John Francis Neylan
Encyclopedia
John Francis Neylan, lawyer
, journalist
, political and educational figure, was born in New York City
on November 6 1885.
After graduation from Seton Hall College in New Jersey in 1903, he went West. California was his destination, but he stopped off in Arizona and worked there for several years as a teamster
, bank teller and reporter. The desire for a newspaper career took him to San Francisco and, eventually, a job with the Bulletin. One of his first assignments was to cover Hiram Johnson
's first gubernatorial campaign. Johnson was impressed with the young reporter, and after he was elected, appointed Neylan Chairman of the newly created State Board of Control. The Board installed an accounting system and drew up the state's first budget, and was so successful in regulating the state's finances, that the $2,000,000 deficit, which was Johnson's inheritance, was converted into an $8,000,000 surplus at the end of six years.
In his spare time in Sacramento, Neylan studied law, and he passed the bar examination in 1916. After Governor Johnson went to Washington as U.S. Senator, Neylan moved to San Francisco to practice law, and he became one of the best known and important lawyers in the state. His talents attracted the attention of William Randolph Hearst
, and in 1919 Neylan negotiated Hearst's purchase of the Call newspaper and became its publisher. By 1925 the lawyer was Hearst's trusted advisor and became general counsel for all his enterprises. Although their professional relationship ended in 1937, the two remained good friends.
In 1928 Governor Clement C. Young appointed Neylan to the Board of Regents of the University of California
, where he served for 27 years. Neylan was an influential member of the Board's Finance Committee and was in great measure responsible for the University's role in the development of atomic research. Neylan and Robert Gordon Sproul
were members of the Bohemian Club
, and Sproul sponsored Ernest Lawrence
's membership in 1932. Through the club, Lawrence met William H. Crocker
and Edwin Pauley; influential men who helped him get money for his energy investigations. Neylan believed strongly in Lawrence's vision.
In 1949-1950 he was a central figure in the bitter controversy over the loyalty oath
. He resigned his regency in October 1955. Shortly thereafter he went into semi-retirement. He removed his law practice from San Francisco to Palo Alto, to be nearer to his ranch, Corte Madera, and planned to write his memoirs. He died on August 19, 1960.
Neylan appeared on the cover of Time Magazine on April 29 1935. An extensive collection of his professional and personal papers are on file at the Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley
.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, political and educational figure, was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on November 6 1885.
After graduation from Seton Hall College in New Jersey in 1903, he went West. California was his destination, but he stopped off in Arizona and worked there for several years as a teamster
Teamster
A teamster, in modern American English, is a truck driver. The trade union named after them is the International Brotherhood of Teamsters , one of the largest unions in the United States....
, bank teller and reporter. The desire for a newspaper career took him to San Francisco and, eventually, a job with the Bulletin. One of his first assignments was to cover Hiram Johnson
Hiram Johnson
Hiram Warren Johnson was a leading American progressive and later isolationist politician from California; he served as the 23rd Governor from 1911 to 1917, and as a United States Senator from 1917 to 1945.-Early life:...
's first gubernatorial campaign. Johnson was impressed with the young reporter, and after he was elected, appointed Neylan Chairman of the newly created State Board of Control. The Board installed an accounting system and drew up the state's first budget, and was so successful in regulating the state's finances, that the $2,000,000 deficit, which was Johnson's inheritance, was converted into an $8,000,000 surplus at the end of six years.
In his spare time in Sacramento, Neylan studied law, and he passed the bar examination in 1916. After Governor Johnson went to Washington as U.S. Senator, Neylan moved to San Francisco to practice law, and he became one of the best known and important lawyers in the state. His talents attracted the attention of William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
, and in 1919 Neylan negotiated Hearst's purchase of the Call newspaper and became its publisher. By 1925 the lawyer was Hearst's trusted advisor and became general counsel for all his enterprises. Although their professional relationship ended in 1937, the two remained good friends.
In 1928 Governor Clement C. Young appointed Neylan to the Board of Regents of the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, where he served for 27 years. Neylan was an influential member of the Board's Finance Committee and was in great measure responsible for the University's role in the development of atomic research. Neylan and Robert Gordon Sproul
Robert Gordon Sproul
Robert Gordon Sproul was eleventh President of the University of California serving from 1930 to 1958....
were members of the Bohemian Club
Bohemian Club
The Bohemian Club is a private men's club in San Francisco, California, United States.Its clubhouse is located at 624 Taylor Street in San Francisco...
, and Sproul sponsored Ernest Lawrence
Ernest Lawrence
Ernest Orlando Lawrence was an American physicist and Nobel Laureate, known for his invention, utilization, and improvement of the cyclotron atom-smasher beginning in 1929, based on his studies of the works of Rolf Widerøe, and his later work in uranium-isotope separation for the Manhattan Project...
's membership in 1932. Through the club, Lawrence met William H. Crocker
William H. Crocker
-Biography:He was born in 1861 in Sacramento, California.He attended Phillips Academy, Andover and Yale University, where he was a brother of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity...
and Edwin Pauley; influential men who helped him get money for his energy investigations. Neylan believed strongly in Lawrence's vision.
In 1949-1950 he was a central figure in the bitter controversy over the loyalty oath
Loyalty oath
A loyalty oath is an oath of loyalty to an organization, institution, or state of which an individual is a member.In this context, a loyalty oath is distinct from pledge or oath of allegiance...
. He resigned his regency in October 1955. Shortly thereafter he went into semi-retirement. He removed his law practice from San Francisco to Palo Alto, to be nearer to his ranch, Corte Madera, and planned to write his memoirs. He died on August 19, 1960.
Neylan appeared on the cover of Time Magazine on April 29 1935. An extensive collection of his professional and personal papers are on file at the Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
External links
- Guide to the John Francis Neylan Papers at The Bancroft Library
- Time Magazine article, April 29 1935