Arthur Ellsworth Summerfield
Encyclopedia
Arthur Ellsworth Summerfield (Pinconning, Michigan
, 17 March 1899 – 26 April 1972 in West Palm Beach, Florida
) was a U.S.
political figure. He ran (unsuccessfully) for the governorship of his home state of Michigan
in 1946 and served as the chairman of the Republican National Committee
between 1952 and 1953. At the 1952 Republican National Convention
he played a key role in winning the GOP presidential nomination for General Dwight Eisenhower. As Michigan's delegate chairman Summerfield convinced the large, uncommitted Michigan delegation to support Eisenhower, thus providing "Ike" with a major boost before the voting. As a reward for his support, in December 1952 President-Elect Eisenhower chose Summerfield as the federal Postmaster General
; he served in that post from 1953 to 1961.
As postmaster general, he oversaw the United States Postal Service
's brief experiment with rocket
-delivered mail, a flirtation that crystallized into reality for the only time as "missile mail" with the 8 June 1959 launch of a letter-stuffed Regulus cruise missile
from the USS Barbero
, a submarine of the United States Navy
.
Before embarking on his political career, Summerfield had become well known in Michigan as the owner of one of the largest General Motors
automobile dealerships in the state; and one of the largest in the Midwest.
On October 7, 1954, Summerfield appeared on the ABC
television
network to introduce an innovative anthology series, The Mail Story
, subtitled Handle with Care. However, the semi-documentary and dramatic program soon ended its run on December 30, 1954.
Pinconning, Michigan
Pinconning is a city in Bay County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Bay City, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, 17 March 1899 – 26 April 1972 in West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
) was a U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
political figure. He ran (unsuccessfully) for the governorship of his home state of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
in 1946 and served as the chairman of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
between 1952 and 1953. At the 1952 Republican National Convention
1952 Republican National Convention
The 1952 Republican National Convention was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois from July 7 to July 11, 1952 and nominated the popular general and war hero Dwight D...
he played a key role in winning the GOP presidential nomination for General Dwight Eisenhower. As Michigan's delegate chairman Summerfield convinced the large, uncommitted Michigan delegation to support Eisenhower, thus providing "Ike" with a major boost before the voting. As a reward for his support, in December 1952 President-Elect Eisenhower chose Summerfield as the federal Postmaster General
United States Postmaster General
The United States Postmaster General is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Postal Service. The office, in one form or another, is older than both the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence...
; he served in that post from 1953 to 1961.
As postmaster general, he oversaw the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
's brief experiment with rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
-delivered mail, a flirtation that crystallized into reality for the only time as "missile mail" with the 8 June 1959 launch of a letter-stuffed Regulus cruise missile
Cruise missile
A cruise missile is a guided missile that carries an explosive payload and is propelled, usually by a jet engine, towards a land-based or sea-based target. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high accuracy...
from the USS Barbero
USS Barbero (SS-317)
USS Barbero was a Balao-class submarine of the United States Navy, named for a family of fishes commonly called surgeon fish....
, a submarine of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
Before embarking on his political career, Summerfield had become well known in Michigan as the owner of one of the largest General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
automobile dealerships in the state; and one of the largest in the Midwest.
On October 7, 1954, Summerfield appeared on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
network to introduce an innovative anthology series, The Mail Story
The Mail Story
The Mail Story, subtitled Handle with Care, is a half-hour dramatic television anthology series which aired on ABC for thirteen weeks from October 7 to December 30, 1954....
, subtitled Handle with Care. However, the semi-documentary and dramatic program soon ended its run on December 30, 1954.
Quote
- Before man reaches the moon your mail will be delivered within hours from New York to California, to England, to India or to Australia by guided missiles.... We stand on the threshold of rocket mail.