakesJohn B. Oakes
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no longer even a part owner. I think he had been a junior partner in the ownership of the paper with his brother.

Q:

Casting back to that particular period, that moment, say, just to choose a moment, do you have any knowledge of what your father's aspirations were in terms of his own career in newspapering or otherwise?

Oakes:

I think that he was very -- I don't think he had any further aspiration. He had achieved a very important position in the newspaper world as the editor -- and I think he had the title, too, of publisher, although not the owner -- of the Public Ledger, which really was a major newspaper in its day. And I think that even with Curtis as the owner, I think he thought that he was going to remain as the controlling party there without interference from Curtis. As far as I know, beyond that, he had no particular further aspirations, beyond being controlling editor of the Ledger. Certainly no desire to return to politics. I think if he hadn't had this feeling that Curtis was undercutting him -- and he was running what by this time was really a very successful -- and the leading -- paper in Philadelphia -- I think that he probably would have stayed there doing this the rest of his life. I don't know of any particular other aspirations. But he couldn't abide Curtis's interference and undercutting his position. He makes this clear in his autobiography.

But just at this juncture, as his battles with Curtis were just beginning, my mother died, April 30, 1913. I was born April 23, and my mother died a week after I was born.

Q:

What did she die of? Complications?





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