Farley, James Aloysius

Farley, James Aloysius (ăl"uwish'us) [key], 1888–1976, American political leader, U.S. Postmaster General (1933–40), b. Rockland co., N.Y. He rose steadily in Democratic party politics in New York state and became (1930) chairman of the New York state Democratic committee. In 1932 he successfully pushed the presidential nomination of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Made chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Farley managed (1932) the presidential campaign with great success. He became U.S. Postmaster General and in 1936 directed Roosevelt's second presidential campaign, which resulted in another overwhelming Democratic victory. Opposed to Roosevelt's third-term candidacy, he was an unsuccessful Democratic presidential aspirant in 1940 and resigned (1940) his cabinet post and his national party chairmanship. He remained powerful in New York state politics until 1944, when he resigned as chairman of the state Democratic committee.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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