James Farley
- Alternate meaning: James Farley was also the name of the man who led the Bonus army in 1932 and stole £500 from the Burberry boys. There was also a politician named James Indus Farley.
- "...the life of James A. Farley should serve as an example for present and future generations of Americans of the vital contributions which individual citizens can make to the life of the nation through diligent public service..."
House Resolution 368, 97th Congress, 2nd Session, March 2 1982
- "...the great personnel director himself, chief patronage dispenser of the New Deal, Postmaster General James A. Farley...this living legend...who never forgot a name -- or a political affiliation."
Robert Caro, The Path to Power
James (Jim) Aloysius Farley (May 30, 1888–June 9, 1976) was an American politician who served as head of the Democratic National Committee and Postmaster General. Farley was the campaign manager for Alfred E. Smith and Franklin D. Roosevelts gubenetorial campaigns and Roosevelts presidential campaigns in 1932 and 1936. Farley predicted large landslides in both, and was most responsible for pulling together the New Deal Coalition of Catholics, labor unions, and big city machines. Farley was heavily concerned with party issues as well as policy, and he supported the liberal New Deal programs. Farley and the administartions patronage machine helped to fuel the social and infrastructure programs of the New Deal via the Postal Department and WPA/PWA programs. Farley opposed Roosevelt breaking the two term tradition of the presidency, established by Thomas Jefferson , and broke with Roosevelt on that issue in 1940. Farley, who served on the second Hoover Commission helped to develop Americas modern legislation in regards to executive powers and the presidency, due to his public opposition over the third term canidate. The Landmark James Farley Post Office (James A. Farley Building/former General Post Office Building) in New York City, and future home of Moynihan Station and Madison Square Garden, is designated in his honor.(H. Res.368, 3/2/1982)
Early Career
Farley was born in Grassy Point, New York, one of five sons of Irish Catholic immigrants. His father was involved in the brick-making industry, first as a laborer and later as a part owner of three small schooners engaged in the brick-carrying trade.
Farley always had his heart set on a political career. In 1911, he officially began his service as a politician when he was elected town clerk of Grassy Point. After helping Alfred E. Smith become Governor of New York State, Farley served as port warden of NYC. Farley was later appointed Chairman of the NYS Athletic Commision and became Boxing Commisioner of NYS from 1923 until the early 30's. Farley also was named secretary of the Democratic State Committee in 1928. Introduced to Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) by Ed Flynn, FDR asked Farley to run his 1928 campaign for New York governor. Farley orchestrated FDR's narrow victory in the 1928 gubernatorial election, and his reelection in 1930. Farley helped bring to Roosevelt's camp the powerful newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst via Joseph Kennedy, and helped Roosevelt win the 1932 nomination and election. This was due to the Farley's ability to corale the Catholics, Unions, and big city machines into the New Deal Coalition . Farley repeated this process in 1936 and correctly predicted the states Roosevelt would carry.
New Deal Years 1933-40
FDR appointed Farley Postmaster General and chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1933 Farley also controlled patronage in the new administration and became very influential within the Democratic party throughout the United States. Farley was personally conservative but loyally used the patronage machine to line up support for the New Deal's liberal programs. He helped to bring about the end to Prohibition and the defeat of the Ludlow Resolution, a 1939 attempt by isolationists to limit the foreign affairs powers of the president. Farley's close relationship with FDR deteriorated in 1940 because Farley opposed FDR's pursuit of a third term and because of Roosevelt's "Purge" of Democratic Party regulars. In 1940, Farley resigned as Postmaster General and party chairman to mount an unsuccessful presidential bid. Eleanor Roosevelt flew to the convention to try to repair the damage in the Roosevelt-Farley relationship, and although Farley remained close to ER, he felt betrayed by FDR and refused to join FDR's 1940 campaign team. Farley also ran for Governor of New York in two unsuccessful bids.
Later career in business
In 1938, Farley wrote his autobiography, Behind the Ballots. After leaving the administration, Farley worked for the Coca-Cola Export Corporation until his retirement in 1973. Remembered as one of America's greatest campaign managers, Farley remained active in state and national politics until his death at age 88 on June 9, 1976, in New York City. Prior to his death, Farley had been the last surviving member of FDR's Cabinet. James Farley is interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.
It was Farley who, after Roosevelt's overwhelming victory over Republican Alf Landon in 1936, quipped, "As Maine goes, so goes Vermont." Farley, the former chairman of Coca-Cola export, was the only man to serve as National Party Chairman, New York State Party Chairman, and Postmaster General simultaneously. At the time, the Postmaster General was a patronage position. Was Athletic commissioner of NY during the 1920's and early 30's, and was known as the "KingMaker", and "Mr. Democrat". Combined five building supply firms in the late 20's to form "General Builders Co." which supplied building supplies for projects such as "The Empire State Building". Farley's respect crossed party lines
- James A. Farley was also the first guest on NBC's Meet the Press, the longest running show in television history.
- Farley is also known for his eponymous device, the Farley File.
- In 1962, Mr. Farley received The Hundred Year Association of New York's Gold Medal Award "in recognition of outstanding contributions to the City of New York."
- Farley's Law
- As explained in the book, "How to make friends and influence people", Jim Farley was known for his ability to remember names and details of almost every person he met. He is said to have used the name-picture association method.
See also
References
- Farley, James A. Jim Farley's Story: The Roosevelt Years (1948)
- Farley, James A. Behind the Ballots: The Personal History of a Politician (1938)
- Spencer, Thomas T. "'Old' Democrats and New Deal Politics: Claude G. Bowers, James A. Farley, and the Changing Democratic Party, 1933-1940" Indiana Magazine of History 1996 92(1): 26-45. ISSN 0019-6673
- Scroop, Daniel "Mr. Democrat: Jim Farley, The New Deal, and The Making of Modern American Politics."
External links
- USPS James A. Farley Bio.
- James Farley biography at the National Park Service website.
- Burial record for James A. Farley at Findagrave.com
- James Farley biography at the Spartacus Educational website
- Bill designating Landmark General Post Office the "James A. Farley Building"