James Farley

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James A. Farley
50th United States Postmaster General
In office 1932 – 1940
President	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by	Walter F. Brown
Succeeded by	Frank C. Walker
Chairman of the Democratic National Committee
In office 1932 – 1940
Preceded by	John J. Raskob
Succeeded by	Edward J. Flynn
Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee
In office 1930 – 1944
Born	May 30, 1888(1888-05-30) Stony Point, New York, U.S.
Died	June 9, 1976 (aged 88) New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Politician, Chairman of Coca-Cola International
Religion	Roman Catholic

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 New York State politicians Alfred E. Smith and Franklin D. Roosevelt's gubernatorial campaigns as well as Roosevelts presidential campaigns in 1932 and 1936. Farley predicted large landslides in both, and was responsible for pulling together the New Deal Coalition of Catholics, labor unions, African-Americans, and farmers. Farley was heavily concerned with party issues as well as aspects of policy, and supported the liberal New Deal programs. Farley, and the administration's patronage machine he presided over, helped to fuel the social and infrastructure programs of the New Deal via the Postal Department and WPA/PWA programs. Farley opposed Franklin Roosevelt breaking the two term tradition of the presidency, and broke with Roosevelt on that issue in 1940. Farley, served as the #2 commissioner on the second Hoover Commission, which helped to develop American modern law in regards to executive powers and the presidency. The Landmark James Farley Post Office (James A. Farley Building/former General Post Office Building) in New York City, is designated in his honor.(H. Res.368, 3/2/1982)

[edit] Early career

Farley was born in Grassy Point, New York, one of five sons whose grandparents were 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 Commission and became Boxing Commissioner 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 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 (while maintaining the Solid South) into the New Deal Coalition . Farley repeated this process in 1936 and correctly predicted the states Roosevelt would carry.

[edit] New Deal Years 1933-40

FDR appointed Farley Postmaster General and chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1933.

Although Farley worked hard to keep the Post Office going through the Depression, he is best remembered among stamp collectors for two things. One is a series of souvenir sheets that were issued at commemorative events and which bore his name as the authorizer. The other are twenty stamps known as "Farley's Follies." Reprints, mostly imperforated, of stamps of the period, they were given to President Roosevelt and Interior Secretary Harold Ickes, both collectors, as well as special friends of the Administration. (Farley himself did not collect stamps.) When ordinary citizens learned of this favortism they complained, and in 1935 more stamps were printed for them. Today neither they nor the souvenir sheets are particularly scarce. [1]

Farley controlled patronage in the new administration and was very influential within the Roosevelt's Brain Trust and the Democratic party throughout the United States. Farley was conservative in private, yet politically liberal and masterfully 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 by requiring a referendum for a declaration of war without an attack. 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 and the Senate.

[edit] Post-politics life and legacy

The headstone of James Farley in Gate of Heaven Cemetery

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, political bosses, and business minds. 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. He was Athletic Commissioner of New York during the 1920s and early 30's, and was known as the "KingMaker", and "Mr. Democrat". He 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. Towards the end of his career, Farley the elder statesman pushed for campaign finance reform, and less influence of interest groups and corporations in party business and political activity.

• In 2007 James A. Farley was named by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York as one of its "Bicentennial People/Innovator" in commemoration of the Archdiocese's 200 year anniversary.
• "The James A. Farley Award" is the Boxing Writers Associations highest honor, awarded to those who exhibit honesty and integrity in the Sport of Boxing
• 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- Voters will decide the Presidential candidate they are most likely to vote for by mid October
• As explained in the book, How to Win 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.

[edit] 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."

[edit] 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
• Bill designating Landmark General Post Office the "James A. Farley Building"

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