Alger Chapman
Encyclopedia
Alger Baldwin Chapman was an attorney, businessman, New York state official, and adviser to New York Governor Thomas Dewey
. Chapman was involved in Republican politics in New York, and managed several campaigns in the state.
Chapman was born in 1904 on Long Island
; he attended law school at Columbia University
. After a brief stint of public service, he became a partner in a New York law firm. In 1945, Dewey appointed him to the tax commission, a position from which he resigned to run Dewey's 1946 reelection bid, and to which he was reappointed by the reelected governor.
Chapman was the New York manager for Dewey's unsuccessful presidential bid, and remained involved in Republican politics until the age of 70. After leaving state government in the early 1950s, he entered the corporate world, heading one corporation and holding directorships in others. He died in 1983.
, Chapman attended Williams College
and Columbia Law School, from which he graduated in 1930. While still in law school, he married his first wife, the former Elizabeth Ives, by whom he had four children. After serving two years as an attorney in the office of the Legislative Counsel to the United States Senate, he became a partner in the Washington, D.C. firm of Alvord & Alvord. In 1939, he was put in charge of its New York office.
Chapman followed up his success by acting as the New York manager for Dewey's 1948 Presidential bid, and succeeded in garnering New York's 47 electoral votes for Dewey, though the ticket was defeated nationwide. He was unsuccessful in managing John Foster Dulles
's 1949 Senate bid against former governor Herbert Lehman but was successful in managing Dewey's 1950 bid for a third term and in securing New York for Dwight Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956. He served as state treasurer for the Republicans from 1949 to 1959, and would serve on its finance committee in 1974.
Life Savers Inc.
, which merged with E. R. Squibb and Sons Inc., later becoming the Squibb Corporation
. Chapman remained a director of Squibb after the merger, and also served as a director of ABC, the Bowery Savings Bank
and the Bank of New York
. He was involved in civic activities, for nine years chairing the board of trustees of Adelphi University
and was also involved with the YMCA
and the Police Athletic League
. He died in 1983 in New York City.
Thomas Dewey
Thomas Edmund Dewey was the 47th Governor of New York . In 1944 and 1948, he was the Republican candidate for President, but lost both times. He led the liberal faction of the Republican Party, in which he fought conservative Ohio Senator Robert A. Taft...
. Chapman was involved in Republican politics in New York, and managed several campaigns in the state.
Chapman was born in 1904 on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
; he attended law school at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. After a brief stint of public service, he became a partner in a New York law firm. In 1945, Dewey appointed him to the tax commission, a position from which he resigned to run Dewey's 1946 reelection bid, and to which he was reappointed by the reelected governor.
Chapman was the New York manager for Dewey's unsuccessful presidential bid, and remained involved in Republican politics until the age of 70. After leaving state government in the early 1950s, he entered the corporate world, heading one corporation and holding directorships in others. He died in 1983.
Early life
Born in 1904 in Hempstead, New YorkHempstead (village), New York
Hempstead is a village located in the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 53,891 at the 2010 census.Hofstra University is located on the border between Hempstead and Uniondale.-Foundation:...
, Chapman attended Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
and Columbia Law School, from which he graduated in 1930. While still in law school, he married his first wife, the former Elizabeth Ives, by whom he had four children. After serving two years as an attorney in the office of the Legislative Counsel to the United States Senate, he became a partner in the Washington, D.C. firm of Alvord & Alvord. In 1939, he was put in charge of its New York office.
Dewey and politics
In 1945, Governor Dewey named Chapman State Tax Commissioner. Dewey and Chapman had met only briefly, but after inquiry, Governor Dewey learned that Chapman was eminently qualified for the job, if he was willing to take it. When, the following year, Governor Dewey named Chapman to a highway commission, he was so impressed at how smoothly the meeting had gone that he appointed Chapman, who had no political experience., as his campaign manager in 1946. Chapman resigned from his tax post to manage Dewey's successful campaign, and the newly reelected governor reappointed him after the election, and he served in that position until he resigned in 1948 to return to the law.Chapman followed up his success by acting as the New York manager for Dewey's 1948 Presidential bid, and succeeded in garnering New York's 47 electoral votes for Dewey, though the ticket was defeated nationwide. He was unsuccessful in managing 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...
's 1949 Senate bid against former governor Herbert Lehman but was successful in managing Dewey's 1950 bid for a third term and in securing New York for Dwight Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956. He served as state treasurer for the Republicans from 1949 to 1959, and would serve on its finance committee in 1974.
Businessman
In 1958, Chapman became chairman and chief executive officer of Beech-NutBeech-Nut
Beech-Nut Nutrition Corporation is a baby food company that is currently owned by the Swiss branded consumer-goods firm Hero Group.- History :...
Life Savers Inc.
Life Savers
Life Savers is an American brand of ring-shaped mints and artificially fruit-flavored hard candy. The candy is known for its distinctive packaging, coming in aluminum foil rolls....
, which merged with E. R. Squibb and Sons Inc., later becoming the Squibb Corporation
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb , often referred to as BMS, is a pharmaceutical company, headquartered in New York City. The company was formed in 1989, following the merger of its predecessors Bristol-Myers and the Squibb Corporation...
. Chapman remained a director of Squibb after the merger, and also served as a director of ABC, the Bowery Savings Bank
Bowery Savings Bank
The Bowery Savings Bank of New York City was chartered in May 1834 and is now part of Capital One Bank.-History:Opened in 1834 on the Bowery in NYC. By 1980 it had over 35 branches located in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties. When bank deregulation was enacted the bank...
and the Bank of New York
Bank of New York
The Bank of New York was a global financial services company established in 1784 by the American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. It existed until its merger with the Mellon Financial Corporation on July 2, 2007...
. He was involved in civic activities, for nine years chairing the board of trustees of Adelphi University
Adelphi University
Adelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is the oldest institution of higher education on Long Island. For the sixth year, Adelphi University has been named a “Best Buy” in higher education by the Fiske Guide to...
and was also involved with the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
and the Police Athletic League
Police Athletic League
The Police Athletic League is an organization in many American police departments in which members of the police force coach young people, both boys and girls, in sports, and help with homework and other school-related activities. The purpose is to build character, help strengthen police-community...
. He died in 1983 in New York City.