R. Walton Moore
Encyclopedia
Robert Walton "Judge" Moore (February 6, 1859 - February 8, 1941) was a Virginia
lawyer, U.S. Representative
from Virginia, Assistant Secretary of State
, and one of the few Virginia politicians to embrace the New Deal
.
Born in Fairfax, Virginia
, Moore attended the Episcopal High School near Alexandria, Virginia
, and the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity.
More was admitted to the bar
in 1880 and practiced in Virginia and Washington, D.C.
. He served as a member of the Virginia State Senate for the years 1887-1890, and was a member of the State constitutional convention in 1901 and 1902
. He served as president of the Virginia Bar Association
in 1911. From 1907 until World War I
he was special counsel for carriers of the South in cases before the Interstate Commerce Commission
, the United States Commerce Court
, and the United States Supreme Court
. He served as assistant general counsel of the United States Railroad Administration
in 1918 and 1919.
Moore served as member of the boards of visitors of both the College of William and Mary
and the University of Virginia
. He was appointed a member of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution
on December 7, 1922.
Moore was elected as a Democrat
to the Sixty-sixth
Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Charles Creighton Carlin
, and reelected to the five succeeding Congresses (April 27, 1919-March 3, 1931). He was not a candidate in 1930.
He was appointed as Assistant Secretary of State by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
, on September 19, 1933, to work under his close friend and political ally, Secretary of State Cordell Hull
.
In 1937, Hull needed to fill the most important position in the Department, Under Secretary of State. His two principal candidates were Moore and Sumner Welles
, Assistant Secretary of State for Latin American Affairs, a close ally and favorite of the President. Hull promised Moore the post but never forced the issue with President Roosevelt. Eventually, Welles won the position, but it was announced along with the appointment of Moore to be the Department Counselor. Though both Moore and Welles gained new titles, Welles took the position they both wanted and in the years that followed Moore worked on a relatively narrow range of issues, such as legal questions, aviation, and arms control. Moore served Department Counselor for the remainder of his life.
Moore remained hostile to Welles. In late 1940, when Welles made homosexual
propositions to two railroad porters, the matter was initially hushed up. Moore learned of the incident from his friend Ernest Norris, president of the Southern Railway. Moore obtained from Norris affidavits made by the porters involved, and just before his death, passed them to former ambassador William C. Bullitt, who shared his view of Welles and who eventually forced Welles' resignation in 1943.
Moore died in Fairfax, Virginia
, on February 8, 1941, and was interred in Fairfax City Cemetery.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
lawyer, U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Virginia, Assistant Secretary of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
, and one of the few Virginia politicians to embrace the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
.
Born in Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
, Moore attended the Episcopal High School near Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, and the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity.
More was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1880 and practiced in Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. He served as a member of the Virginia State Senate for the years 1887-1890, and was a member of the State constitutional convention in 1901 and 1902
Constitution of Virginia
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia is the document that defines and limits the powers of the state government and the basic rights of the citizens of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. Like all other state constitutions, it is supreme over Virginia's laws and acts of government,...
. He served as president of the Virginia Bar Association
Virginia Bar Association
The Virginia Bar Association is a voluntary organization of lawyers in Virginia, with offices in Richmond, Virginia.- VBA Mission : is the independent voice of the Virginia lawyer, advancing the highest ideals of the profession through advocacy and volunteer service.- History :The VBA, , was...
in 1911. From 1907 until 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...
he was special counsel for carriers of the South in cases before the Interstate Commerce Commission
Interstate Commerce Commission
The Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including...
, the United States Commerce Court
United States Commerce Court
The Commerce Court of the United States was a brief-lived federal trial court. It was created by the Mann-Elkins Act in 1910 and abolished a mere three years later. The Commerce Court was a specialized court, given jurisdiction over cases arising from orders of the Interstate Commerce Commission...
, and the United States Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
. He served as assistant general counsel of the United States Railroad Administration
United States Railroad Administration
The United States Railroad Administration was the name of the nationalized railroad system of the United States between 1917 and 1920. It was possibly the largest American experiment with nationalization, and was undertaken against a background of war emergency.- Background :On April 6, 1917, the...
in 1918 and 1919.
Moore served as member of the boards of visitors of both the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
and the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. He was appointed a member of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
on December 7, 1922.
Moore was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Sixty-sixth
66th United States Congress
The Sixty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, comprising the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1919 to March 4, 1921, during the last two years of...
Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Charles Creighton Carlin
Charles Creighton Carlin
Charles Creighton Carlin was a U.S. representative from Virginia.Born in Alexandria, Virginia, Carlin attended the public schools and Alexandria Academy. He was graduated from National University Law School, Washington, D.C....
, and reelected to the five succeeding Congresses (April 27, 1919-March 3, 1931). He was not a candidate in 1930.
He was appointed as Assistant Secretary of State by President Franklin D. 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 September 19, 1933, to work under his close friend and political ally, Secretary of State Cordell Hull
Cordell Hull
Cordell Hull was an American politician from the U.S. state of Tennessee. He is best known as the longest-serving Secretary of State, holding the position for 11 years in the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during much of World War II...
.
In 1937, Hull needed to fill the most important position in the Department, Under Secretary of State. His two principal candidates were Moore and Sumner Welles
Sumner Welles
Benjamin Sumner Welles was an American government official and diplomat in the Foreign Service. He was a major foreign policy adviser to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and served as Under Secretary of State from 1937 to 1943, during FDR's presidency.-Early life:Benjamin Sumner Welles was born in...
, Assistant Secretary of State for Latin American Affairs, a close ally and favorite of the President. Hull promised Moore the post but never forced the issue with President Roosevelt. Eventually, Welles won the position, but it was announced along with the appointment of Moore to be the Department Counselor. Though both Moore and Welles gained new titles, Welles took the position they both wanted and in the years that followed Moore worked on a relatively narrow range of issues, such as legal questions, aviation, and arms control. Moore served Department Counselor for the remainder of his life.
Moore remained hostile to Welles. In late 1940, when Welles made homosexual
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
propositions to two railroad porters, the matter was initially hushed up. Moore learned of the incident from his friend Ernest Norris, president of the Southern Railway. Moore obtained from Norris affidavits made by the porters involved, and just before his death, passed them to former ambassador William C. Bullitt, who shared his view of Welles and who eventually forced Welles' resignation in 1943.
Moore died in Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
, on February 8, 1941, and was interred in Fairfax City Cemetery.