Alger Baldwin Chapman (November 2, 1904 - November 3, 1983) was an attorney, businessman, New York state official, and adviser to New York Governor Thomas Dewey. Chapman was involved in Republican politics in New York, and managed several campaigns in the state.
Chapman was born in 1904 on Long Island; he attended law school at Columbia University. After a brief stint of public service, he became a partner in a New York law firm. In 1945, Dewey appointed him to the tax commission, a position from which he resigned to run Dewey's 1946 reelection bid, and to which he was reappointed by the reelected governor.
Chapman was the New York manager for Dewey's unsuccessful presidential bid, and remained involved in Republican politics until the age of 70. After leaving state government in the early 1950s, he entered the corporate world, heading one corporation and holding directorships in others. He died in 1983.
Born on November 2, 1904[1] in Hempstead, New York, Chapman attended Williams College and Columbia Law School,[2] from which he graduated in 1930. While still in law school, he married his first wife, the former Elizabeth Ives, by whom he had four children.[1] One of his children, Alger Chapman Jr. became the CEO of both the investment bank Shearson, Hammill & Co. and the financial exchange Chicago Board Options Exchange. After serving two years[1] as an attorney in the office of the Legislative Counsel to the United States Senate, he became a partner in the Washington, D.C. firm of Alvord & Alvord. In 1939, he was put in charge of its New York office.[2]
Dewey and politics
In 1945, Governor Dewey named Chapman State Tax Commissioner. Dewey and Chapman had met only briefly, but after inquiry, Governor Dewey learned that Chapman was eminently qualified for the job, if he was willing to take it.[1] When, the following year, Governor Dewey named Chapman to a highway commission, he was so impressed at how smoothly the meeting had gone that he appointed Chapman, who had no political experience., as his campaign manager in 1946.[1] Chapman resigned from his tax post to manage Dewey's successful campaign, and the newly reelected governor reappointed him after the election, and he served in that position until he resigned in 1948 to return to the law.[1]
Chapman followed up his success by acting as the New York manager for Dewey's 1948 Presidential bid, and succeeded in garnering New York's 47 electoral votes for Dewey, though the ticket was defeated nationwide. He was unsuccessful in managing John Foster Dulles's 1949 Senate bid against former governor Herbert Lehman[1] but was successful in managing Dewey's 1950 bid for a third term and in securing New York for Dwight Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956.[2] He served as state treasurer for the Republicans from 1949 to 1959, and would serve on its finance committee in 1974.[2]
Businessman
In 1958, Chapman became chairman and chief executive officer of Beech-NutLife Savers Inc., which merged with E. R. Squibb and Sons Inc., later becoming the Squibb Corporation. Chapman remained a director of Squibb after the merger, and also served as a director of ABC, the Bowery Savings Bank and the Bank of New York.[2] He was involved in civic activities, for nine years chairing the board of trustees of Adelphi University and was also involved with the YMCA and the Police Athletic League. He died in 1983 in New York City.[2]
References
^ abcdefg"Master manager: Alger Baldwin Chapman", The New York Times, 1956-09-05, retrieved 2009-08-13 (fee for article)
^ abcdefSaxon, Wolfgang (1983-11-05), "A.B. Chapman dies; a leader of G.O.P.", The New York Times, retrieved 2009-08-13 (fee for article)
February 27, 2023
alger, chapman, alger, baldwin, chapman, november, 1904, november, 1983, attorney, businessman, york, state, official, adviser, york, governor, thomas, dewey, chapman, involved, republican, politics, york, managed, several, campaigns, state, alger, baldwin, ch. Alger Baldwin Chapman November 2 1904 November 3 1983 was an attorney businessman New York state official and adviser to New York Governor Thomas Dewey Chapman was involved in Republican politics in New York and managed several campaigns in the state Alger Baldwin ChapmanBorn 1904 11 02 November 2 1904DiedNovember 3 1983 1983 11 03 aged 79 Alma materWilliams CollegeColumbia UniversityKnown forCEO of Beech Nut Life SaversChapman was born in 1904 on Long Island he attended law school at Columbia University After a brief stint of public service he became a partner in a New York law firm In 1945 Dewey appointed him to the tax commission a position from which he resigned to run Dewey s 1946 reelection bid and to which he was reappointed by the reelected governor Chapman was the New York manager for Dewey s unsuccessful presidential bid and remained involved in Republican politics until the age of 70 After leaving state government in the early 1950s he entered the corporate world heading one corporation and holding directorships in others He died in 1983 Contents 1 Early life 2 Dewey and politics 3 Businessman 4 ReferencesEarly life EditBorn on November 2 1904 1 in Hempstead New York Chapman attended Williams College and Columbia Law School 2 from which he graduated in 1930 While still in law school he married his first wife the former Elizabeth Ives by whom he had four children 1 One of his children Alger Chapman Jr became the CEO of both the investment bank Shearson Hammill amp Co and the financial exchange Chicago Board Options Exchange After serving two years 1 as an attorney in the office of the Legislative Counsel to the United States Senate he became a partner in the Washington D C firm of Alvord amp Alvord In 1939 he was put in charge of its New York office 2 Dewey and politics EditIn 1945 Governor Dewey named Chapman State Tax Commissioner Dewey and Chapman had met only briefly but after inquiry Governor Dewey learned that Chapman was eminently qualified for the job if he was willing to take it 1 When the following year Governor Dewey named Chapman to a highway commission he was so impressed at how smoothly the meeting had gone that he appointed Chapman who had no political experience as his campaign manager in 1946 1 Chapman resigned from his tax post to manage Dewey s successful campaign and the newly reelected governor reappointed him after the election and he served in that position until he resigned in 1948 to return to the law 1 Chapman followed up his success by acting as the New York manager for Dewey s 1948 Presidential bid and succeeded in garnering New York s 47 electoral votes for Dewey though the ticket was defeated nationwide He was unsuccessful in managing John Foster Dulles s 1949 Senate bid against former governor Herbert Lehman 1 but was successful in managing Dewey s 1950 bid for a third term and in securing New York for Dwight Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956 2 He served as state treasurer for the Republicans from 1949 to 1959 and would serve on its finance committee in 1974 2 Businessman EditIn 1958 Chapman became chairman and chief executive officer of Beech Nut Life Savers Inc which merged with E R Squibb and Sons Inc later becoming the Squibb Corporation Chapman remained a director of Squibb after the merger and also served as a director of ABC the Bowery Savings Bank and the Bank of New York 2 He was involved in civic activities for nine years chairing the board of trustees of Adelphi University and was also involved with the YMCA and the Police Athletic League He died in 1983 in New York City 2 References Edit a b c d e f g Master manager Alger Baldwin Chapman The New York Times 1956 09 05 retrieved 2009 08 13 fee for article a b c d e f Saxon Wolfgang 1983 11 05 A B Chapman dies a leader of G O P The New York Times retrieved 2009 08 13 fee for article Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alger Chapman amp oldid 1092822028, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
