William M. Boyle
Encyclopedia
William Marshall Boyle Jr. (February 2, 1903 – August 30, 1961) was a Democratic political activist from Kansas. Chairman of the Democratic National Committee
from 1949 to 1951, he was a friend of President Harry S. Truman
and is credited with engineering Truman's upset victory over Governor Thomas Dewey in the 1948 Presidential election.
Boyle was born in Leavenworth, Kansas
in 1903; he became politically active as a youth. His activities came to the attention of Kansas City, Missouri
political boss
Thomas Pendergast, who made Boyle a precinct captain before his 21st birthday. Boyle's parents were friends of Harry and Bess Truman
; when Harry Truman learned of young Boyle's political interest, the future president took him under his wing.
Boyle practiced law and served in Democratic politics in Kansas City until 1941, when he moved to Washington to take a job as counsel to a committee Senator Truman chaired. When Truman's assistant went into the Army, Boyle took the job. He helped manage Truman's 1944 Vice-presidential campaign. In 1948, he persuaded Truman to conduct a whistle stop tour of the Midwest, which won the President the states needed for his reelection.
In 1949, Boyle became assistant executive director, and then chairman, of the DNC. In 1951, he became implicated in a loan scandal. Though he refused to resign over the scandal, he left his office soon afterwards, citing health reasons. Boyle died in 1961 in Washington, D.C.
in 1903, though his family moved across the state line. He attended Westport High School
, where he soon organized a "Young Democrats Club" in the prosperous Fourth Ward of Kansas City. He then attended Kansas City Junior College. Boyle's political activities came to the attention of Kansas City political boss Tom Pendergast, who made him a precinct captain—though Boyle was still too young to vote himself.
Boyle left Kansas City for two years beginning in 1922 to attend Georgetown University Law Center
, though he returned home to secure his law degree at the Kansas City School of Law. He joined the Missouri Bar in 1926.
Truman had been elected senator in 1934. In 1941, Boyle followed him to Washington as assistant counsel to the Truman-chaired War Investigating Committee. When Truman's secretary (or assistant) left to return to the Army, Boyle replaced him.
In 1944, Boyle helped manage Truman's successful run for Vice President on Franklin D. Roosevelt
's ticket. After Truman became President, and sought reelection in 1948, Boyle helped manage his campaign. He worked towards a high voter turnout, reckoning that since there were more Democrats than Republicans, a high turnout would favor his candidate. He persuaded Truman to embark on a "whistle stop" train tour of Southern Illinois and Ohio, which The New York Times credited with turning the election for Truman.
In 1949, Boyle became the salaried assistant executive director of the DNC, and then was elected chairman in August 1949. However, in 1951, he was implicated in an influence peddling
scandal involving loans made by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation
. While a Senate investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing by Boyle, he resigned later that year due to "ill health". He returned to the practice of law in Washington, remaining there until he died in his sleep in 1961.
Boyle appeared on cover of the October 9, 1951 issue of Time magazine.
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 1949 to 1951, he was a friend of President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
and is credited with engineering Truman's upset victory over Governor Thomas Dewey in the 1948 Presidential election.
Boyle was born in Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
in 1903; he became politically active as a youth. His activities came to the attention of Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
political boss
Political boss
A boss, in politics, is a person who wields the power over a particular political region or constituency. Bosses may dictate voting patterns, control appointments, and wield considerable influence in other political processes. They do not necessarily hold public office themselves...
Thomas Pendergast, who made Boyle a precinct captain before his 21st birthday. Boyle's parents were friends of Harry and Bess Truman
Bess Truman
Bess Truman , was the wife of Harry S. Truman and First Lady of the United States from 1945 to 1953.-Early life:...
; when Harry Truman learned of young Boyle's political interest, the future president took him under his wing.
Boyle practiced law and served in Democratic politics in Kansas City until 1941, when he moved to Washington to take a job as counsel to a committee Senator Truman chaired. When Truman's assistant went into the Army, Boyle took the job. He helped manage Truman's 1944 Vice-presidential campaign. In 1948, he persuaded Truman to conduct a whistle stop tour of the Midwest, which won the President the states needed for his reelection.
In 1949, Boyle became assistant executive director, and then chairman, of the DNC. In 1951, he became implicated in a loan scandal. Though he refused to resign over the scandal, he left his office soon afterwards, citing health reasons. Boyle died in 1961 in 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....
Early life
Boyle was born in Leavenworth, KansasLeavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
in 1903, though his family moved across the state line. He attended Westport High School
Westport High School (Missouri)
Westport High School was a comprehensive high school located at 315 East 39th Street in Kansas City, Missouri. It was part of the Kansas City, Missouri School District. A trowel was used to lay the cornerstone of the school on June 8, 1907...
, where he soon organized a "Young Democrats Club" in the prosperous Fourth Ward of Kansas City. He then attended Kansas City Junior College. Boyle's political activities came to the attention of Kansas City political boss Tom Pendergast, who made him a precinct captain—though Boyle was still too young to vote himself.
Boyle left Kansas City for two years beginning in 1922 to attend Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
, though he returned home to secure his law degree at the Kansas City School of Law. He joined the Missouri Bar in 1926.
Political involvement
Boyle's parents were friends of the Trumans, and Harry Truman, also a member of the Pendergast machine, took young Boyle under his wing. Boyle was promoted to Democratic leader of the Eighth Ward, and also practiced law. He also became secretary to the Kansas City director of police. When an income tax investigation wrecked the Pendergast machine in 1939, Boyle survived the crash, becoming acting director of police, winning praise for his work there, and working for a time in the prosecutor's office.Truman had been elected senator in 1934. In 1941, Boyle followed him to Washington as assistant counsel to the Truman-chaired War Investigating Committee. When Truman's secretary (or assistant) left to return to the Army, Boyle replaced him.
In 1944, Boyle helped manage Truman's successful run for Vice President on 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...
's ticket. After Truman became President, and sought reelection in 1948, Boyle helped manage his campaign. He worked towards a high voter turnout, reckoning that since there were more Democrats than Republicans, a high turnout would favor his candidate. He persuaded Truman to embark on a "whistle stop" train tour of Southern Illinois and Ohio, which The New York Times credited with turning the election for Truman.
In 1949, Boyle became the salaried assistant executive director of the DNC, and then was elected chairman in August 1949. However, in 1951, he was implicated in an influence peddling
Influence peddling
Influence peddling is the illegal practice of using one's influence in government or connections with persons in authority to obtain favors or preferential treatment for another, usually in return for payment. Also called traffic of influence or trading in influence ...
scandal involving loans made by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation
Reconstruction Finance Corporation
The Reconstruction Finance Corporation was an independent agency of the United States government, established and chartered by the US Congress in 1932, Act of January 22, 1932, c. 8, 47 Stat. 5, during the administration of President Herbert Hoover. It was modeled after the War Finance Corporation...
. While a Senate investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing by Boyle, he resigned later that year due to "ill health". He returned to the practice of law in Washington, remaining there until he died in his sleep in 1961.
Boyle appeared on cover of the October 9, 1951 issue of Time magazine.