Harry A. Slattery
Encyclopedia
Harry A. Slattery was an American lawyer and statesman. He was United States Under Secretary of the Interior
from 1938-39 and gave his name to the Slattery Report
, which proposed to develop Alaska
through immigration. The proposal, which included the settlement of Jewish refugees from Germany
and Austria
, was never implemented.
, South Carolina
. Slattery attended Mount Saint Mary's College
in Maryland
, Georgetown University
and George Washington University
.
, chief forester in Theodore Roosevelt
's administration.
From 1912-1917, he was Executive Secretary of the National Conservation Association, appointed by its founder, Pinchot. From 1917-1918, he was Special Assistant to United States Secretary of the Interior
Franklin K. Lane.
From 1919-1923, he was Counsel to the National Conservation Association. As part of government efforts to indict big business for the exploitation of the country's natural resources, he was involved in Senate investigations of the Mulhall exposure during Wilson's administration and the Teapot Dome Scandal
of 1921.
From 1923-1933, he practiced law in Washington DC.
From 1925-1929, he was Executive and counsel for the National Boulder Dam Association. From 1929-1932, he Counsel for the National Conservation Commission
. From 1931-1933, he was Washington DC representative for the New York Power Authority
. From 1933-1938, he was Personal Assistant to Harold Ickes
, Secretary of the Interior, and Assistant to administrator of Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works.
From 1938-1939, Slattery was Under Secretary of the Interior, until his appointment by Roosevelt
on 26 September 1939 to head up the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). He resigned after a conflict with the Secretary of Agriculture in 1944.
The 1944 controversy between the REA and the Department of Agriculture over the administration of REA led to a Senate investigation. Slattery was involved in the passage of a federal coal and oil leasing measure, federal water power legislation, Alaska coal and home rule acts, and rural electrification legislation.
From 1940-1942, he was also Consultant to the power subcommittee of the advisory commission of the Council of National Defense.
In 1944, Slattery received LL.D. from the University of South Carolina
.
Slattery was a member of the National Power Policy Committee, the Energy Resources and Land Committees of the National Resources Planning Board, the Interbureau Coordinating Committee, the Federal States Relations Committee, the Society of American Foresters
, the National Press Club, the Missouri Athletic Club
, and Delta Theta Phi
fraternity.
Slattery's papers are held in the Duke University
Libraries.
United States Deputy Secretary of the Interior
The Deputy Secretary of the Interior, in the United States government, advises and assists the Secretary of the Interior in the supervision and direction of the Department of the Interior and its activities, and succeeds the Secretary in his or her absence, sickness, or unavailability. The Deputy...
from 1938-39 and gave his name to the Slattery Report
Slattery Report
The Slattery Report, officially titled "The Problem of Alaskan Development,” was produced by the United States Department of the Interior under Secretary Harold L. Ickes in 1939–40. It was named after Undersecretary of the Interior Harry A. Slattery...
, which proposed to develop Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
through immigration. The proposal, which included the settlement of Jewish refugees from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, was never implemented.
Early life
He was born in GreenvilleGreenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Slattery attended Mount Saint Mary's College
Mount Saint Mary's University
Mount St. Mary's University, also known as The Mount, is a private, liberal arts, Catholic university in the Catoctin Mountains near Emmitsburg, Maryland. It was founded by French émigré Father John DuBois in 1808 and is the oldest independent Catholic college in the United States...
in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
and George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
.
Career
From 1909-1912, he was Secretary to Gifford PinchotGifford Pinchot
Gifford Pinchot was the first Chief of the United States Forest Service and the 28th Governor of Pennsylvania...
, chief forester in Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
's administration.
From 1912-1917, he was Executive Secretary of the National Conservation Association, appointed by its founder, Pinchot. From 1917-1918, he was Special Assistant to United States Secretary of the Interior
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
Franklin K. Lane.
From 1919-1923, he was Counsel to the National Conservation Association. As part of government efforts to indict big business for the exploitation of the country's natural resources, he was involved in Senate investigations of the Mulhall exposure during Wilson's administration and the Teapot Dome Scandal
Teapot Dome scandal
The Teapot Dome Scandal was a bribery incident that took place in the United States in 1922–23, during the administration of President Warren G. Harding. Secretary of the Interior Albert B. Fall leased Navy petroleum reserves at Teapot Dome and two other locations to private oil companies at low...
of 1921.
From 1923-1933, he practiced law in Washington DC.
From 1925-1929, he was Executive and counsel for the National Boulder Dam Association. From 1929-1932, he Counsel for the National Conservation Commission
National Conservation Commission
The National Conservation Commission was appointed in June 1908 by President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt and composed of representatives of the United States Congress and relevant executive agencies with Gifford Pinchot as chairman. It compiled an inventory of U.S...
. From 1931-1933, he was Washington DC representative for the New York Power Authority
New York Power Authority
The New York Power Authority , officially the Power Authority of the State of New York , is a New York State public benefit corporation and the largest state-owned power organization in the United States. NYPA provides some of the lowest-cost electricity in New York State, operating 17 generating...
. From 1933-1938, he was Personal Assistant to Harold Ickes
Harold L. Ickes
Harold LeClair Ickes was a United States administrator and politician. He served as United States Secretary of the Interior for 13 years, from 1933 to 1946, the longest tenure of anyone to hold the office, and the second longest serving Cabinet member in U.S. history next to James Wilson. Ickes...
, Secretary of the Interior, and Assistant to administrator of Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works.
From 1938-1939, Slattery was Under Secretary of the Interior, until his appointment by 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...
on 26 September 1939 to head up the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). He resigned after a conflict with the Secretary of Agriculture in 1944.
The 1944 controversy between the REA and the Department of Agriculture over the administration of REA led to a Senate investigation. Slattery was involved in the passage of a federal coal and oil leasing measure, federal water power legislation, Alaska coal and home rule acts, and rural electrification legislation.
From 1940-1942, he was also Consultant to the power subcommittee of the advisory commission of the Council of National Defense.
In 1944, Slattery received LL.D. from the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
.
Slattery was a member of the National Power Policy Committee, the Energy Resources and Land Committees of the National Resources Planning Board, the Interbureau Coordinating Committee, the Federal States Relations Committee, the Society of American Foresters
Society of American Foresters
The Society of American Foresters is a scientific and educational 501 non-profit organization, representing the forestry profession in the United States of America...
, the National Press Club, the Missouri Athletic Club
Missouri Athletic Club
The Missouri Athletic Club , founded in 1903, is a traditional gentlemen's club and athletic club in Downtown St. Louis, Missouri, USA, with a separate athletic campus in the St. Louis County suburb of Town and Country. The MAC awards the annual Hermann Trophy, the highest award in American...
, and Delta Theta Phi
Delta Theta Phi
Delta Theta Phi is a professional law fraternity and a member of the Professional Fraternity Association. The smallest of the three internationally recognized law fraternities , Delta Theta Phi is the only one of the three major law fraternities to charter chapters in the United States at...
fraternity.
Later life
He died on September 1, 1949.Slattery's papers are held in the Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
Libraries.