who was attorney general in 1953

by Anne Stoltenberg V 9 min read

Herbert Brownell Jr. (February 20, 1904 – May 1, 1996) was an American lawyer and Republican politician. From 1953 to 1957, he served as United States Attorney General in the administration of President Dwight D.

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Who painted the Attorney General's portrait?

Johansen 's portrait of Attorney General Brownell was painted in 1958. Jo hansen was born November 25, 1876 in Copenhagen. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago. In addition to Brownell’s portrait, he also painted President Hoover’s White House portrait as well as a painting of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.

Who was Herbert Brownell?

Herbert Brownell, Jr. was born in Peru, Nebraska, on February 20, 1904. He earned an A.B. degree from the University of Nebraska in 1924 , graduated from Yale University School of Law in 1927, and was admitted to the New York bar that same year. He practiced law with the firm of Root, Clark, Buckner, & Ballantine. He served as chairman of the Republican National Committee, and a member of the New York State Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association, and many professional and learned societies. Appointed Attorney General of the United States by President Eisenhower on January 21, 1953, he remained in office until November 8, 1957. After that he served as the United States member to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague. He died May 1, 1996.

Who appointed Brownell as Attorney General?

Brownell was appointed by Eisenhower as Attorney General and served from January 21, 1953 to October 23, 1957. On November 6, 1953, Brownell told members of the Chicago Executives Club, " Harry Dexter White was a Russian spy.... He smuggled secret documents to Russian agents for transmission to Moscow."

Who was the vice president of the United States in 1952?

In 1952, Brownell played an important role in convincing General Dwight Eisenhower, then supreme allied commander in Europe, to run for President of the United States and worked in the Eisenhower campaign. Along with Dewey, Brownell was instrumental in Eisenhower's selection of Richard Nixon as the vice-presidential running mate.

Who was the first civilian to be appointed to the Civilian Complaint Review Board?

In 1965, Brownell chaired a committee to find civilians, who would serve on the first impartial Civilian Complaint Review Board of New York City, the first such citizen oversight of police in the country.

Who was Brownell's wife?

He married Doris McCarter on June 16, 1934. They had four children (Joan Brownell, Ann Brownell, Thomas McCarter Brownell, and James Barker Brownell) and remained together until McCarter's death on June 12, 1979. He married his second wife Marion Taylor in 1987, but the couple separated and divorced in December 1989.

Who replaced Earl Warren?

Brownell took himself out of consideration for appointment by President Nixon as Chief Justice of the United States to replace Earl Warren in 1969, the eventual replacement being Warren E. Burger.

Where is Herbert Brownell?

Brownell, one of the seven children of Herbert and May Miller Brownell, was born in Nemaha County, Nebraska, near the town of Peru. His father, Herbert Brownell, was a professor and author at the Peru State Normal School in education and physical sciences. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Nebraska in 1924, and, in his senior year, being a member of the Society of Innocents, Brownell attended Yale Law School, earning his law degree in 1927. While at the University of Nebraska, he joined The Delta Upsilon fraternity.

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Overview

Herbert Brownell Jr. (February 20, 1904 – May 1, 1996) was an American lawyer and Republican politician. From 1953 to 1957, he served as United States Attorney General in the administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Early life

Brownell, one of the seven children of Herbert and May Miller Brownell, was born in Nemaha County, Nebraska, near the town of Peru. His father, Herbert Brownell, was a professor and author at the Peru State Normal School in education and physical sciences. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Nebraska in 1924, and, in his senior year, being a member of the Society of Innocents, Brownell attended Yale Law School, earning his law degree in 1927. While a…

Legal career

Brownell was admitted to the bar in New York and began his practice in New York City. In February 1929, he joined the law firm of Lord Day & Lord in New York, and except for periods of government service, he remained with them until his retirement in 1989. He married Doris McCarter on June 16, 1934. They had four children (Joan Brownell, Ann Brownell, Thomas McCarter Brownell, and James Barker Brownell) and remained together until McCarter's death on June 12, 1979. He mar…

State political career

Besides his law practice, Brownell had a long and active political career as a Republican. He was a member of the New York State Assembly (New York Co., 10th district) in 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1937.
In 1942, he was the campaign manager for Thomas Dewey's election as governor of New York. He also managed Dewey's 1944 and 1948 campaigns for president. From 1944 to 1946, he was the …

Attorney General

Brownell was appointed by Eisenhower as Attorney General and served from January 21, 1953 to October 23, 1957. On November 6, 1953, Brownell told members of the Chicago Executives Club, "Harry Dexter White was a Russian spy.... He smuggled secret documents to Russian agents for transmission to Moscow." At the same time, he helped the Eisenhower administration cover …

Later life

In 1965, Brownell chaired a committee to find civilians, who would serve on the first impartial Civilian Complaint Review Board of the New York City Police Department, the first such citizen oversight of police in the country.
Brownell took himself out of consideration for appointment by President Richard Nixon as Chief Justice of the United States to replace Earl Warren in 1969, the eventual replacement being Warre…

Sources

• Herbert Brownell and John P. Burke; Advising Ike: The Memoirs of Attorney General Herbert Brownell; 1993, University of Kansas Press; ISBN 0-7006-0590-8.