James Schoolcraft Sherman (October 24, 1855 – October 30, 1912) was an American politician who was a United States representative from New York from 1887 to 1891 and 1893 to 1909, and the 27th vice president of the United States under President William Howard Taft from 1909 until his death in 1912. He was a member of the interrelated Baldwin, Hoar, and Sherman families, prominent lawyers and politicians of New England and New York.
Although not a high-powered administrator, he made a natural congressional committee chairman, and his genial personality eased the workings of the House, so that he was known as 'Sunny Jim'. He was the first vice president to fly in a plane (1911),[1] and also the first to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game.
Sherman was the seventh and most recent vice president to have died in office.
After graduation, he remained at Hamilton for a year to study law, then continued his studies at the Utica office of Beardsley, Cookingham and Burdick, which included his brother in law Henry J. Cookingham as a partner. He was admitted to the bar in 1880, and practiced with Cookingham in the firm of Cookingham & Martin. Sherman was also president of the Utica Trust & Deposit Co. and the New Hartford Canning Company.
In 1881, he married Carrie Babcock of East Orange, New Jersey, and they had three sons; Sherrill B. Sherman, Richard Updyke Sherman, and Thomas Moore Sherman.
Old-guard conservative in Congress
Undated photo by George Grantham Bain
In 1886, Sherman was elected U.S. Representative from New York's 23rd congressional district as a Republican, and he served 20 years in the House (four years, followed by a two-year break and 16 more years).[6]
At a time when the Republican Party was divided over protective tariffs, Sherman sided with William McKinley and the conservative branch, defending the gold standard against the potentially inflationary 'free silver'.
During his House career, Sherman served as chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs from the 54th through the 60th Congresses (1895 to 1909).
As Sherman had never held a party leadership post or been a chairman of a major committee such as Ways and Means or Appropriations, he was considered sufficiently neutral to frequently be appointed chairman of the Committee of the Whole— a crucial device for speeding up the passage of bills by suspending certain rules at the discretion of the chairman. Henry Cabot Lodge recognized this job as a major test of integrity and judgment, and declared that Sherman was supremely fitted for it.[7] Through Sherman's efforts in 1900, the Sherman Indian High School in Riverside, California was built and named after him.[8]
Vice presidency (1909–1912)
Sherman during his vice presidency
In 1908, Sherman was nominated as the Republican candidate for Vice President on the ticket with William Howard Taft.[9] Although not an obvious front-runner, he balanced the progressive Taft's profile, by being both an Easterner and a conservative (it was said that the two wings of the GOP 'flapped together'), and the New York delegates pressed hard for his nomination. The Republicans won by a comfortable margin. At first, Sherman and Taft found themselves at odds over both tariff policy and the role of the Vice President. But as Taft became embattled with parts of the progressive faction of the Republican party, the two of them worked together more harmoniously – a relationship eased further by the First Lady's enjoyment of the company of Sherman and his wife. The President declared that Sherman accomplished much on Capitol Hill by his "charm of speech and manner, and his spirit of conciliation and compromise", backed by a "stubborn adherence" to his principles.
During the beginning of his term, Taft, who had been associated with progressives, had to deal with Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon who was a part of the conservatives. Sherman, who had more experience in congress, was expected to be a liaison for Taft with Cannon. “I am going to rely on you, Jim, to take care of Cannon for me. Whatever I have to do there will be done through you.” proposed Taft, Sherman replied with “Not through me. You will have to act on your own account. I am to be Vice President and acting as a messenger boy is not part of the duties as Vice President.”.
Re-nomination, illness, and death
From 1910, Taft had experienced several disagreements with ex-President Theodore Roosevelt, who presently walked out and formed his own Bull Moose party. This made re-election for the Republicans almost impossible, but they campaigned on the same ticket in the 1912 contest, with New Yorkers once again supporting Sherman's nomination – the first time that a sitting vice president had been re-nominated since John C. Calhoun in 1828.
Diagnosed with Bright's disease in 1904, Sherman's health was failing by the time of the 1912 campaign. Less than a week before the election, he died at home in Utica, six days after his 57th birthday, and President Taft was left with no running mate, although Nicholas Murray Butler was designated to receive the electoral votes that Sherman would have received. Taft and Butler came in third place in the election, carrying only eight electoral votes from Utah and Vermont. Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson and his running mate Thomas R. Marshall won the election while Progressive candidateTheodore Roosevelt and his running mate Hiram Johnson came in second place. The vice presidency remained vacant until Marshall's inauguration on March 4, 1913.
^Arnold, Peri. . American President: An Online Reference Resource. University of Virginia. Archived from the original on December 17, 2010. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
^Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly, Inc. 1984. pp. 812, 816, 820, 825. ISBN0-87187-339-7.
james, sherman, james, schoolcraft, sherman, october, 1855, october, 1912, american, politician, united, states, representative, from, york, from, 1887, 1891, 1893, 1909, 27th, vice, president, united, states, under, president, william, howard, taft, from, 190. James Schoolcraft Sherman October 24 1855 October 30 1912 was an American politician who was a United States representative from New York from 1887 to 1891 and 1893 to 1909 and the 27th vice president of the United States under President William Howard Taft from 1909 until his death in 1912 He was a member of the interrelated Baldwin Hoar and Sherman families prominent lawyers and politicians of New England and New York James S ShermanSherman in 190927th Vice President of the United StatesIn office March 4 1909 October 30 1912PresidentWilliam Howard TaftPreceded byCharles W FairbanksSucceeded byThomas R MarshallMember of theU S House of Representativesfrom New YorkIn office March 4 1893 March 3 1909Preceded byJames J BeldenSucceeded byCharles S MillingtonConstituency25th district 1893 1903 27th district 1903 09 In office March 4 1887 March 3 1891Preceded byJohn T SpriggsSucceeded byHenry Wilbur BentleyConstituency23rd districtMayor of UticaIn office March 1884 March 1885Preceded byJohn T SpriggsSucceeded byThomas E KinneyPersonal detailsBornJames Schoolcraft Sherman 1855 10 24 October 24 1855Utica New York U S DiedOctober 30 1912 1912 10 30 aged 57 Utica New York U S Resting placeForest Hill CemeteryUtica New York U S Political partyRepublicanSpouseCarrie Babcock m 1881 wbr Children3ParentRichard U Sherman father EducationHamilton College New York BA OccupationAttorneypoliticianSignatureNicknameSunny JimAlthough not a high powered administrator he made a natural congressional committee chairman and his genial personality eased the workings of the House so that he was known as Sunny Jim He was the first vice president to fly in a plane 1911 1 and also the first to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game Sherman was the seventh and most recent vice president to have died in office Contents 1 Youth education and law career 2 Old guard conservative in Congress 3 Vice presidency 1909 1912 3 1 Re nomination illness and death 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksYouth education and law career EditSherman was born in Utica New York the son of Richard Updike Sherman and Mary Frances Sherman According to Facts on File Sherman was of the ninth generation of descendants from Henry Sherman a line also connected to Roger Sherman signer of the Declaration of Independence and William Tecumseh Sherman the Union general during the Civil War 2 He was educated at Whitestown Seminary then attended Hamilton College from which he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1878 3 a At Hamilton he was noted for his skills in oratory and debate After graduation he remained at Hamilton for a year to study law then continued his studies at the Utica office of Beardsley Cookingham and Burdick which included his brother in law Henry J Cookingham as a partner He was admitted to the bar in 1880 and practiced with Cookingham in the firm of Cookingham amp Martin Sherman was also president of the Utica Trust amp Deposit Co and the New Hartford Canning Company Sherman became active in politics as a Republican and was elected chairman of the party in Oneida County 4 He became mayor of Utica at age twenty nine 5 In 1881 he married Carrie Babcock of East Orange New Jersey and they had three sons Sherrill B Sherman Richard Updyke Sherman and Thomas Moore Sherman Old guard conservative in Congress Edit Undated photo by George Grantham Bain In 1886 Sherman was elected U S Representative from New York s 23rd congressional district as a Republican and he served 20 years in the House four years followed by a two year break and 16 more years 6 At a time when the Republican Party was divided over protective tariffs Sherman sided with William McKinley and the conservative branch defending the gold standard against the potentially inflationary free silver During his House career Sherman served as chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs from the 54th through the 60th Congresses 1895 to 1909 As Sherman had never held a party leadership post or been a chairman of a major committee such as Ways and Means or Appropriations he was considered sufficiently neutral to frequently be appointed chairman of the Committee of the Whole a crucial device for speeding up the passage of bills by suspending certain rules at the discretion of the chairman Henry Cabot Lodge recognized this job as a major test of integrity and judgment and declared that Sherman was supremely fitted for it 7 Through Sherman s efforts in 1900 the Sherman Indian High School in Riverside California was built and named after him 8 Vice presidency 1909 1912 Edit Sherman during his vice presidency In 1908 Sherman was nominated as the Republican candidate for Vice President on the ticket with William Howard Taft 9 Although not an obvious front runner he balanced the progressive Taft s profile by being both an Easterner and a conservative it was said that the two wings of the GOP flapped together and the New York delegates pressed hard for his nomination The Republicans won by a comfortable margin At first Sherman and Taft found themselves at odds over both tariff policy and the role of the Vice President But as Taft became embattled with parts of the progressive faction of the Republican party the two of them worked together more harmoniously a relationship eased further by the First Lady s enjoyment of the company of Sherman and his wife The President declared that Sherman accomplished much on Capitol Hill by his charm of speech and manner and his spirit of conciliation and compromise backed by a stubborn adherence to his principles During the beginning of his term Taft who had been associated with progressives had to deal with Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon who was a part of the conservatives Sherman who had more experience in congress was expected to be a liaison for Taft with Cannon I am going to rely on you Jim to take care of Cannon for me Whatever I have to do there will be done through you proposed Taft Sherman replied with Not through me You will have to act on your own account I am to be Vice President and acting as a messenger boy is not part of the duties as Vice President Re nomination illness and death Edit From 1910 Taft had experienced several disagreements with ex President Theodore Roosevelt who presently walked out and formed his own Bull Moose party This made re election for the Republicans almost impossible but they campaigned on the same ticket in the 1912 contest with New Yorkers once again supporting Sherman s nomination the first time that a sitting vice president had been re nominated since John C Calhoun in 1828 Diagnosed with Bright s disease in 1904 Sherman s health was failing by the time of the 1912 campaign Less than a week before the election he died at home in Utica six days after his 57th birthday and President Taft was left with no running mate although Nicholas Murray Butler was designated to receive the electoral votes that Sherman would have received Taft and Butler came in third place in the election carrying only eight electoral votes from Utah and Vermont Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson and his running mate Thomas R Marshall won the election while Progressive candidate Theodore Roosevelt and his running mate Hiram Johnson came in second place The vice presidency remained vacant until Marshall s inauguration on March 4 1913 Sherman was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Utica 10 Bust of Sherman by Bessie Potter Vonnoh 1911See also Edit1908 United States presidential election 1912 United States presidential electionNotes Edit Sherman was a recipient of several honorary degrees including LL D s from Hamilton College 1903 Wesleyan University 1909 and the University of Pittsburgh 1909 References Edit Brooklyn Daily Eagle July 12 1911 Sherman James Vice Presidents A Biographical Dictionary Facts On File Archived from the original on March 5 2016 Retrieved September 27 2020 L Edward Purcell 2010 Vice Presidents A Biographical Dictionary Facts on File Inc pp 260 ISBN 978 0 8160 7707 6 Arranging for a Convention The New York Times New York NY February 24 1884 p 1 via Newspapers com Arnold Peri James S Sherman American President An Online Reference Resource University of Virginia Archived from the original on December 17 2010 Retrieved December 13 2010 Congressional Quarterly s Guide to U S Elections Washington DC Congressional Quarterly Inc 1984 pp 812 816 820 825 ISBN 0 87187 339 7 James S Sherman U S Senate shermanindianmuseum org appraisal turn to gold shermanindianmuseum org appraisal Archived from the original on November 15 2013 Congressional Quarterly s Guide to U S Elections Washington DC Congressional Quarterly Inc 1984 p 73 ISBN 0 87187 339 7 Thousands Paying Final Respects to Sherman Buffalo Enquirer November 1 1912 p 1 Retrieved October 6 2022 via Newspapers com External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Sherman United States Congress James S Sherman id S000345 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress James Schoolcraft Sherman at Find a Grave 16th Amendment to the Constitution with Sherman s Signature Image of original document 17th Amendment to the Constitution with Sherman s Signature Image of original documentU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byJohn T Spriggs Member from New York s 23rd congressional district1887 1891 Succeeded byHenry Wilbur BentleyPreceded byJames J Belden Member from New York s 25th congressional district1893 1903 Succeeded byLucius LittauerPreceded byMichael E Driscoll Member from New York s 27th congressional district1903 1909 Succeeded byCharles S MillingtonParty political officesPreceded byCharles W Fairbanks Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States1908 1912 Deceased Succeeded byNicholas M ButlerPolitical officesPreceded byCharles W Fairbanks Vice President of the United States1909 1912 Succeeded byThomas R Marshall Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James S Sherman amp oldid 1131273333, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
