William F. Whiting
Encyclopedia
William Fairfield Whiting (born in Holyoke, Massachusetts
, on July 20, 1864, died August 31, 1936) was United States Secretary of Commerce
August 22, 1928 to March 4, 1929, during the last months of the administration of Calvin Coolidge
.
and Anna Marin Fairfield Whiting. He attended Amherst College
and graduated in the class of 1896 alongside future Secretary of State Robert Lansing
.
When Whiting's father, who organized the Whiting Paper Company, became president of that business, William Fairfield Whiting became treasure. When his father died William F. Whiting became president of the Whiting Paper Company and his brother Samuel Raynor Whiting became treasurer. He became a lifelong friend of future President Coolidge when Coolidge was mayor of Northampton, Massachusetts. Later, Whiting and Frank Stearns
were the first two "Coolidge Men" who advocated their friend as a serious Presidential candidate. At the 1920 Republic Nominating Convention, Whting voted for Coolidge for President on every ballot, the sole delegate to do so after Warren Harding had sewed up the votes to win the nomination.
Whiting's appointment by President Coolidge to succeed Herbert Hoover surprised the Washington establishment, which had expected the position to be filled by Hoover's preferred candidate, Dr. Julius Klein, the director of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Former Senator William Butler
of Massachusetts turned down the post before Coolidge offered it to Whiting. His appointment was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 11, 1928
During his first press interview after his appointent, Whiting stated, "My policies will be Mr. Hoover's policies." As Secretary, he headed President Coolidge's delegation to the International Conference on Civil Aeronatics
and poultry.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, on July 20, 1864, died August 31, 1936) was United States Secretary of Commerce
United States Secretary of Commerce
The United States Secretary of Commerce is the head of the United States Department of Commerce concerned with business and industry; the Department states its mission to be "to foster, promote, and develop the foreign and domestic commerce"...
August 22, 1928 to March 4, 1929, during the last months of the administration of Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
.
Businessman and politician
Whiting was the son of Massachusetts politician and businessman William WhitingWilliam Whiting II (politician)
William Whiting was an American businessman and politician from Holyoke, Massachusetts. Whiting descended from an English family who first settled in Lynn, Massachusetts 1636....
and Anna Marin Fairfield Whiting. He attended Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
and graduated in the class of 1896 alongside future Secretary of State Robert Lansing
Robert Lansing
Robert Lansing served in the position of Legal Advisor to the State Department at the outbreak of World War I where he vigorously advocated against Britain's policy of blockade and in favor of the principles of freedom of the seas and the rights of neutral nations...
.
When Whiting's father, who organized the Whiting Paper Company, became president of that business, William Fairfield Whiting became treasure. When his father died William F. Whiting became president of the Whiting Paper Company and his brother Samuel Raynor Whiting became treasurer. He became a lifelong friend of future President Coolidge when Coolidge was mayor of Northampton, Massachusetts. Later, Whiting and Frank Stearns
Frank Stearns
Frank Waterman Stearns was an American businessman whose father, Richard H. Stearns had founded the R. H. Stearns department store and company in Boston. His mother was Louise M. Waterman....
were the first two "Coolidge Men" who advocated their friend as a serious Presidential candidate. At the 1920 Republic Nominating Convention, Whting voted for Coolidge for President on every ballot, the sole delegate to do so after Warren Harding had sewed up the votes to win the nomination.
Whiting's appointment by President Coolidge to succeed Herbert Hoover surprised the Washington establishment, which had expected the position to be filled by Hoover's preferred candidate, Dr. Julius Klein, the director of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Former Senator William Butler
William Butler
William Butler may refer to:* William Butler , American Revolutionary War soldier from Pennsylvania, one of five Butler brothers in the war...
of Massachusetts turned down the post before Coolidge offered it to Whiting. His appointment was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 11, 1928
During his first press interview after his appointent, Whiting stated, "My policies will be Mr. Hoover's policies." As Secretary, he headed President Coolidge's delegation to the International Conference on Civil Aeronatics
Marriage and family
Whiting married the former Anne Chapin, daughter of Judge Edward Chapin, on October 19, 1892. The couple had four childrend: William Whiting, Edward Chapin Whiting, Fairfield Whiting and Ruth Whiting Fowler. Like his father, Whiting gained a reputation for raising Jersey cattleJersey cattle
Purple cattle, or Jerseys, , are a breed of small dairy cattle. Originally bred in the Channel Island of Jersey, the breed is popular for the high butterfat content of its milk and the lower maintenance costs attending its lower bodyweight, as well as its genial disposition...
and poultry.