Allen T. Klots
Encyclopedia
Allen T. Klots was a New York City
lawyer
and president of the New York City Bar Association.
, New York
in 1889. He attended Yale University
, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was a member of Skull and Bones
, and Harvard Law School
, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review
.
Klots graduated from Harvard in 1913, and joined Henry Stimson's firm of Winthrop & Stimson that same year as a clerk. However, he left two years later to serve with the National Guard on the Mexican
border during the Pancho Villa Expedition
. In 1916, he was deployed to France
for service with the 77th division of the American Expeditionary Force
in World War I
. After being slightly wounded, Klots was reappointed to the 305th Field Artillery Regiment as an adjutant
to Stimson.
After the war, Klots remained in France for another year on the staff if the American Relief Administration
in Paris
.
by President Herbert Hoover
, and there he served as Stimson’s assistant. Among his assignments was the gathering of information on the Soviet Union
and investigating Japan
ese incursions into China
.
He returned to Winthrop & Stimson in 1932, and remained at the firm as a partner for the rest of his career. He worked extensively with the New York City Bar Association. In 1948, he headed a committee on Congressional investigations that published a report urging reforms to investigating procedures in response to the excesses of the House Un-American Activities Committee
. He served as president of the City Bar from 1954 to 1955.
Klots also advocated for reform of the New York Court System, arguing that judges on New York’s Supreme Court and Court of Appeals should be appointed by the Governor
rather than elected. In 1956, he was appointed by Mayor
Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
as chairman of the Mayor’s Committee on the Courts in 1956, where he served for three years and contributed significantly to the eventual restructuring of the New York City court system in 1972. As a member of the New York City Bar Association’s Steering Committee, Klots advocated for similar court reforms on the state level. These reforms were ultimately passed into law in 1977, when voters ratified three proposed court restructuring amendments to the New York State Constitution.
In addition to his legal career, Klots served as mayor of Laurel Hollow, Long Island
, and as a director of the chemical manufacturing company Scheiflin & Co.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and president of the New York City Bar Association.
Early life and education
Allen T. Klots was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1889. He attended Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was a member of Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a traditional peer society to Scroll and Key and Wolf's Head, as the three senior class 'landed societies' at Yale....
, and Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review
Harvard Law Review
The Harvard Law Review is a journal of legal scholarship published by an independent student group at Harvard Law School.-Overview:According to the 2008 Journal Citation Reports, the Review is the most cited law review and has the second-highest impact factor in the category "law" after the...
.
Klots graduated from Harvard in 1913, and joined Henry Stimson's firm of Winthrop & Stimson that same year as a clerk. However, he left two years later to serve with the National Guard on the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
border during the Pancho Villa Expedition
Pancho Villa Expedition
The Pancho Villa Expedition—officially known in the United States as the Mexican Expedition and sometimes colloquially referred to as the Punitive Expedition—was a military operation conducted by the United States Army against the paramilitary forces of Mexican insurgent Francisco "Pancho" Villa...
. In 1916, he was deployed to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for service with the 77th division of the American Expeditionary Force
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. After being slightly wounded, Klots was reappointed to the 305th Field Artillery Regiment as an adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
to Stimson.
After the war, Klots remained in France for another year on the staff if the American Relief Administration
American Relief Administration
American Relief Administration was an American relief mission to Europe and later Soviet Russia after World War I. Herbert Hoover, future president of the United States, was the program director....
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Career
Klots returned to the United States in 1921, and was made a partner at Stimson & Winthrop. In 1929, he followed Stimson to the State Department when Stimson was appointed Secretary of StateSecretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
by President Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
, and there he served as Stimson’s assistant. Among his assignments was the gathering of information on the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and investigating Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese incursions into China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
He returned to Winthrop & Stimson in 1932, and remained at the firm as a partner for the rest of his career. He worked extensively with the New York City Bar Association. In 1948, he headed a committee on Congressional investigations that published a report urging reforms to investigating procedures in response to the excesses of the House Un-American Activities Committee
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
. He served as president of the City Bar from 1954 to 1955.
Klots also advocated for reform of the New York Court System, arguing that judges on New York’s Supreme Court and Court of Appeals should be appointed by the Governor
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
rather than elected. In 1956, he was appointed by Mayor
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
Robert Ferdinand Wagner II, usually known as Robert F. Wagner, Jr. served three terms as the mayor of New York City, from 1954 through 1965.-Biography:...
as chairman of the Mayor’s Committee on the Courts in 1956, where he served for three years and contributed significantly to the eventual restructuring of the New York City court system in 1972. As a member of the New York City Bar Association’s Steering Committee, Klots advocated for similar court reforms on the state level. These reforms were ultimately passed into law in 1977, when voters ratified three proposed court restructuring amendments to the New York State Constitution.
In addition to his legal career, Klots served as mayor of Laurel Hollow, Long Island
Laurel Hollow, New York
Laurel Hollow is a village in the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 1,952 at the 2010 census.- History :The settlement began around 1653 with purchase of land from the local natives...
, and as a director of the chemical manufacturing company Scheiflin & Co.