John J. McCloy Papers 1897-1989 (bulk 1940-1979) home | help | about | search Home >> Amherst College Archives & Special Collections >> John J. McCloy Papers 1897-1989 (bulk 1940-1979) John J. McCloy Papers, 1897-1989 (Bulk: 1940-1979) 48 records cartons, 26 archives boxes, 10 flat boxes, 1 oversize box (74.25 linear ft.) Abstract: The John J. McCloy Papers span the years 1897-1989, with the bulk of the material falling into the period 1940- 1979. The roughly 74 linear feet of material cover the breadth of McCloy's activities, from lawyer to banker to government official to negotiator to behind-the-scenes adviser. The papers include working papers, correspondence and memoranda, speeches, scrapbooks, photographs, legal documents, printed material, and memorabilia. The collection includes very little personal or family-related material. Terms of Access and Use: Restrictions on access: In general, there is no restriction on access to the John J. McCloy Papers for research use. Selected items may be restricted to protect the privacy rights of individuals or for other legal reasons. Particularly fragile or valuable items have been replaced with copies. Material from other collections, which may be found in the McCloy Papers, cannot be duplicated, as indicated. Restrictions on use: All copyrights held by John J. McCloy or his heirs were transferred to Amherst College along with the papers. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of other copyrights. Requests for permission to publish material from the papers should be directed to the Archivist of the College. Amherst College Archives and Special Collections Historical Note John J. McCloy (1895-1989) has been described as a "minister without portfolio" and "the most influential private citizen in America" (Harper's, Feb 1983). It was said that he held the record for the most Cabinet positions offered and refused. Among the positions that he did hold were: Assistant Secretary of War during World War II, High Commissioner of Germany after the war, President of the World Bank, Chairman of the Chase Manhattan Bank, Chairman of the General Advisory Committee on Arms Control and Disarmament. In addition, he served official or unofficial advisor to every US president from Roosevelt through Reagan; his advice and assistance were sought by political and business leaders in the US and around the world. McCloy was known as a skilled mediator and facilitator. What has been debated is the extent of his role in making policy, as opposed to articulating it. During his career, he was involved in some of the biggest--and most controversial-- American policy decisions of his day. Among the issues with which he was involved and which are represented in the papers are: the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II; the shaping of Germany's post-war economy; civilian vs. military control of early atomic energy development; the Cuban missile crisis; numerous arms control and disarmament treaties; negotiations with OPEC on behalf of the major oil companies; and efforts to gain asylum in the US for the deposed Shah of Iran. McCloy had strong ties to Amherst College; he graduated cum laude with the Class of 1916 and served on the Board of Trustees from 1947-1989. He thought of himself as a public servant and in his speeches often emphasized the importance of public service. He died in 1989 at the age of 93. 1895 Born in Philadelphia Mar Name at birth: John McCloy (Amherst College records show "Snader" as middle name until 31 approximately 1935 and "Jay" thereafter.) Parents:Anna May Snader McCloy and John Jay McCloy 1907- Peddie School 1912 1912- Amherst College 1916 1916- Harvard Law School 1917, 1919- 1921 1917 US Army Aug- 1919 Aug http://asteria.fivecolleges.edu/findaids/amherst/ma35.html[4/23/2012 11:02:37 AM] John J. McCloy Papers 1897-1989 (bulk 1940-1979) 1917 Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant 1918 Promoted to Captain 1918- Served with American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in France 19 1921 Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft Aug- 1924 Nov 1924 Cravath, DeGersdorff, Swaine & Wood Dec- 1940 Dec 1929 Became a partner 1930- Involved in World War I sabotage case known as "Black Tom," 1941 1930 Married Ellen Zinsser Apr 25 1937 John J. McCloy II born Nov 5 1940 Expert consultant to Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson Oct- Nov 1940 Special Assistant to Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson Dec- 1941 Apr 1941 Assistant Secretary of War Apr- 1945 Nov 1941 Ellen Z. McCloy born Jul 16 1946- Milbank, Tweed, Hope & Hadley 1947 Member of Secretary of State's Committee on Atomic Energy (Acheson-Lilienthal Committee) 1947- President of World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) 1949 1947- Trustee of Amherst College 1989 1956- Chairman of the Corporation 1969 1969- Trustee Emeritus and Honorary Chairman of the Corporation 1989 1948 Member of Committee on the National Security Organization (Eberstadt Committee) of the Commission Jun- on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government (Hoover Commission) 1949 May 1949 US Military Governor and High Commissioner for Germany Jul- 1952 Jul 1952- Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ford Foundation 1965 1953 The Challenge to American Foreign Policy published 1953 Senate Subcommittee to Investigate the Administration of the Internal Security Act and Other Internal Jul Security Laws (Jenner Committee) issues report saying that Army was tolerant of Communists in WWII and implying that JJM was responsible 1953- Chairman of Council on Foreign Relations 1971 1953 Chairman of the Board, Chase National Bank Jan- 1960 Dec 1955 Merged with Bank of Manhattan to become Chase Manhattan Bank Apr 1954 Joseph McCarthy accuses JJM of having ordered the destruction of Army intelligence files on Feb Communists during World War II (charge retracted two days later) http://asteria.fivecolleges.edu/findaids/amherst/ma35.html[4/23/2012 11:02:37 AM] John J. McCloy Papers 1897-1989 (bulk 1940-1979) 1956- Member of United Nations advisory team overseeing Suez Canal clearance operations 1957 Nov 1958 President's Committee to Study the Military Assistance Program (Draper Committee) Nov- 1959 1961- Milbank, Tweed, Hope, Hadley & McCloy Represented major oil companies during OPEC negotiations, 1989 anti-trust investigations, and divestitures 1961 Coordinator of US disarmament activities Jan- 1974 May 1961 Advisor to President Kennedy Jan- Oct 1961- Chairman of General Advisory Committee on Arms Control and Disarmament 1974 1962 Chairman of Coordinating Committee of the US on Cuban Missile Crisis Oct- 1963 1963 Member of Presidential Commission to Investigate the Assassination of President Kennedy (Warren Dec- Commission) 1964 1964- Member of President Johnson's Senior Advisory Group on Vietnam 1968 1965- Chairman of Committee for Modern Courts, Inc. 1975 1966- Head of US delegation to Tripartite Talks (NATO) 1967 1967 Representative of the US Treasury Department on International Monetary Fund missions 1969 The Atlantic Alliance published 1978 Member of the Committee of Americans for the (Panama) Canal Treaties 1979- Member of Special Project Team working to gain asylum in the US for the Shah of Iran 1981 1980- Member of President Reagan's transition team 1981 1989 Died in Stamford, CT Mar 11 Scope and Contents of the Collection The John J. McCloy Papers span the years 1897-1989, with the bulk of the material falling into the period 1940-1979. The roughly 74 linear feet of material cover the breadth of McCloy's activities, from lawyer to banker to government official to negotiator to behind-the-scenes adviser. The papers include working papers, correspondence and memoranda, speeches, scrapbooks, photographs, legal documents, printed material, and memorabilia. The collection includes very little personal or family-related material. This collection is organized into 34 series: 1. Personal Affairs (PA), 1916-1986 2. Diaries (DY), 1941-1963 with gaps 3. Scrapbooks, 1938-1980, (33 volumes) 4. Speeches (SP), 1941-1985, (ca. 530 speeches) 5. Awards (A), 1943-1986 6. Photographs (PH), 1916-1986 7. Black Tom (BT), 1924-1946 8. War Department (WD), 1935-1948 (bulk 1941-1945) 9. Atomic Energy (AT), 1946-1964 10. World Bank, 1947-1949, 6 folders (Composite Box) 11. Japanese Americans: Relocation and Compensation (JA), 1942-1989 12. Eberstadt Committee (EB), 1945-1949 (bulk 1948) 13A. HICOG (HC) - Part 1 (High Commissioner for Germany), 1946-1952 13B. HICOG (HC) - Part 2 (High Commissioner for Germany), 1949-1952 14. Germany (GY), 1946-1986 15. Jenner-McCarthy (JE), 1952-1955 16. Ford Foundation, c. 1954-1983 (with gaps), 12 folders (Composite Box) http://asteria.fivecolleges.edu/findaids/amherst/ma35.html[4/23/2012 11:02:37 AM] John J. McCloy Papers 1897-1989 (bulk 1940-1979) 17. Suez Canal Clearance Operations (SC), 1956-1960, (bulk 1956-1957) 18. Russia and America (Roberts book), 1956-1957, 4 folders (Composite Box) 19. Military Assistance Committee, 1958-1959, 4 folders (Composite Box) 20. International Oil (OIL), 1946-1981 (bulk 1962-1979) 21. Disarmament (DA), 1944-1982 (bulk 1961-1979) 22. Berlin, 1962-1963, 1971 23. Cuban Missile Crisis (CMC), 1960-1963 (bulk 1962-1963) 24. Dobrynin Meeting, 1962 25. NATO (NA), 1949-1979 (bulk 1966-1967) 26. International Monetary Fund, 1967, 5 folders (Composite Box) 27. Panama Canal Treaties, 1977-1978, 2 folders (Composite Box) 28. Shah of Iran (SH), 1979-1981 29. Reagan Transition Team (RT), 1980-1981 30. Warren Commission (Retrospective), 1964-1979, 5 folders (Composite Box) 31. Banking and Finance (Miscellany), 1961-1985, 9 folders (Composite Box) 32. Printed Material (PM), 1920-1981 33. Correspondence (COR), 1946-1987 34. Retrospectives (RTRO), 1897, 1947-1986 (with gaps, bulk 1980s) The first 6 series consist of materials, grouped by topic or type, that span much or all of McCloy's public career: Personal Affairs, Diaries, Scrapbooks, Speeches, Awards, and Photographs. The next 25 series consist of "working papers," divided according to McCloy's various positions, roles, and areas of influence.