Thomas E. Stephens (politician)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Edwin Stephens served in the Eisenhower White House and worked on various Republican political campaigns.
Stephens was born in County Dublin, Ireland, and came with his family to the United States at the age of 13. He graduated from St. Lawrence University
in 1932 and earned a law degree at Brooklyn Law School
.
He began his political career in New York City. In 1934 he became an Assistant Corporation Counsel, representing the city's interests at the state legislature in in Albany. In 1936 he entered private practice with the firm of Lord, Day and Lord
. In 1938 he became administrative assistant to Newbold Morris
, President of the City Council
.
In World War II
he served in Europe as a major in the Army Air Corps
.
Following the war he became active in national Republican politics. In 1944 he worked as an assistant to Herbert Brownell, manager of Governor Dewey's campaign for the presidency. In 1945 and 1946 he served as director of the Republican National Committee
's campaign division. He also served as administrative assistant to Senator John Foster Dulles
in 1949. In 1950, he became the secretary to the New York Republican State Committee
, serving until 1952.
He worked on Dewey's successful campaign for the Republican nomination in 1948 and his failed bid for the presidency that year. He 1952 he helped to organize the effort to draft General Eisenhower to run for office, then worked on Eisenhower's successful primary campaigns and was an aide to the General during the election campaign.
He left the New York law firm of Pheiffer, Stephens, and Weaver to join the White House staff as Appointments Secretary in January 1953. He had been recommended for the position by Sherman Adams
. Despite his administrative title, he acted as a political adviser as well, was highly valued by the President and more influential than many realized.
He served until February 19, 1955, when he resigned to return to the "less ulcerous" duties of private law practice, joining the New York law firm of Shearman and Sterling and Wright
. Press reports said he was "expected to remain a personal lieutenant of the President outside the White House. His soundings of opinion among politicians and the public may be highly persuasive if President Eisenhower considers running for a second term in 1956.
He worked on Eisenhower's 1956 re-election campaign and later returned to his position as Appointments Secretary in March 1958.
On January 25, 1961, just days after the end of Eisenhower's presidency, Stephens married Mary Caffrey, secretary to James Hagerty, who had been Eisenhower's press secretary. The couple lived in Phoenix. Stephens said he planned to enter business.
In 1962 he re-entered politics to work on Nelson Rockefeller
's campaign for re-election as Governor of New York. In 1964, he served Rockefeller's presidential campaign as campaign director for the Eastern and Middle Atlantic states. He worked that same year on Senator Kenneth Keating
's failed attempt to win re-election to the U.S. Senate. In 1968 he worked for Rockefeller's presidential campaign and on Senator Jacob Javits' successful re-election campaign as well.
He died in Clearwater, Florida
, on May 15, 1988.
Stephens was born in County Dublin, Ireland, and came with his family to the United States at the age of 13. He graduated from St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University is a four-year liberal arts college located in the village of Canton in Saint Lawrence County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2300 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, about equally split between male and female....
in 1932 and earned a law degree at Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn Law School is a law school located in Brooklyn Heights, in Downtown Brooklyn, New York.-History:Founded in 1901 by William Payson Richardson and Norman P. Heffley, Brooklyn Law School was the first law school on Long Island. Using space provided by Heffley’s business school, the law...
.
He began his political career in New York City. In 1934 he became an Assistant Corporation Counsel, representing the city's interests at the state legislature in in Albany. In 1936 he entered private practice with the firm of Lord, Day and Lord
Lord Day & Lord
Lord Day & Lord was a large, blue-chip New York City law firm. It was established in 1845 by Daniel Lord, his son Daniel De Forest Lord, and his son-in-law Henry Day. The firm had retained the same name until 1988 when it merged with smaller firm Barrett Smith Simon & Armstrong to become Lord Day &...
. In 1938 he became administrative assistant to Newbold Morris
Newbold Morris
Newbold Morris was an American politician, lawyer, president of the New York City Council, and two-time candidate for mayor of New York City....
, President of the City Council
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
.
In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served in Europe as a major in the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
.
Following the war he became active in national Republican politics. In 1944 he worked as an assistant to Herbert Brownell, manager of Governor Dewey's campaign for the presidency. In 1945 and 1946 he served as director of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
's campaign division. He also served as administrative assistant to Senator John Foster Dulles
John Foster Dulles
John Foster Dulles served as U.S. Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1959. He was a significant figure in the early Cold War era, advocating an aggressive stance against communism throughout the world...
in 1949. In 1950, he became the secretary to the New York Republican State Committee
New York Republican State Committee
The New York Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in New York, headquartered in Albany.-History:...
, serving until 1952.
He worked on Dewey's successful campaign for the Republican nomination in 1948 and his failed bid for the presidency that year. He 1952 he helped to organize the effort to draft General Eisenhower to run for office, then worked on Eisenhower's successful primary campaigns and was an aide to the General during the election campaign.
He left the New York law firm of Pheiffer, Stephens, and Weaver to join the White House staff as Appointments Secretary in January 1953. He had been recommended for the position by Sherman Adams
Sherman Adams
Llewelyn Sherman Adams was an American politician, best known as White House Chief of Staff for President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the culmination of a relatively short political career that also included a stint as Governor of New Hampshire...
. Despite his administrative title, he acted as a political adviser as well, was highly valued by the President and more influential than many realized.
He served until February 19, 1955, when he resigned to return to the "less ulcerous" duties of private law practice, joining the New York law firm of Shearman and Sterling and Wright
Shearman & Sterling
Shearman & Sterling LLP is a law firm headquartered in New York City with 20 offices located in major financial centers around the world founded in 1873. It is well known for both its litigation and transactional capabilities, especially in International Arbitration, Capital Markets, Finance, and...
. Press reports said he was "expected to remain a personal lieutenant of the President outside the White House. His soundings of opinion among politicians and the public may be highly persuasive if President Eisenhower considers running for a second term in 1956.
He worked on Eisenhower's 1956 re-election campaign and later returned to his position as Appointments Secretary in March 1958.
On January 25, 1961, just days after the end of Eisenhower's presidency, Stephens married Mary Caffrey, secretary to James Hagerty, who had been Eisenhower's press secretary. The couple lived in Phoenix. Stephens said he planned to enter business.
In 1962 he re-entered politics to work on Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States , serving under President Gerald Ford, and the 49th Governor of New York , as well as serving the Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations in a variety of positions...
's campaign for re-election as Governor of New York. In 1964, he served Rockefeller's presidential campaign as campaign director for the Eastern and Middle Atlantic states. He worked that same year on Senator Kenneth Keating
Kenneth Keating
Kenneth Barnard Keating , was a United States Representative and a U.S. Senator from New York, and in later life, an appellate judge and a diplomat representing the United States as ambassador to India and later to Israel.-Life:...
's failed attempt to win re-election to the U.S. Senate. In 1968 he worked for Rockefeller's presidential campaign and on Senator Jacob Javits' successful re-election campaign as well.
He died in Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
, on May 15, 1988.
Sources
- Michael S. Mayer, The Eisenhower Years (NY: Facts on File, 2010), 727-8
- New York Times: Alfonzo A. Narvaez, "T. E. Stephens, Eisenhower Aide And G.O.P. Strategist, Dies at 84," May 17, 1988, accessed November 21, 2010