Stephen A. Mitchell (Democratic activist)
Encyclopedia
Stephen A. Mitchell was an American attorney and Democratic Party official. He served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee
from 1952 to 1956, and was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Illinois in 1958.
, the son of a dairyman who had a small banking business. He graduated pre-law at Creighton University
in 1926, and took a job in Washington D.C. as a credit and sales manager for General Motors Acceptance Corporation
while attending law school
at night at Georgetown University
. In 1936, he became a He practiced law in Chicago from 1932 to 1942, returning to Washington as a Senate committee counsel.
was disclosed to have had a private fund reimburse him for his political expenses, Mitchell called for Nixon's resignation from the ticket, a demand that "recoiled" on him with the massive public wave of support for Nixon following the Checkers speech
, in which Mitchell's demand was referred to and he himself mentioned by name.
While the Democratic ticket was defeated in a landslide in 1952, Mitchell worked with Stevenson to pay off the party's massive campaign debt and work toward recapturing control of Congress in 1954. He was successful on both counts. It would take the Republicans 26 years to recapture the Senate and 40 years to recapture the House of Representatives. He also put in place new rules to ensure that Democratic party officials would either have to support the ticket or resign—which had been a problem in 1952, with some Democrats reluctant to oppose Republican presidential candidate General Dwight Eisenhower.
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
from 1952 to 1956, and was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Illinois in 1958.
Early life and career
Mitchell was born August 3, 1903 in Rock Valley, IowaRock Valley, Iowa
Rock Valley is a city in Sioux County, Iowa, United States, along the Rock River. The population was 2,702 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rock Valley is located at ....
, the son of a dairyman who had a small banking business. He graduated pre-law at Creighton University
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
in 1926, and took a job in Washington D.C. as a credit and sales manager for General Motors Acceptance Corporation
General Motors Acceptance Corporation
Ally Financial Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States at Tower 200 of the Renaissance Center. The bank slogan has more than 15 million customers worldwide and provides a range of financial services including auto financing, insurance, mortgage services, and...
while attending law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
at night at 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...
. In 1936, he became a He practiced law in Chicago from 1932 to 1942, returning to Washington as a Senate committee counsel.
Political activist
Mitchell helped Adlai Stevenson enter politics, and helped manage his successful gubernatorial run. In 1952, after being selected as the Democratic candidate for President, Stevenson designated Mitchell as chairman of the DNC. When Republican Vice Presidential candidate Senator Richard NixonRichard 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...
was disclosed to have had a private fund reimburse him for his political expenses, Mitchell called for Nixon's resignation from the ticket, a demand that "recoiled" on him with the massive public wave of support for Nixon following the Checkers speech
Checkers speech
The Checkers speech or Fund speech was an address made by Richard Nixon, the Republican vice presidential candidate and junior United States Senator from California, on television and radio on September 23, 1952. Senator Nixon had been accused of improprieties relating to a fund established by his...
, in which Mitchell's demand was referred to and he himself mentioned by name.
While the Democratic ticket was defeated in a landslide in 1952, Mitchell worked with Stevenson to pay off the party's massive campaign debt and work toward recapturing control of Congress in 1954. He was successful on both counts. It would take the Republicans 26 years to recapture the Senate and 40 years to recapture the House of Representatives. He also put in place new rules to ensure that Democratic party officials would either have to support the ticket or resign—which had been a problem in 1952, with some Democrats reluctant to oppose Republican presidential candidate General Dwight Eisenhower.