Thomas Gardiner Corcoran
Encyclopedia
Thomas Gardiner Corcoran (1900–1981) was one of several Irish American
advisors in President Franklin D. Roosevelt
's brain trust
during the New Deal
, and later, a close friend and advisor to President Lyndon B. Johnson
.
Corcoran was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island
, and educated at Brown University
(where he was class valedictorian
) and Harvard Law School
. He clerked for Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
at the United States Supreme Court in 1926-27. In 1932, after practicing corporate law in New York
, Corcoran joined the Reconstruction Finance Corporation
. When Roosevelt began to take notice of his efforts, Corcoran was given a wider range of responsibilities than his official position as assistant general counsel allowed. He organized administrative agencies for various New Deal programs and assisted in drafting such legislation as the Fair Labor Standards Act
of 1938.
Much of his work during the New Deal
was in conjunction with Benjamin V. Cohen
. Together Corcoran and Cohen were known as the "Gold Dust Twins
" and were on the cover of Time
Magazine's September 12, 1938 edition. Nicknamed "Tommy the Cork" by Roosevelt, Corcoran was the outgoing yang to Cohen's shy and retiring yin. Eventually Corcoran had a falling out with Roosevelt.
Corcoran's work after leaving government service led him to be dubbed the first of the modern lobbyists. From 1945 through 1947, President Harry S. Truman
apparently ordered Corcoran's phones tapped. The transcripts of the wiretaps were deposited in the Truman Presidential library and released to researchers upon Corcoran's death in 1981.
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
advisors in President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
's brain trust
Brain Trust
Brain trust began as a term for a group of close advisors to a political candidate or incumbent, prized for their expertise in particular fields. The term is most associated with the group of advisors to Franklin Roosevelt during his presidential administration...
during the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
, and later, a close friend and advisor to President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon 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...
.
Corcoran was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 71,148 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth largest city in the state.-History:...
, and educated at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
(where he was class valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
) 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...
. He clerked for Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. was an American jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1902 to 1932...
at the United States Supreme Court in 1926-27. In 1932, after practicing corporate law in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Corcoran joined the Reconstruction Finance Corporation
Reconstruction Finance Corporation
The 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...
. When Roosevelt began to take notice of his efforts, Corcoran was given a wider range of responsibilities than his official position as assistant general counsel allowed. He organized administrative agencies for various New Deal programs and assisted in drafting such legislation as the Fair Labor Standards Act
Fair Labor Standards Act
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 is a federal statute of the United States. The FLSA established a national minimum wage, guaranteed 'time-and-a-half' for overtime in certain jobs, and prohibited most employment of minors in "oppressive child labor," a term that is defined in the statute...
of 1938.
Much of his work during the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
was in conjunction with Benjamin V. Cohen
Benjamin Victor Cohen
Benjamin V. Cohen , a member of the administrations of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, had a public service career that spanned from the early New Deal through and beyond the Vietnam War era.-Early career:...
. Together Corcoran and Cohen were known as the "Gold Dust Twins
Gold Dust Twins
The Gold Dust Twins originated as the mascots for Fairbank's Gold Dust Washing Powder products as early as 1892. It has seen popular use as a moniker in several instances since...
" and were on the cover of Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
Magazine's September 12, 1938 edition. Nicknamed "Tommy the Cork" by Roosevelt, Corcoran was the outgoing yang to Cohen's shy and retiring yin. Eventually Corcoran had a falling out with Roosevelt.
Corcoran's work after leaving government service led him to be dubbed the first of the modern lobbyists. From 1945 through 1947, President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
apparently ordered Corcoran's phones tapped. The transcripts of the wiretaps were deposited in the Truman Presidential library and released to researchers upon Corcoran's death in 1981.