President Harry Truman Names Philanthropist Basil O’Connor as President of the American Red Cross
“I hereby appoint you a Governor of that corporation to serve on its Board of Governors…and I designate you to act as the principal officer of the corporation.”
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Basil O’Connor was a New York lawyer and philanthropist who was an advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. With Roosevelt, he started two foundations for the rehabilitation of polio patients and the research on polio prevention and treatment.
Roosevelt appointed O’Connor to the American Red Cross, of which he served as chairman...
Basil O’Connor was a New York lawyer and philanthropist who was an advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. With Roosevelt, he started two foundations for the rehabilitation of polio patients and the research on polio prevention and treatment.
Roosevelt appointed O’Connor to the American Red Cross, of which he served as chairman (1944–47) and president (1947–49). In this capacity he also chaired the League of Red Cross Societies from 1945 to 1950.
O’Connor declined payment for his leadership of the Red Cross. “For 20 years I have gladly given over a large part of my time to charitable work, particularly to the fight against infantile paralysis sponsored by President Roosevelt,” O’Connor said. “I have never accepted or received any compensation for that work. It therefore goes without saying that I shall accept no salary as chairman of the American National Red Cross.”
Typed letter signed, on White House letterhead, Washington, May 8, 1947, to Basil O’Connor, appointing him to head the American Red Cross. “Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5, as amended, of the Act to incorporate the American National Red Cross, I hereby appoint you a Governor of that corporation to serve on its Board of Governors for the term set forth in said Section 5, as amended, and I designate you to act as the principal officer of the corporation with such title and such functions as may from time to time be prescribed in the by-laws of said corporation. The term for which you are hereby appointed shall become effective at the close of the National Convention of American National Red Cross on Thursday, June 12, 1947 in Cleveland, Ohio.”
When O’Connor resigned in 1949, Truman wrote him saying, “You have directed Red Cross activities through momentous years, both in war and in peace, and not the least of your contributions has been that which you made in piloting a complete reorganization plan through the Congress.”
A fascinating letter making an important appointment.
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