James Farley

James Aloysius "Jim" Farley (* May 30, 1888 at Grassy Point, Rockland County, New York, † June 9, 1976 in New York City ) was an American politician.

Biography

Farley began after completion of the Packard Commercial School his career as city clerk ( Township Clerk ) in his home town Grassy Point from 1912 to 1919 and was elected three times in this office. During this time he rose to within the Democratic Party and has been actively involved in the campaign of Al Smith. As this 1919 first Governor of New York, was Farley's appointment as director of the New York Harbor; an office he held until its abolition by Smith's successor as governor, Nathan Lewis Miller. In the following years he was chairman of the Democratic Party in Rockland County. Between 1923 and 1924 he was a member of the New York State Assembly for a term. In 1928 he became secretary of the Democratic Party of New York State and as such was also the organizer of the successful election campaign of Franklin D. Roosevelt as Governor of New York. In 1930, he was manager of the campaign for re-election of Roosevelt and was also elected chairman of the Democratic Party in New York State.

Convinced that Roosevelt could win the presidential election in 1932, Farley traveled in acquiring support from the United States. At the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, he also arranged the agreement with the Speaker of the House, John Nance Garner that he would get the nomination as candidate for the office of U.S. Vice President when Roosevelt would get the support of the delegation from Texas and California. In 1932 he became chairman of the Democratic National Committee, the national organization of the Democratic Party, which also operates the fundraising and represents the policy positions of the party as a whole. This office kept Farley until 1940.

As Chairman of the Democratic National Committee he also led the successful presidential campaign of Roosevelt. After his election as U.S. president Farley was appointed by this on March 4, 1933 Postmaster ( Postmaster General ) in his cabinet. He was also head of the successful campaign for re-election of Roosevelt in the presidential election of 1936. However, gradually developed during this time a rift between the President and Farley. This spoke out at the National Convention in 1940 in Chicago against a third candidacy of Roosevelt and resigned on September 10 of the same year returned as Postmaster General.

1944 once again expressed as chairman of the Democratic Party of New York unsuccessful at the Democratic National Convention now against the fourth candidacy of Roosevelt as U.S. President from. Then he retired from politics. He published his autobiography in 1938 under the title "Behind the Ballots " and 1948 under the title " Jim Farley's Story".

Farley, a devout Catholic, was also a member of several social and socio-political Catholic organizations such as the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Benevolent & Protective Order of the Elks, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and the Knights of Columbus. Most recently, he was from 1966 to 1976 a member of the Dutch Treat Club.