Charles H. Tuttle
Encyclopedia
Charles Henry Tuttle was an American lawyer, politician and civic activist. He was the 1930 Republican
nominee for governor in the election
against Franklin D. Roosevelt
.
on April 21, 1879, he was raised by his mother and his grandfather Isaac H. Tuttle following the death of his father H. Croswell Tuttle.
Tuttle received a bachelor's degree from Columbia University
in 1899. He received his law degree from Columbia Law School
in 1902, passed the bar and became an attorney.
appointed Tuttle as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
During his three years as a prosecutor Tuttle earned a reputation as an anticorruption crusader, winning convictions of numerous public officials, including Federal Judge Francis A. Winslow and Kings County Judge W. Bernard Vause.
In 1927 Tuttle led an investigation into price gouging by Broadway
ticket agencies.
During his term as U.S. Attorney Tuttle also successfully prosecuted several crooked bail bondsmen
.
Tuttle also successfully prosecuted the Moscahlades and Dachis Brothers arson
rings, organizations responsible for several for profit fires in New York City.
In 1928 the British cruise ship Vestris
sank and 111 passengers and crew were killed, including American tourists. Tuttle investigated, and his work led to major reforms in international maritime safety.
In 1930 Tuttle sent Albany's
Democratic
political boss Daniel P. O’Connell
to jail in New York City for contempt of court
. Tuttle was investigating illegal activities in Albany, including gambling
, and O'Connell refused to answer his questions.
. He won the Republican
nomination at the state party's September 26 convention.
Although he described himself personally as “dry” on the issue of Prohibition
(in favor of keeping alcohol production and consumption illegal), Tuttle favored repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment
and argued that individual states should be free to regulate alcohol as they saw fit. He hoped to campaign on an anticorruption platform, but his opposition to federal prohibition drew fierce criticism from rural Drys
. Deciding that he was not sufficiently in favor of Prohibition, the Drys fielded a third party candidate.
While the Drys argued that Tuttle wasn't strong enough in favor of prohibition, New York Democrats argued that Tuttle was a "Wet" (in favor of allowing alcohol production and consumption). During the campaign, Democrats
mocked the Republican ticket of Tuttle (an alleged Wet) and lieutenant governor nominee Caleb Baumes (a prominent Dry) as asking for votes by trying to please all sides on the Prohibition issue.
On November 4 Tuttle lost to Roosevelt by what was then the largest plurality in New York State history. Roosevelt's victory was attributed to Tuttle's position on Prohibition, as well as the hard economic times of the Great Depression
, for which voters blamed Republicans. As a result of his landslide, Roosevelt became the front runner for the presidency in 1932.
Tuttle was also active in numerous charities and civic causes. From 1913 to 1966 he was a member of the City College of New York
board of trustees. He chaired his local Selective Service Board
during both World War I
and World War II
. An advocate of racial integration, Tuttle helped draft New York State’s law against discriminatory hiring. Active in the Episcopal
church, he worked to advance tolerance and ecumenical unity with Catholic and Jewish leaders as a leader of the Greater New York Federation of Churches.
In 1945 Tuttle received the Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre from the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem
. Through the 1940s, Tuttle was one of only four Americans to have received the award, with the other three being Presidents Warren G. Harding
, Franklin D. Roosevelt
, and Harry S. Truman
.
at Breed, Abbott and Morgan. He also maintained a summer home in Lake George
and served for many years as counsel for the Lake George Association. Tuttle died in New York City on January, 26, 1971 and was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Lake George, New York.
. Mrs. Tuttle was born on November 12, 1881 and died on October 6, 1968. They had four children, son H. Croswell Tuttle, and three daughters, Evelyn, Charlotte and Helene Jasmine.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee for governor in the election
New York gubernatorial election, 1930
The 1930 New York state election was held on November 4, 1930, to elect the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General and a judge of the New York Court of Appeals, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate.-History:The...
against Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
.
Early life and education
Born in New York CityNew 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...
on April 21, 1879, he was raised by his mother and his grandfather Isaac H. Tuttle following the death of his father H. Croswell Tuttle.
Tuttle received a bachelor's degree from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1899. He received his law degree from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1902, passed the bar and became an attorney.
Start of career
From 1902 to 1927 Tuttle was a lawyer with the New York City firm of Davies, Stone and Auerbach. He also became active in the New York City Republican party.Service as U.S. Attorney
In 1927, President Calvin CoolidgeCalvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
appointed Tuttle as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
During his three years as a prosecutor Tuttle earned a reputation as an anticorruption crusader, winning convictions of numerous public officials, including Federal Judge Francis A. Winslow and Kings County Judge W. Bernard Vause.
In 1927 Tuttle led an investigation into price gouging by Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
ticket agencies.
During his term as U.S. Attorney Tuttle also successfully prosecuted several crooked bail bondsmen
Bail bondsman
A bail bond agent, or bondsman, is any person or corporation that will act as a surety and pledge money or property as bail for the appearance of persons accused in court...
.
Tuttle also successfully prosecuted the Moscahlades and Dachis Brothers arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
rings, organizations responsible for several for profit fires in New York City.
In 1928 the British cruise ship Vestris
SS Vestris
The SS Vestris was a steamship, built in 1912. She was owned by Lamport & Holt and used in their New York to River Plate service. She is best known for her sinking, with a loss of over 100 lives....
sank and 111 passengers and crew were killed, including American tourists. Tuttle investigated, and his work led to major reforms in international maritime safety.
In 1930 Tuttle sent Albany's
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
political boss Daniel P. O’Connell
Daniel P. O'Connell
Daniel Patrick O'Connell was the leader of the Democratic Party political machine in Albany County, New York, from about 1919 until his death....
to jail in New York City for contempt of court
Contempt of court
Contempt of court is a court order which, in the context of a court trial or hearing, declares a person or organization to have disobeyed or been disrespectful of the court's authority...
. Tuttle was investigating illegal activities in Albany, including gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
, and O'Connell refused to answer his questions.
1930 campaign for New York Governor
Tuttle’s high profile as U.S. Attorney made him a likely candidate for political office, and on September 17, 1930 he resigned as U.S. Attorney in anticipation of running for governorGovernor 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...
. He won the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination at the state party's September 26 convention.
Although he described himself personally as “dry” on the issue of Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
(in favor of keeping alcohol production and consumption illegal), Tuttle favored repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment
Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Eighteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution established Prohibition in the United States. The separate Volstead Act set down methods of enforcing the Eighteenth Amendment, and defined which "intoxicating liquors" were prohibited, and which were excluded from prohibition...
and argued that individual states should be free to regulate alcohol as they saw fit. He hoped to campaign on an anticorruption platform, but his opposition to federal prohibition drew fierce criticism from rural Drys
Dry county
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
. Deciding that he was not sufficiently in favor of Prohibition, the Drys fielded a third party candidate.
While the Drys argued that Tuttle wasn't strong enough in favor of prohibition, New York Democrats argued that Tuttle was a "Wet" (in favor of allowing alcohol production and consumption). During the campaign, Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
mocked the Republican ticket of Tuttle (an alleged Wet) and lieutenant governor nominee Caleb Baumes (a prominent Dry) as asking for votes by trying to please all sides on the Prohibition issue.
On November 4 Tuttle lost to Roosevelt by what was then the largest plurality in New York State history. Roosevelt's victory was attributed to Tuttle's position on Prohibition, as well as the hard economic times of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, for which voters blamed Republicans. As a result of his landslide, Roosevelt became the front runner for the presidency in 1932.
Later career and civic activism
After losing the race for governor, Tuttle returned to practicing law as senior partner in the firm of Breed, Abbott and Morgan. He also served on the Metropolitan Rapid Transit Commission and maintained an active role in the Republican party.Tuttle was also active in numerous charities and civic causes. From 1913 to 1966 he was a member of the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
board of trustees. He chaired his local Selective Service Board
Draft board
Draft Board was a part of the Selective Service Act which registered and selected men of military age for conscription in the United States-Local Board:...
during both 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...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. An advocate of racial integration, Tuttle helped draft New York State’s law against discriminatory hiring. Active in the Episcopal
United Episcopal Church of North America
The United Episcopal Church of North America is a traditional Anglican Christian church that is part of the Continuing Anglican movement...
church, he worked to advance tolerance and ecumenical unity with Catholic and Jewish leaders as a leader of the Greater New York Federation of Churches.
In 1945 Tuttle received the Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre from the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem
The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem is the head bishop of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, ranking fourth of nine Patriarchs in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Since 2005, the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem has been Theophilos III...
. Through the 1940s, Tuttle was one of only four Americans to have received the award, with the other three being Presidents Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
, Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, and Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
.
Retirement and death
After retiring from practicing law Tuttle was counsel emeritusEmeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
at Breed, Abbott and Morgan. He also maintained a summer home in Lake George
Lake George (town), New York
Lake George is a town in Warren County, New York, USA. The population was 3,578 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the lake, Lake George. Within the town is a village also named Lake George. The town is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :The lake was...
and served for many years as counsel for the Lake George Association. Tuttle died in New York City on January, 26, 1971 and was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Lake George, New York.
Personal
In 1907 Tuttle married Helene L. Wheeler of Oswego, New YorkOswego, New York
Oswego is a city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario in north-central New York and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York"...
. Mrs. Tuttle was born on November 12, 1881 and died on October 6, 1968. They had four children, son H. Croswell Tuttle, and three daughters, Evelyn, Charlotte and Helene Jasmine.
External resources
- Find A Grave page, Charles H. Tuttle, accessed February 8, 2011
- Inventory, Charles H. Tuttle Papers, New York State Library, accessed February 8, 2011
- Film Clip, Charles H. Tuttle with family after winning gubernatorial nomination, September 30, 1930, Critical Past.com web site, accessed February 8, 2011
- Profile page, Life Stories of a Celebrated Lawyer in New York and Lake George: The Memoirs of Charles H. Tuttle, Esq, Amazon.com, accessed February 8, 2011