Ida Tarbell vs. Rockefeller's Empire Ida Tarbell's background in the oil region made her the ideal journalist to investigate Standard Oil, which was likened to an octopus gripping the industry. It highlights the questionable dealings of Standard Oil under John D. Rockefeller and the era's trend of investigative journalism exposing such practices. #IdaTarbell #StandardOil #JohnDRockefeller #investigativejournalism #oilindustry