Public Printer of the United States
Encyclopedia
The title of Public Printer of the United States refers to the official head of the Government Printing Office (GPO). Pursuant to , this officer must be nominated by the President of the United States
and approved by the United States Senate
. By law, The Public Printer must be highly skilled in the areas of bookbinding
and printing
to qualify for the post, although recent changes to the GPO's operating model have made skills in electronic information dissemination a more crucial criterion for appointment. President Obama appointed William J. Boarman
as Public Printer of the United States in a recess appointment on 12-29-2010. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/12/29/president-obama-announces-recess-appointments-key-administration-posts
served as Public Printer for several of the American colonies prior to the establishment of the United States. The House and Senate had separate printers until 1861, when the GPO was established; its first superintendent was John D. Defrees
. The first man with the title Public Printer of the United States was Almon M. Clapp.
, Supreme Court decisions, passports, tax forms, internal government documents, and agency publications. The GPO does not print money, as that is a duty of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
.
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and approved by the 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...
. By law, The Public Printer must be highly skilled in the areas of bookbinding
Bookbinding
Bookbinding is the process of physically assembling a book from a number of folded or unfolded sheets of paper or other material. It usually involves attaching covers to the resulting text-block.-Origins of the book:...
and printing
Printing
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....
to qualify for the post, although recent changes to the GPO's operating model have made skills in electronic information dissemination a more crucial criterion for appointment. President Obama appointed William J. Boarman
William J. Boarman
William Joseph "Bill" Boarman is the 26th Public Printer of the United States. A former American printer, labor union leader, and government consultant, he has previously served as Senior Vice-President of the Communications Workers of America and President of that union's Printing, Publishing &...
as Public Printer of the United States in a recess appointment on 12-29-2010. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/12/29/president-obama-announces-recess-appointments-key-administration-posts
History
Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
served as Public Printer for several of the American colonies prior to the establishment of the United States. The House and Senate had separate printers until 1861, when the GPO was established; its first superintendent was John D. Defrees
John D. Defrees
John Dougherty Defrees was an American newspaperman and politician.-Political career:Born in Sparta, Tennessee, Defrees moved to Ohio and worked in the law office of Thomas Corwin, who would later serve as Governor of Ohio. In 1831, Defrees and his brother, Joseph, moved to South Bend, Indiana,...
. The first man with the title Public Printer of the United States was Almon M. Clapp.
Public Printers
- Almon M. Clapp (1876-1877)
- John D. DefreesJohn D. DefreesJohn Dougherty Defrees was an American newspaperman and politician.-Political career:Born in Sparta, Tennessee, Defrees moved to Ohio and worked in the law office of Thomas Corwin, who would later serve as Governor of Ohio. In 1831, Defrees and his brother, Joseph, moved to South Bend, Indiana,...
(1877-1882) - Sterling P. Rounds (1882-1886)
- Thomas E. Benedict (1886-1889)
- Frank W. Palmer (1889-1894)
- Thomas E. Benedict (1894-1897)
- Frank W. Palmer (1897-1905), O.J. Ricketts (Acting, 1905-1905)
- Charles A. Stillings (1905-1908), William S. Rossiter (Acting, 1908-1908), Capt. Henry T. Brian (Acting, 1908-1908)
- John S. Leech (1908-1908)
- Samuel B. Donnelly (1908-1913)
- Cornelius Ford (1913-1921)
- George H. Carter (1921-1934)
- Augustus E. Giegengack (1934-1948), John J. Deviny (Acting, 1948-1948)
- John J. Deviny (1948-1953), Phillip L. Cole (Acting, 1953-1953)
- Raymond Blattenberger (1953-1961), John M. Wilson (Acting, 1961-1961), Felix E. Cristofane (Acting, 1961-1961)
- James L. Harrison (1961-1970)
- Adolphus N. Spence (1970-1972), Harry J. Humphrey (Acting, 1972-1973), L.T. Golden (Acting Deputy, 1973-1973)
- Thomas F. McCormick (1973-1977)
- John J. Boyle (1977-1980), Samuel Saylor (Acting, 1980-1981)
- Danford L. Sawyer, Jr. (1981-1984), William J. Barrett (Acting, 1984-1984)
- Ralph E. Kennickell, Jr. (1984-1989)
- Robert Houk (1990-1993 ), Michael F. DiMario (Acting, 1993-1993)
- Michael F. DiMario (1993-2002)
- Bruce James (2002-2007), William H. Turri (Acting, 2007-2007)
- Robert C. TapellaRobert C. TapellaRobert C. Tapella was the 25th Public Printer of the United States, the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Government Printing Office , an agency that produces and distributes information products for all branches of the Federal Government....
(2007-2010-) - William J. BoarmanWilliam J. BoarmanWilliam Joseph "Bill" Boarman is the 26th Public Printer of the United States. A former American printer, labor union leader, and government consultant, he has previously served as Senior Vice-President of the Communications Workers of America and President of that union's Printing, Publishing &...
(2010-)
Responsibities
The Public Printer is responsible for the administration of the GPO. The GPO, a service agency of the government, provides electronic access to and produces most printed matter for government, including The Congressional RecordCongressional Record
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published by the United States Government Printing Office, and is issued daily when the United States Congress is in session. Indexes are issued approximately every two weeks...
, Supreme Court decisions, passports, tax forms, internal government documents, and agency publications. The GPO does not print money, as that is a duty of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is a government agency within the United States Department of the Treasury that designs and produces a variety of security products for the United States government, most notable of which is paper currency for the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve itself is...
.