Farley File
Encyclopedia
A farley file is a set of records kept by politicians on people they have met previously.
The term is named for James Aloysius Farley
, who was Franklin Delano Roosevelt's campaign manager. Farley, who went on to become the chairman of the Democratic National Committee
and a Postmaster General
, kept a file on everyone he ever met, and who ever met Roosevelt. Whenever people were scheduled to meet again with Roosevelt, Farley would review their files, allowing Roosevelt to meet them again knowing their spouse, their children's names and ages — anything which had come out of earlier meetings, and any other intelligence Farley added to the file. The effect was powerful and intimate.
Such "farley files" are now commonly kept by other politicians and businesspeople.
The Farley File figures prominently in the Robert A. Heinlein
novel, Double Star
, in which an actor impersonates a major political figure. He is able to extend the impersonation into personal encounters by use of the politician's Farley File.
The employment of the Farley File may be compared with the ancient Roman use of a nomenclator, 'a slave who attended his master during canvassing and on similar occasions, for the purpose of telling him the names of those he met in the street' (see Lewis & Short, A Latin Dictionary, s.v. nomenclator. Cicero, Ad Atticum 4,1,5 and Pro Murena XXXVI 77).
The term is named for James Aloysius Farley
James Farley
James Aloysius Farley was the first Irish Catholic politician 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...
, who was Franklin Delano Roosevelt's campaign manager. Farley, who went on to become the chairman of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
and a 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...
, kept a file on everyone he ever met, and who ever met Roosevelt. Whenever people were scheduled to meet again with Roosevelt, Farley would review their files, allowing Roosevelt to meet them again knowing their spouse, their children's names and ages — anything which had come out of earlier meetings, and any other intelligence Farley added to the file. The effect was powerful and intimate.
Such "farley files" are now commonly kept by other politicians and businesspeople.
The Farley File figures prominently in the Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
novel, Double Star
Double Star
Double Star is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, first serialized in Astounding Science Fiction and published in hardcover the same year...
, in which an actor impersonates a major political figure. He is able to extend the impersonation into personal encounters by use of the politician's Farley File.
The employment of the Farley File may be compared with the ancient Roman use of a nomenclator, 'a slave who attended his master during canvassing and on similar occasions, for the purpose of telling him the names of those he met in the street' (see Lewis & Short, A Latin Dictionary, s.v. nomenclator. Cicero, Ad Atticum 4,1,5 and Pro Murena XXXVI 77).