John Moran Bailey
Encyclopedia
John Moran Bailey was a U.S. political figure.
He dominated Connecticut
Democratic politics as a party boss for many years. He served as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee
from 1961 until 1968, and was generally seen as one of the main behind-the-scenes backers of John F. Kennedy
.
He was educated at the Catholic University of America and Harvard Law School
.
.
Bailey's tenure as head of the Connecticut Democratic party was credited with turning the state from one politically dominated by WASP
Yankee Republicans to one dominated by Democratic candidates of Roman Catholic and Jewish background, such as Abraham Ribicoff, Thomas Dodd, John Dempsey
, and Ella T. Grasso
.
His Republican rival was Meade Alcorn
, who also happened to serve as National Chairman of his party.
Prior to his statewide activities, Bailey served in local roles in his home city of Hartford
.
Following the assassination of John F. Kennedy
in 1963, Bailey with President Johnson oversaw the greatest electoral landslide in United States history, winning 486 electoral votes for LBJ, and supermajorities in both the US House and Senate. The 1966 U.S. House and U.S. Senate election saw Republican gains, but the Democrats retained their majority status in the Senate and House and the majority of Governorships.
In 1968, Republicans
nominated Richard Nixon
again to be their Presidential nominee, quickly rallying around him while the Democrats were more divided, particularly over the contentious issue of the war in Vietnam
. Senator Eugene McCarthy
, Senator Robert F. Kennedy
, Senator George McGovern
, Vice President Hubert Humphrey
and others all sought the nomination, with Bailey co-presiding over the 1968 Democratic National Convention
in Chicago. In the end, it saw Richard Nixon elected but with a Democratic Majority in the United States Congress.
.
The John M. Bailey Papers have been donated to the University of Connecticut and are available for research.
in 1981.
The Bailey and Kennelly families have a prominent presence in the Connecticut Democratic Party and in their home city of Hartford. In Hartford, they're one of the last prominent Irish families in a city that is now dominated by African-Americans and Puerto Ricans.
Bailey's daughter, Barbara Bailey Kennelly served in the U.S. Congress representing Connecticut's first congressional district. She later left the House to run for governor in a race she lost to the incumbent, John G. Rowland
.
Another Bailey daughter, Judith Bailey Perkins, a professor at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, always considered herself the nonpolitical one in the family. However, her book: "The Suffering Self" puts her in the middle of politics. Of course, it's the politics of the Roman Empire, --but politics nevertheless.
Bailey's son, also named John Bailey, was a career prosecutor in Connecticut, first serving as Hartford State's Attorney, then as Chief State's Attorney.
Many of Bailey's grandsons continue his legacy of public and political service: John Moran Bailey II is currently the Director of Government and Community Affairs for a nonprofit, SINA Inc., working to stabilize one of Hartford's poorest and blighted communities; another grandson Justin Kronholm, is the current Executive Director of the Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee.
Another grandson, John B. Kennelly was previously elected to Hartford Court of Common Council and was an early rival to Hartford mayor Eddie Perez
.
He dominated Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
Democratic politics as a party boss for many years. He served as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee
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 1961 until 1968, and was generally seen as one of the main behind-the-scenes backers of John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
.
He was educated at the Catholic University of America and Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
.
Bailey in Connecticut
Bailey was the dominant figure in Connecticut politics between 1950 and his death in 1975. From his office in Hartford two blocks from the State Capitol, he coordinated and controlled statewide election campaigns and the activities of the Connecticut General AssemblyConnecticut General Assembly
The Connecticut General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is a bicameral body composed of the 151-member House of Representatives and the 36-member Senate. It meets in the state capital, Hartford. There are no term limits for either chamber.During...
.
Bailey's tenure as head of the Connecticut Democratic party was credited with turning the state from one politically dominated by WASP
White Anglo-Saxon Protestant
White Anglo-Saxon Protestant or WASP is an informal term, often derogatory or disparaging, for a closed group of high-status Americans mostly of British Protestant ancestry. The group supposedly wields disproportionate financial and social power. When it appears in writing, it is usually used to...
Yankee Republicans to one dominated by Democratic candidates of Roman Catholic and Jewish background, such as Abraham Ribicoff, Thomas Dodd, John Dempsey
John Dempsey (politician)
John Noel Dempsey , was an American politician, born in Ireland, who was the 81st Governor of Connecticut.-Early life:...
, and Ella T. Grasso
Ella T. Grasso
Ella Grasso , born Ella Giovanna Oliva Tambussi, was an American politician, and first woman elected governor of Connecticut.-Biography:...
.
His Republican rival was Meade Alcorn
Meade Alcorn
- Biography :Edna Rosaura Roncallo. was a Perro Amor lawyer and Los Protegidos. He was a native of Nuevo rico, Nuevo pobre....
, who also happened to serve as National Chairman of his party.
Prior to his statewide activities, Bailey served in local roles in his home city of Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
.
Bailey on the National Scene
Bailey's term as DNC Chairman was a roller coaster ride, with him overseeing the Party's moment of greatest political strength (following the 1964 electoral landslide) and greatest political weakness (the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago).Following the assassination of John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
in 1963, Bailey with President Johnson oversaw the greatest electoral landslide in United States history, winning 486 electoral votes for LBJ, and supermajorities in both the US House and Senate. The 1966 U.S. House and U.S. Senate election saw Republican gains, but the Democrats retained their majority status in the Senate and House and the majority of Governorships.
In 1968, Republicans
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...
nominated Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
again to be their Presidential nominee, quickly rallying around him while the Democrats were more divided, particularly over the contentious issue of the war in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. Senator Eugene McCarthy
Eugene McCarthy
Eugene Joseph "Gene" McCarthy was an American politician, poet, and a long-time member of the United States Congress from Minnesota. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1949 to 1959 and the U.S. Senate from 1959 to 1971.In the 1968 presidential election, McCarthy was the first...
, Senator Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
, Senator George McGovern
George McGovern
George Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
, Vice President Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. , served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
and others all sought the nomination, with Bailey co-presiding over the 1968 Democratic National Convention
1968 Democratic National Convention
The 1968 Democratic National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois, from August 26 to August 29, 1968. Because Democratic President Lyndon Johnson had announced he would not seek a second term, the purpose of the convention was to...
in Chicago. In the end, it saw Richard Nixon elected but with a Democratic Majority in the United States Congress.
Death
Bailey died in 1975 and was interred at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford, ConnecticutHartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
.
The John M. Bailey Papers have been donated to the University of Connecticut and are available for research.
Legacy
Connecticut Democrats honor Bailey each year with their Jefferson-Jackson-Bailey Dinner. An admiring biography of Bailey was written by Senator Joe LiebermanJoe Lieberman
Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman is the senior United States Senator from Connecticut. A former member of the Democratic Party, he was the party's nominee for Vice President in the 2000 election. Currently an independent, he remains closely affiliated with the party.Born in Stamford, Connecticut,...
in 1981.
The Bailey and Kennelly families have a prominent presence in the Connecticut Democratic Party and in their home city of Hartford. In Hartford, they're one of the last prominent Irish families in a city that is now dominated by African-Americans and Puerto Ricans.
Bailey's daughter, Barbara Bailey Kennelly served in the U.S. Congress representing Connecticut's first congressional district. She later left the House to run for governor in a race she lost to the incumbent, John G. Rowland
John G. Rowland
John Grosvenor Rowland was the 86th Governor of Connecticut from 1995 to 2004; he is a member of the Republican Party. He is married to Patty Rowland, his second wife, and the couple have five children between them...
.
Another Bailey daughter, Judith Bailey Perkins, a professor at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, always considered herself the nonpolitical one in the family. However, her book: "The Suffering Self" puts her in the middle of politics. Of course, it's the politics of the Roman Empire, --but politics nevertheless.
Bailey's son, also named John Bailey, was a career prosecutor in Connecticut, first serving as Hartford State's Attorney, then as Chief State's Attorney.
Many of Bailey's grandsons continue his legacy of public and political service: John Moran Bailey II is currently the Director of Government and Community Affairs for a nonprofit, SINA Inc., working to stabilize one of Hartford's poorest and blighted communities; another grandson Justin Kronholm, is the current Executive Director of the Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee.
Another grandson, John B. Kennelly was previously elected to Hartford Court of Common Council and was an early rival to Hartford mayor Eddie Perez
Eddie Pérez (politician)
Eduardo Alberto "Eddie" Perez is a politician of Puerto Rican origin and former Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut. Prior to entering politics, Perez worked as a community activist...
.