Jim Farley's Story: The Roosevelt Years

x, 388 pp. CONTENTS: Early Days; Political Drummer; Battling for Ballots; First Campaign; On to Washington; Taking It On the Chin; Second Campaign--Prophet with Honor;  Drifting Apart; The Court Fight; Court Aftermath; Depression Again; New York Governorship; Purge Prescribed; Purge Failure and New Deal Rout; Third Term Beginnings; More Rumblings; The Cardinal and the President; Hyde Park Conference, 1939; Politics Takes a Holiday; Politics Returns; Garner's Hat in  Ring; Farley's Hat in Ring; Making My Decision; Hyde Park Conference, 1940; Chicago Again; 1940 Convention; Nomination For President; Third Termers Triumph;  Wallace Second Choice; Roosevelt Pleads; Mrs. Roosevelt Pleads; My Last Cabinet Meeting; Third Term Election; Pearl Harbor; Brooklyn Convention; Fourth Term; Final Days; Index. "James Aloysius "Jim" Farley (May 30, 1888 – June 9, 1976) was one of the first Irish Catholic politicians in American history to achieve success on a national level, serving as Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee and as Postmaster General simultaneously under the first two administrations of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A business executive and dignitary, and a Knight of Malta, Farley was commonly referred to as a political kingmaker, and was responsible for Franklin D. Roosevelt's rise to the presidency. Farley was the campaign manager for New York State politician Alfred E. Smith's 1922 gubernatorial campaign and Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1928 and 1930 gubernatorial campaigns, as well as FDR's Presidential campaigns of 1932 and 1936. Farley predicted large landslides in both, and revolutionized the use of polling, and polling data. He was responsible for pulling together the New Deal Coalition of Catholics, labor unions, African Americans, and farmers for FDR. Farley, and the administration's patronage machine he presided over, helped to fuel the social and infrastructure programs of the New Deal. He handled most mid-level and lower-level appointments in consultation with state and local Democratic organizations. Farley helped to normalize diplomatic relations with the Holy See and in 1933 was the first high-ranking government official to travel to Rome, where he had an audience with Pope Pius XI and dinner with Cardinal Pacelli (future Pope Pius XII). Farley opposed Franklin Roosevelt breaking the two-term tradition of the presidency, and broke with Roosevelt on that issue in 1940. As of 1942, Farley was considered the supreme Democratic Party Boss of New York. In 1947, President Harry S. Truman appointed Farley to serve a senior post as a commissioner on the Hoover Commission, also known as the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government. Farley's work on the Hoover Commission would lead to the development and ratification of the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, establishing the modern executive term-limit law. This was viewed by many, including Farley, as vindication for his public opposition to FDR's third term. Farley guided and remained at the helm of Coca-Cola International for over 30 years and was responsible for the company's global expansion as a quasi-government agency in World War II. This was used as a boost to the morale and energy levels of the fighting men. Shipped with food and ammunition as a “war priority item,” the deal spread Coke's market worldwide at government expense. Also at U.S. expense after the war, fifty-nine new Coke plants were installed to help rebuild Europe. The Landmark James Farley Post Office in New York City is designated in his honor and as a monument to his career in public service."