^outh of t lhe fv (ountaind The Historical Society of Rockland County Vol. 46, No. 4 October-December, 2002 , -SA « , ;y :Si James A. Farley The Early Career of James A. Farley James A. Farley and Robert Burghardt Converse IN THIS ISSUE “The Political Hero of the Hour:” The Early Career of James A. Farley, 1911-1928 ................................................................................................PageS The author, Thomas T. Spencer, is a history teacher in the South Bend Public School Corporation and an adjunct professor of history at Indiana University, South Bend. He wrote his doctoral dissertation at the University of Notre Dame on the 1936 election, which sparked his interest and admiration for James Farley. The author and Farley met for an interview in 1994 and corre­ sponded until Farley’s death.. James A. Farley and Rockland Post Offices................................... Page 13 Photographed by Marjorie H. Bauer James A. Farley and Robert Burghardt Converse..........................Page 16 When he was the chairman of the Stony Point Bicentennial Commission, Bob Burghardt interviewed James Farley on September 11, 1975. The section of the conversation that could be retrieved was transcribed by Marie S. Koestler on June 19, 2002. COVER PICTURE. James A. Farley when he was Chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission. From the collection of the Historical Society of Rock­ land County. SOUTH OF THE MOUNTAINS (ISSN 0489-9563) is published quarterly by the Historical Society of Rockland County, 20 Zukor Road, New City, NY 10956; tele­ phone, 845-634-9629; fax, 845-634-8690; web site, RocklandHistory.org. E-mail, [email protected] Single copy price of South of the Mountains is $2 plus 75 cents postage and handling. While all efforts are made to ensure accuracy in the articles, the society assumes no responsibility for opinions and conclusions expressed or implied by contributors. © 2002 The Historical Society of Rockland County All rights reserved Executive Director: Erin Martin Editor: Marjorie H. Bauer Senior Historian: Thomas F.X. Casey Consulting Editor: Marianne B. Leese Senior Historian Emeritus: John Scott Printing by Ramapo Graphics, Pearl River, New York 2 "The Political Hero of the Hour" The Early Career of James A. Farley, 1911-1928 by Thomas T. Spencer ames Farley is one of Rockland the 1920s.* It was during these cru­ County’s most well known political cial years, as a young Rockland County figures. A native of Grassy Point, Democrat, that Jim Farley learned the Jin the Town of Stony Point, he beganart a of politics, which he would later career in local county politics that even­ practice at the state and national level. tually led to his appointment as Democ­ Farley was born in the small Rock­ ratic National Committee Chairman land community of Grassy Point in and Postmaster General under Presi­ 1888, the son of James Farley and dent Franklin Roosevelt in the 1930s. Ellen Goldrick, both of whom were chil­ Despite serving over seven years in dren of Irish immigrants. His father these national positions, during which died when he was only nine years old, he played a vital role in the politics of and he spent much of his early life the New Deal, little historical scholar­ helping run the grocery store and ship has been done on his career. Far­ saloon his mother had purchased in ley’s two autobiographical volumes, order to support her children. Tending scattered journal articles, along with the saloon acquainted the aspiring brief treatment in standard studies of future politician with many prospective Roosevelt and the New Deal, are the voters, as did his occasional work in the only historical interpretations of Far­ local brickyards. His notoriety as a ley’s contributions during this pivotal semi-pro baseball player, with the nick­ time.l An in-depth study of Farley’s name “Stretch,” also made him known political career remains to be published. to many throughout the county.2 While Farley’s later contributions Farley’s biggest political assets, to the Roosevelt administration are however, were his character and per­ acknowledged, there is little written sonality. He was hardworking, metic­ on his early political education as a ulous, possessed an “imperturbable town clerk, the county democratic good nature” and had a natural ability committee chairman and assembly- to make friends. As a successful man in Rockland County, or of his young salesman, for the United States political relationship with A1 Smith in Gypsum Company, he made use of ^Editor's Note: We can take pride in an exceptional article written by Thomas F.X. Casey, “James A. Farley, The Early Years in Rockland County,” South of the Mountains, VbZ. 32, No. 2. This article gives us some details about Farley’s early personal life and is a good companion piece to the article published here. 3 these traits and furthered his visibility action on individual requests. He throughout Rockland communities. By quickly developed the reputation as a 1911, when he decided to run for Town man who could get the job done. He Clerk in Stony Point, his face was won the next election by 288 votes, already familiar to voters, despite his proving his ability to make friends and youthful age of 23. win support.4 Farley, like many Irish Ameri­ Jim Farley’s success as Town Clerk cans, was a loyal member of the Demo­ established him as a bright young star cratic Party, and although he was on the Democratic horizon in Rockland known to the voters, he faced an uphill County. During the 1916 presidential battle running as a Democrat in Stony campaign, he was named head of the Point, a traditionally Republican Wilson and Marshall League in Stony stronghold. As well, his job as a trav­ Point and helped deliver a 135-vote eling salesman left him little time to margin of victory for President Wilson campaign. Instead he mailed post­ in the predominantly Republican town. cards to voters in the town, reminding In 1918, he was rewarded for his hard them of previous conversations or work and success when he succeeded to meetings, asking their opinions on his first major party position as Chair­ issues or only wishing them well. The man of the Rockland County Democrat­ postcards were simple reminders that ic Committee.5 Jim Farley was thinking of them and As County Democratic Chairman, that he considered their votes impor­ Farley demonstrated his political acu­ tant. The postcards proved successful men with a variety of strategies. He as he pulled off an upset by winning maintained a good working relation­ with slightly more than twenty votes.3 ship with the press, which enabled him The postcard campaign was the to also stay close to public sentiment beginning of what would become a on the issues of the day, and he made a standard Farley trademark—personal special effort to recruit non-registered correspondence. During his later years and women voters. Farley believed in the Roosevelt administration, Far­ that non-registered voters were gener­ ley sent thousands of letters and well ally critical of government and politi­ wishes to political leaders, party work­ cians. By making an effort to register ers and citizens to thank them for them, he was not only increasing their support, and to offer his sympa­ Democratic voter lists, but also lessen­ thy, encouragement or best wishes. In ing the number of chronic complainers 1934 he claimed to have signed over once the candidate was elected. 1900 letters in one day, and, in 1936, The recruitment of women proved he was said to have sent out over even more vital. After the passage of 200,000 Christmas greetings! Farley the women’s suffrage amendment in correctly surmised that if it worked in 1920, Farley was quick to recognize Rockland County, it would work women’s potential political impact. He nationally as well. recommended the appointment of Mrs. As Town Clerk of Stony Point, T. Fergus Redmund as the chairman of Farley worked on perfecting the practi­ the ladies movement of the Democratic cal art of politics. He personally deliv­ party in Rockland County. During the ered licenses to those who could not 1920 campaign he secured a number of come to the clerk’s office, and used his speakers for Democratic rallies influence with town officials to obtain throughout the county, including 4 prominent New York City Democrat Smith, whose support lay largely in and suffragette, Elizabeth Marbury. New York City. Farley worked tire­ Later, as Democratic National Com­ lessly and enthusiastically for Smith, mittee Chairman, Farley continued earning the praise of State Democratic this same active recruitment by over­ Chairman James Kellogg, who congrat­ seeing the formation of the Women’s ulated Farley for the accuracy of his Division of the Democratic Party. 6 reports. Following Smith’s victory, James Farley’s penchant for orga­ Kellogg and George Van Namee, his nization and detail, later trademarks of secretary, responded to Farley’s his tenure as the national Democratic request to serve in some state position chairman, were evident when he was by assuring him that they would do all the county chairman. He created the they could to help him.8 Committee of Five, an auxiliary organi­ Farley received a minor appoint­ zation, separate from the county com­ ment as Port Warden in New York mittee and composed of a representa­ City, a position he left after one year, tive from each of the county’s five in the belief that there was simply no towns. The committee assisted him need for such a job. The relatively with a variety of matters, including col­ minor appointment demonstrated that, lecting statistics and canvassing votes. despite their friendship and good work­ This helped involve additional citizens ing relationship, Smith never consid­ in party work and supplemented the ered Farley one of his closest advisors.