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The Year of Fear: Machine Gun Kelly and the Manhunt That Changed the Nation
Join us as we listen to The Year of Fear author, Joe Urschel, explain his research of a gripping true-crime account of the 1933 kidnapping of oil tycoon Charles Urschel by gangster George "Machine Gun" Kelly and his wife, Kathryn, during the lawless days of Depression-era America. As Prohibition-era criminals turned to kidnappings for easy money, the case became a turning point for federal law enforcement when a desperate J. Edgar Hoover used it to elevate his fledgling FBI, capitalizing on the blindfolded victim’s keen observations that helped track down the culprits. The result was a dramatic 20,000-mile pursuit across 16 states that not only enthralled the public but also reshaped the nation's approach to crime and justice.
About the Author
Joseph Urschel is the retired executive director of the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, DC. He is an award-winning journalist and television documentary producer, with 25 years’ experience in the news business. He was part of the editing team that conceived and launched USA TODAY in 1982. He held a variety of positions at the paper including Senior Correspondent, Managing Editor and op-ed columnist where he covered a variety of political and social issues. He also served as Supervising Producer of the paper’s syndicated television production, USA Today on TV.
Urschel led the team of historians, journalists and producers that conceived, designed and created the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, a 250,000 square-foot museum of news events and history. He served as its executive director from 1996-2011.
He is the former chairman of the George Foster Peabody Awards, the oldest and most prestigious awards in electronic media, and currently serves as a member of the National Advisory Board of the College of Media at the University of Illinois, his alma mater.
His journalism honors include awards from the National Association of Newspaper Columnists and the National Association of Sunday and Features Editors. He won an Emmy Award for a news documentary on campus crime that he wrote and co-produced.
As an interview subject on issues of news and journalism, he has appeared on ABC World News Tonight, Good Morning America, CBS Early Show, Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, CNN American Morning, Al Jazeera, BBC World News, AP-TV as well as many local network affiliates.
- Date:
- Friday, October 24, 2025
- Time:
- 4:00pm - 5:30pm
- Location:
- Dolley Madison Meeting Room 1, Dolley Madison Meeting Room 2
- Library Branch:
- Dolley Madison Library
- Categories:
- Author Event History/Culture Presentation/Performance
- Audience:
- Adults Older Adults Teens