Jack K. McFall
Encyclopedia
Jack Kirkham McFall was a United States
diplomat
.
on September 28, 1905. He was raised in Denver, Colorado
and Kansas City, Missouri
, where he graduated from Northeast High School
. He then moved to Gary, Indiana
and worked in a bank
. In 1925, McFall enrolled in the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service; he graduated with a bachelor's degree
in foreign service in 1929. While he was attending Georgetown, McFall worked for Sen.
Arthur Raymond Robinson
(R
—IN) for three years, and in 1928 worked for the United States House Committee on Appropriations
upon a recommendation from Rep.
William R. Wood
(R
—IN-10
).
McFall had intended to join the United States Foreign Service
after college, but in the wake of the Wall Street Crash of 1929
, the Foreign Service imposed a hiring freeze. McFall therefore continued working on the staff of the Appropriations Committee, attending night classes at the National University law school
(later absorbed by the Georgetown University Law Center
) and acquiring an LL.B. in 1933. He was admitted to the bar of the District of Columbia in 1933. McFall worked on the staff of the Appropriations Committee until World War II
when he joined the United States Navy
, serving as a Commander
. With the end of the war, McFall returned to the staff of the Appropriations Committee.
McFall finally succeeded in joining the United States Foreign Service
in 1947. His first posting as a Foreign Service Officer
was in Montreal
1947-49. He spent 1949 in Athens
.
Later in 1949, President of the United States
Harry Truman nominated McFall as Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs
; he held this office from October 15, 1949 until September 9, 1952.
In September 1952, President Truman nominated McFall as United States Minister to Finland
and McFall presented his credentials on November 15, 1952. On September 10, 1954, the United States legation
in Helsinki
was upgraded to an embassy, and McFall became a full Ambassador. He served as United States Ambassador to Finland
until September 19, 1955.
McFall retired from government service in 1956. In retirement, he served as a member of the Board of Governors
of the Washington Institute of Foreign Affairs.
McFall died in 1990.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
.
Biography
Jack K. McFall was born in Tacoma, WashingtonTacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
on September 28, 1905. He was raised in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
and 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...
, where he graduated from Northeast High School
Northeast High School (Missouri)
Northeast High School is a comprehensive high school located at 415 Van Brunt Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri. It is part of the Kansas City, Missouri School District. Northeast High School is located next to Northeast Middle School.-References:* *...
. He then moved to Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
and worked in a bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
. In 1925, McFall enrolled in the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service; he graduated with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in foreign service in 1929. While he was attending Georgetown, McFall worked for Sen.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Arthur Raymond Robinson
Arthur Raymond Robinson
Arthur Raymond Robinson was a United States Senator from Indiana.-Early life:Born in Pickerington, Ohio, Robinson attended the common schools, graduated from the Ohio Northern University in 1901, the Indiana University Law School at Indianapolis in 1910, and the University of Chicago in 1913...
(R
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
—IN) for three years, and in 1928 worked for the United States House Committee on Appropriations
United States House Committee on Appropriations
The Committee on Appropriations is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is in charge of setting the specific expenditures of money by the government of the United States...
upon a recommendation from Rep.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
William R. Wood
William R. Wood (Indiana)
William Robert Wood was a U.S. Representative from Indiana.Born in Oxford, Indiana, Wood attended the public schools of Oxford. Then he went on to college and eventually graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan in 1882. He was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced...
(R
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
—IN-10
Indiana's 10th congressional district
Indiana's 10th congressional district was a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in Indiana. It encompassed roughly the "Old City Limits" of Indianapolis from 1983-2003...
).
McFall had intended to join the United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
after college, but in the wake of the Wall Street Crash of 1929
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
, the Foreign Service imposed a hiring freeze. McFall therefore continued working on the staff of the Appropriations Committee, attending night classes at the National University law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
(later absorbed by the 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...
) and acquiring an LL.B. in 1933. He was admitted to the bar of the District of Columbia in 1933. McFall worked on the staff of the Appropriations Committee until 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...
when he joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, serving as a Commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
. With the end of the war, McFall returned to the staff of the Appropriations Committee.
McFall finally succeeded in joining the United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
in 1947. His first posting as a Foreign Service Officer
Foreign Service Officer
A Foreign Service Officer is a commissioned member of the United States Foreign Service. As diplomats, Foreign Service Officers formulate and implement the foreign policy of the United States. FSOs spend most of their careers overseas as members of U.S. embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic...
was in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
1947-49. He spent 1949 in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
.
Later in 1949, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Harry Truman nominated McFall as Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs is the head of the Bureau of Legislative Affairs within the United States Department of State.- List of Assistant Secretaries of State for Legislative Affairs :-External links:**...
; he held this office from October 15, 1949 until September 9, 1952.
In September 1952, President Truman nominated McFall as United States Minister to Finland
United States Ambassador to Finland
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Finland.Until 1917 Finland had been a subject of Russia as the Grand Duchy of Finland. As a result of the Bolshevist October Revolution in Russia, Finland declared its independence on December 6, 1917. On December 22 This is a list of...
and McFall presented his credentials on November 15, 1952. On September 10, 1954, the United States legation
Legation
A legation was the term used in diplomacy to denote a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an Ambassador, a legation was headed by a Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary....
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
was upgraded to an embassy, and McFall became a full Ambassador. He served as United States Ambassador to Finland
United States Ambassador to Finland
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Finland.Until 1917 Finland had been a subject of Russia as the Grand Duchy of Finland. As a result of the Bolshevist October Revolution in Russia, Finland declared its independence on December 6, 1917. On December 22 This is a list of...
until September 19, 1955.
McFall retired from government service in 1956. In retirement, he served as a member of the Board of Governors
Board of governors
Board of governors is a term sometimes applied to the board of directors of a public entity or non-profit organization.Many public institutions, such as public universities, are government-owned corporations. The British Broadcasting Corporation was managed by a board of governors, though this role...
of the Washington Institute of Foreign Affairs.
McFall died in 1990.