Harvey Hancock
Encyclopedia
George Harvey Hancock known as Harvey Hancock, was an aviation
executive and a journalist
who served as the Northern California campaign manager
for Richard Nixon
's successful 1950 United States Senate
race and then the 1952 general election
won by Dwight D. Eisenhower
and Nixon.
Hancock was born in Mendon
, Cache County, Utah on January 2, 1900, to Joseph William Hancock and Agnes Richards. Hancock enlisted in the infantry in World War I
. In 1925, he graduated from the University of Utah
, where he had been a member of the fraternity Sigma Chi
, editor of the Utah Humbug (a small campus publication), and the varsity football
captain. Hancock worked as a newspaper reporter in Salt Lake City, and then as editor, for the The Salt Lake Tribune
. After ten years of news, Hancock changed careers from journalism to the airline industry by taking a management position with United Airlines
and Pan American World Airways
.
In his promotional role with the Pan American, Hancock became acquainted with influential people all over California
. He attracted attention from Republican Party
stalwarts and was asked in 1949 to help manage Nixon's senatorial campaign, and came on board as "the pro" behind John Walton Dinkelspiel. Hancock and Dinkelspiel ran the northern half of California
, while Bernard Brennan and Murray Chotiner
covered the south. Hancock estimated that his half of the campaign would cost $34,050, but it ended some $10,000 beyond that. Hancock set up Nixon-for-Senator committees in counties and large cities. Hancock helped Nixon get large campaign contributions from influential people such as George Toland Cameron, publisher of the San Francisco Chronicle
, and escorted Nixon to some of his public appearances. Hancock arranged for radio spots, billboard coverage and newspaper articles, in concert with Chotiner's efforts, but with a degree of independence. When Chotiner produced the infamous "pink sheet", which implied that Helen Gahagan Douglas had Communist sympathies, Hancock refused to distribute it in Northern California
. Nixon won the race in 1950, and Hancock was picked to manage the 1952 presidential campaign for Eisenhower and Nixon, covering the same territory. Eisenhower and Nixon won the race.
In the 1970s, Hancock lived in Carmel-by-the-Sea
.
Hancock died on January 8, 1996 in Monterey, California
.
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
executive and a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
who served as the Northern California campaign manager
Campaign manager
A campaign manager is a paid or volunteer individual, whose role is to coordinate the campaign's operations such as fundraising, advertising, polling, getting out the vote , and other activities supporting the effort, directly.Apart from the candidate, they are often a campaign's most visible leader...
for Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
's successful 1950 United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
race and then the 1952 general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
won by Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
and Nixon.
Hancock was born in Mendon
Mendon, Utah
Mendon is a city in Cache County, Utah, United States. The population was 1,282 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Logan, Utah-Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Mendon is located at ....
, Cache County, Utah on January 2, 1900, to Joseph William Hancock and Agnes Richards. Hancock enlisted in the infantry in 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...
. In 1925, he graduated from the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, where he had been a member of the fraternity Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
, editor of the Utah Humbug (a small campus publication), and the varsity football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
captain. Hancock worked as a newspaper reporter in Salt Lake City, and then as editor, for the The Salt Lake Tribune
The Salt Lake Tribune
The Salt Lake Tribune is the largest-circulated daily newspaper in the U.S. city of Salt Lake City. It is distributed by Newspaper Agency Corporation, which also distributes the Deseret News. The Tribune — or "Trib," as it is locally known — is currently owned by the Denver-based MediaNews Group....
. After ten years of news, Hancock changed careers from journalism to the airline industry by taking a management position with United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
and Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
.
In his promotional role with the Pan American, Hancock became acquainted with influential people all over California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He attracted attention from Republican Party
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...
stalwarts and was asked in 1949 to help manage Nixon's senatorial campaign, and came on board as "the pro" behind John Walton Dinkelspiel. Hancock and Dinkelspiel ran the northern half of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, while Bernard Brennan and Murray Chotiner
Murray Chotiner
Murray M Chotiner was an American political strategist, attorney, government official, and close associate and friend of President Richard Nixon during much of the 37th President's political career...
covered the south. Hancock estimated that his half of the campaign would cost $34,050, but it ended some $10,000 beyond that. Hancock set up Nixon-for-Senator committees in counties and large cities. Hancock helped Nixon get large campaign contributions from influential people such as George Toland Cameron, publisher of the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
, and escorted Nixon to some of his public appearances. Hancock arranged for radio spots, billboard coverage and newspaper articles, in concert with Chotiner's efforts, but with a degree of independence. When Chotiner produced the infamous "pink sheet", which implied that Helen Gahagan Douglas had Communist sympathies, Hancock refused to distribute it in Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
. Nixon won the race in 1950, and Hancock was picked to manage the 1952 presidential campaign for Eisenhower and Nixon, covering the same territory. Eisenhower and Nixon won the race.
In the 1970s, Hancock lived in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Carmel-by-the-Sea, often called simply Carmel, is a small city in Monterey County, California, United States, founded in 1902 and incorporated in 1916. Situated on the Monterey Peninsula, the town is known for its natural scenery and rich artistic history...
.
Hancock died on January 8, 1996 in Monterey, California
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
.