Suite 8F Group
Encyclopedia
The Suite 8F Group was a network of politically active businessman in Texas and other southern states in the early 1960s. The name comes from the room in the Lamar Hotel in Houston, Texas
where they held their meetings.
political landscape that could be found in Suite 8F's roster were the following:
Suite 8F helped to coordinate the political activities of other right-wing politicians and businessmen based in the South; these included Robert Anderson
, president of the Texas Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, Secretary of the Navy and Secretary of the Treasury; Robert Kerr
of Kerr-McGee
Oil Industries; Billie Sol Estes
, an entrepreneur in the cotton industry; Glenn McCarthy
of McCarthy Oil and Gas Company; Earl E. T. Smith, of U.S. Sugar Corporation; Fred Korth
, Continental National Bank and Navy Secretary; Ross Sterling
of Humble Oil
; Texas oil magnates Sid Richardson and Clint Murchison, Sr.
, H. L. Hunt
of Placid Oil; Eugene B. Germany (Mustang Oil Company), David Harold Byrd, chairmain of Byrd Oil Corporation; Lawrence D. Bell, of Bell Helicopter; William D. Pawley
(business interests in Cuba
), Gordon McLendon
of KLIF; Senators George Smathers
, Richard Russell
, James Eastland
, Benjamin Everett Jordan; and lobbyists Fred Black and Bobby Baker
, also affiliated with the Serve-U Corporation.
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
where they held their meetings.
Membership
Among the luminaries of the conservative DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
political landscape that could be found in Suite 8F's roster were the following:
- GeorgeGeorge R. BrownGeorge Rufus Brown was a prominent Houstonian entrepreneur. Brown led Brown & Root Inc. to become one of the largest construction companies in the world and helped to foster the political career of Lyndon B. Johnson. The George R. Brown Convention Center and the George R...
and Herman Brown of Brown and Root - Jesse H. Jones, an investor affiliated with the Reconstruction Finance CorporationReconstruction Finance CorporationThe 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...
- Gus WorthamGus WorthamGus Sessions Wortham , was a businessman and civic leader.-Biography:He was born on February 18, 1891 in Mexia, Texas to John Lee Wortham and Fannie Sessions. He moved with his father, John Lee Wortham, to Houston, Texas, and opened John L. Wortham and Son, an insurance agency...
of the American General Insurance Company - James Abercrombie of the Cameron Iron Works
- Hugh Roy CullenHugh Roy CullenHugh Roy Cullen was an American industrialist and philanthropist. Cullen was heavily involved in the petroleum industry, was a large supporter of the University of Houston, and longtime chairman of the board of regents for the university...
of Quintana Petroleum - Texas Governor William HobbyWilliam P. HobbyWilliam Pettus Hobby was the publisher of the Houston Post and the 27th Governor of the U.S. state of Texas from 1917 to 1921....
- William Vinson, Great Southern Life Insurance
- James A. ElkinsJames A. ElkinsJames Anderson Elkins Sr. was a Houston, Texas lawyer. He co-founded the law firm, Vinson and Elkins.Born in Huntsville, Texas, his father was a former Walker County sheriff, but died when Elkins was just a boy. He was reared by his mother and attended public schools. He later attended the...
, American General Insurance and Pure Oil Pipe Line - Morgan J. Davis, of Humble OilHumble OilHumble Oil and Refining Co. was founded in 1911. The company would later consolidate with Standard Oil of New Jersey to become Exxon.-Early history:...
- Albert ThomasAlbert Richard ThomasThis article is about the US Congressman. For the article on the French Socialist and First Director of the International Labour Organisation see Albert Thomas ....
, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense - Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon B. JohnsonLyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
- John ConnallyJohn ConnallyJohn Bowden Connally, Jr. , was an influential American politician, serving as the 39th governor of Texas, Secretary of the Navy under President John F. Kennedy, and as Secretary of the Treasury under President Richard M. Nixon. While he was Governor in 1963, Connally was a passenger in the car in...
- Alvin Wirtz, Thomas CorcoranThomas CorcoranThomas Corcoran may refer to:*Tommy Corcoran , baseball player*Tom Corcoran , Florida-based writer of mystery novels*Tom Corcoran , American alpine skier*Tom Corcoran , U.S. politician...
, Homer ThornberryHomer ThornberryWilliam Homer Thornberry was a United States Representative from the 10th congressional district of Texas from 1948 to 1963, and then was a federal judge.-Biography:...
and Edward ClarkEdward Clark (diplomat)Edward Aubrey Clark served as the United States Ambassador to Australia from 1965 to 1968. Mr. Ed., as he was known to those who worked with him, was a taciturn man with a slight lisp who was able by position and hard work to influence both local and national policy.-Notes:...
, were four lawyerLawyerA 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...
s who also worked closely with the Suite 8F Group.
Suite 8F helped to coordinate the political activities of other right-wing politicians and businessmen based in the South; these included Robert Anderson
Robert Anderson
-Arts and entertainment:*Robert Anderson , Scottish literary scholar and editor*Robert Rowand Anderson , Scottish architect*Robert Alexander Anderson , American composer...
, president of the Texas Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, Secretary of the Navy and Secretary of the Treasury; Robert Kerr
Robert Kerr
Robert Kerr may refer to:* Robert Kerr, 1st Marquess of Lothian , Scottish nobleman* Robert Kerr * Robert Kerr , Canadian doctor, Indian Department officer and judge...
of Kerr-McGee
Kerr-McGee
The Kerr-McGee Corporation, founded in 1929, was an energy company involved in the exploration and production of oil and gas. On June 23, 2006, Houston-based Anadarko Petroleum Corporation agreed to acquire Kerr-McGee in an all-cash transaction totaling $16.5 billion plus the assumption of $2.6...
Oil Industries; Billie Sol Estes
Billie Sol Estes
Billie Sol Estes is an American former financier best known for his association with U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson. Mr. Estes currently lives in Granbury, Texas.-Fraud charges:...
, an entrepreneur in the cotton industry; Glenn McCarthy
Glenn McCarthy
Glenn Herbert McCarthy was a wildcatter and a charismatic oil tycoon. The media often referred to him as "Diamond Glenn" and "The King of the Wildcatters". McCarthy was an oil prospector and entrepreneur who owned many businesses in various sectors of the economy...
of McCarthy Oil and Gas Company; Earl E. T. Smith, of U.S. Sugar Corporation; Fred Korth
Fred Korth
Fred Korth served as Secretary of the Navy during 1962-63; he was also Assistant Secretary of the Army in 1952-53....
, Continental National Bank and Navy Secretary; Ross Sterling
Ross S. Sterling
Ross Shaw Sterling was a U.S. political figure who was the 31st Governor of Texas, having served a single two-year term between January 20, 1931, and January 17, 1933....
of Humble Oil
Humble Oil
Humble Oil and Refining Co. was founded in 1911. The company would later consolidate with Standard Oil of New Jersey to become Exxon.-Early history:...
; Texas oil magnates Sid Richardson and Clint Murchison, Sr.
Clint Murchison, Sr.
Clinton Williams Murchison, Sr. , was a noted Texas-based oil magnate and political operative. He was also the father of Dallas Cowboys owner Clint Murchison, Jr..-Personal:...
, H. L. Hunt
H. L. Hunt
Haroldson Lafayette Hunt, Jr. , known throughout his life as "H. L. Hunt," was a Texas oil tycoon and conservative activist. He built one of the world's largest fortunes by trading poker winnings for oil rights, ultimately securing title to much of the East Texas Oil Field, one of the world's very...
of Placid Oil; Eugene B. Germany (Mustang Oil Company), David Harold Byrd, chairmain of Byrd Oil Corporation; Lawrence D. Bell, of Bell Helicopter; William D. Pawley
William D. Pawley
William D. Pawley was a U.S. ambassador, a noted businessman and associated with the Flying Tigers American Volunteer Group during World War II.-Early life:...
(business interests in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
), Gordon McLendon
Gordon McLendon
Gordon Barton McLendon was a radio pioneer and pirate radio broadcaster. He has been coined the Maverick of Radio. McLendon is widely credited for perfecting, with great commercial success, the Top 40 radio format during the 1950s and 1960s which was first invented by Todd Storz and for developing...
of KLIF; Senators George Smathers
George Smathers
George Armistead Smathers was an American lawyer and politician who represented the state of Florida in the United States Senate for eighteen years, from 1951 until 1969, as a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life:...
, Richard Russell
Richard Russell, Jr.
Richard Brevard Russell, Jr. was a Democratic Party politician from the southeastern state of Georgia. He served as state governor from 1931 to 1933 and United States senator from 1933 to 1971....
, James Eastland
James Eastland
James Oliver Eastland was an American politician from Mississippi who briefly served in the United States Senate as a Democrat in 1941; and again from 1943 until his resignation December 27, 1978. From 1947 to 1978, he served alongside John Stennis, also a Democrat...
, Benjamin Everett Jordan; and lobbyists Fred Black and Bobby Baker
Bobby Baker
Robert Gene Baker was a political adviser to Lyndon B. Johnson, and an organizer for the Democratic Party.-Life:Baker was the son of the Pickens postmaster and lived in a house on Hampton Avenue...
, also affiliated with the Serve-U Corporation.