Franklin D'Olier
Encyclopedia
Franklin D'Olier was the first national commander of the American Legion
and served in that capacity from 1919 to 1921. Like all of the original American Legion membership, D'Olier was a veteran of The Great War
. D'Olier was also a prominent businessman and the great-grandfather of actor Christopher Reeve
. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=2942
, D'Olier was 42 years old when he became the head of the American Legion. He was described by Pulitzer prize
winning author Marquis James
as, "A conservative in almost everything; the superlative forms of speech could be striken from the language without dimishing his ability to express himself with the same unmistakable clarity and effect; a quiet, serene, unruffled man with a serene, unruffled, analytical mind; an admirable compromiser and conciliator; a tolerant and agreeable man, always willing to hear the fellow's other side and a wizard at converting people to his own side so adroitly that they are apt to be unaware of the change." (A History of the American Legion" by Marquis James. Pgs 135-136. Wm Green. 1923.)
The three main items on his agenda as national commander were disability benefits for wounded veterans, jobs training for unemployed veterans, and a scheme of "adjusted compensation" that would have paid veterans what they would have earned if they had not served in the war. It was alleged that the average soldier, sailor, or Marine made $1 per day during the war while the average factory worker made $12. His staunch support for the adjusted compensation lead may of his previous friends in business to become hostile towards him. He said to Marquis James, "I don't feel welcome down here any more. There are a lot of people in this neighborhood (referring to Wall Street
) who used to think I was a pretty descent, respectable business man who knew the rules of the game and played by them. Now they treat me as if I belonged to the I.W.W." (A History of the American Legion" by Marquis James. Pg. 141 Wm Green. 1923.)
In September 1920 before the start of the American Legion's national convention in Cleveland, Ohio, D'Olier told a reporter, "The American Legion is the best insurance policy a country ever had."
D'Olier refused to be reelected as national commander as he believed the power of the position should not be held by one man for more than one term. He was succeeded by Frederic W. Galbraith
in 1921.
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American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
and served in that capacity from 1919 to 1921. Like all of the original American Legion membership, D'Olier was a veteran of The Great War
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...
. D'Olier was also a prominent businessman and the great-grandfather of actor Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
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Background
D'Olier was the head of the yarn merchants, D'Olier & Company, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when he was elected as the first national commander at the Minneapolis convention in 1919. A Quaker from Pennsylvania, an 1898 graduate of Princeton University, and a veteran of World War IWorld 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...
, D'Olier was 42 years old when he became the head of the American Legion. He was described by Pulitzer prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winning author Marquis James
Marquis James
Marquis James was an American journalist and author, twice awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his works The Raven: A Biography of Sam Houston and The Life of Andrew Jackson....
as, "A conservative in almost everything; the superlative forms of speech could be striken from the language without dimishing his ability to express himself with the same unmistakable clarity and effect; a quiet, serene, unruffled man with a serene, unruffled, analytical mind; an admirable compromiser and conciliator; a tolerant and agreeable man, always willing to hear the fellow's other side and a wizard at converting people to his own side so adroitly that they are apt to be unaware of the change." (A History of the American Legion" by Marquis James. Pgs 135-136. Wm Green. 1923.)
First National Commander
D'Olier was unanimously elected as the first commander of the American Legion in 1919. At his acceptance speech he said only, "My word is simply this. We came here to work. Let us keep working and not listen to speeches. I thank you." As commander he served without pay and defrayed all of his expenses out of his own funds.The three main items on his agenda as national commander were disability benefits for wounded veterans, jobs training for unemployed veterans, and a scheme of "adjusted compensation" that would have paid veterans what they would have earned if they had not served in the war. It was alleged that the average soldier, sailor, or Marine made $1 per day during the war while the average factory worker made $12. His staunch support for the adjusted compensation lead may of his previous friends in business to become hostile towards him. He said to Marquis James, "I don't feel welcome down here any more. There are a lot of people in this neighborhood (referring to Wall Street
Wall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
) who used to think I was a pretty descent, respectable business man who knew the rules of the game and played by them. Now they treat me as if I belonged to the I.W.W." (A History of the American Legion" by Marquis James. Pg. 141 Wm Green. 1923.)
In September 1920 before the start of the American Legion's national convention in Cleveland, Ohio, D'Olier told a reporter, "The American Legion is the best insurance policy a country ever had."
D'Olier refused to be reelected as national commander as he believed the power of the position should not be held by one man for more than one term. He was succeeded by Frederic W. Galbraith
Frederic W. Galbraith
Frederic W. Galbraith was the second national commander of the American Legion. He had been highly decorated as a soldier during World War I and was instrumental in helping to make the American Legion the largest and most powerful veteran organization in the world at the time of...
in 1921.
Later years
D'Olier would return to his business in Philadelphia while still remaining active in veterans affairs until his death in 1953. In 1945, while heading Prudential Life Insurance, he was asked by President Harry Truman to chair the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey. http://www.ussbs.com/ussbs-hist1.html He is buried in the St. Mary's Episcopal church yard in his hometown of Burlington, New JerseyBurlington, New Jersey
Burlington is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 9,920....
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Sources
- A History of the American Legion by Marquis JamesMarquis JamesMarquis James was an American journalist and author, twice awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his works The Raven: A Biography of Sam Houston and The Life of Andrew Jackson....
. Pages 134-142. William Green. 1923.