Dennis A. FitzGerald
Encyclopedia
Dennis Alfred FitzGerald (January 1, 1903 – September 15, 1994) was a government official and professional agricultural economist whose knowledge of food distribution gave him the opportunity to serve the U.S. government in many capacities.
, Canada. After attending various grade schools in Saksatchewan and British Columbia
he graduated from Grenfell High School in 1919. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Saskatchewan
in 1924 before coming to the United States and receiving a Master’s Degree from Iowa State College of Agriculture in 1925. For the next few years he remained on the staff at Iowa State College as an agricultural economist and marketing specialist.
While attending Harvard University
he participated in a Brookings Institution
sponsored study of agriculture during the New Deal
and three years after becoming a naturalized citizen in 1935, he received his Ph.D. from Harvard University
.
on a world trip to survey the food situation in various countries. Upon his return, he served for the next couple of years as Secretary General, International Emergency Food Council, a United Nations
agency composed of representatives of 32 countries interested in dealing with worldwide food shortages during the years following World War II
.
In 1948 the U.S. began implementing a massive program of economic assistance to Europe in order to support European recovery from the losses of World War II
. This program, popularly known as the Marshall Plan
, affected significantly Dennis FitzGerald’s career. Paul Hoffman
, Director of the Economic Cooperation Administration, the agency established to administer Marshall Plan
programs, asked FitzGerald to help organize the Agricultural Division of the Economic Cooperation Administration Thus began FitzGerald’s 16 year career as an administrator of U.S. government foreign assistance programs. For roughly his first year on the job, FitzGerald was dual-hatted as Director of Foreign Agricultural Relations
at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Over the years the name of the agency responsible for these programs changed from Economic Cooperation Administration
to the Mutual Security Administration; then it became the Foreign Operations Administration followed by the International Cooperation Administration until finally, in 1961 the Kennedy Administration established the U.S. Agency for International Development which currently administers foreign economic assistance programs. FitzGerald served in important positions through all of these changes in agency names and presidential administrations until the fall of 1961 when he was removed by Fowler Hamilton, President Kennedy’s first head of the U.S. Agency for International Development. During these years FitzGerald was primarily an administrator who from 1955 on had the operational responsibility of his agency. In this capacity he exercised broad supervision of U.S. overseas missions and instructed each mission to submit draft programs for each fiscal year. He provided continuity within an agency characterized by frequent changes at the top level. Although a professionally trained agricultural economist with years of administrative experience with foreign aid programs, FitzGerald was also a political appointee and thus subject to the fate of holdover political appointees who are normally replaced by an incoming presidential administration wanting to pick its own people to carry out its policies and programs.
While he was shuffled out of his position as Deputy Director of Operations after the creation of the new Agency for International Development in 1961, FitzGerald retained his connections with the Agency as a consultant to Fowler Hamilton until December 1962. Meanwhile, in September 1962 he joined the Senior Staff of Brookings Institution
as a research scholar and remained at Brookings until 1966. While at Brookings FitzGerald conducted research on issues involving foreign economic assistance, participated in Council on Foreign Relations
discussions and in the spring of 1963 served as a consultant for the United Nations Special Fund which provided development assistance to Indonesia
. In July 1966 he became Vice President of Checci and Company in Washington, DC. He retired in June 1972.
Early life
He was born in Grenfell, SaskatchewanGrenfell, Saskatchewan
Grenfell is a town in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. European settlement began in 1882 before the Canadian Pacific Railway reached the site of the town; the post office was established in 1883. It is situated at the junction of Highway 47 and the Trans Canada Highway east of Regina, the...
, Canada. After attending various grade schools in Saksatchewan and British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
he graduated from Grenfell High School in 1919. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
in 1924 before coming to the United States and receiving a Master’s Degree from Iowa State College of Agriculture in 1925. For the next few years he remained on the staff at Iowa State College as an agricultural economist and marketing specialist.
While attending Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
he participated in a Brookings Institution
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
sponsored study of agriculture 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 three years after becoming a naturalized citizen in 1935, he received his Ph.D. from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Government career
FitzGerald then began his service with the U.S. government in 1935 when he became head of the Economic and Research Section, North Central Division, Bureau of Agricultural Economics, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For the next several years he held many positions within the U.S. Department of Agriculture and gained administrative experience plus exposure to the problems of food distribution in a war ravaged world. In 1946 he accompanied former President Herbert HooverHerbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
on a world trip to survey the food situation in various countries. Upon his return, he served for the next couple of years as Secretary General, International Emergency Food Council, a United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
agency composed of representatives of 32 countries interested in dealing with worldwide food shortages during the years following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In 1948 the U.S. began implementing a massive program of economic assistance to Europe in order to support European recovery from the losses of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. This program, popularly known as the Marshall Plan
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was the large-scale American program to aid Europe where the United States gave monetary support to help rebuild European economies after the end of World War II in order to combat the spread of Soviet communism. The plan was in operation for four years beginning in April 1948...
, affected significantly Dennis FitzGerald’s career. Paul Hoffman
Paul Hoffman
Paul Hoffman is a prominent author and host of the PBS television series Great Minds of Science. He was editor in chief of Discover, in a ten-year tenure with that magazine, and served as president and publisher of Encyclopædia Britannica before returning full-time to writing and consulting work....
, Director of the Economic Cooperation Administration, the agency established to administer Marshall Plan
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was the large-scale American program to aid Europe where the United States gave monetary support to help rebuild European economies after the end of World War II in order to combat the spread of Soviet communism. The plan was in operation for four years beginning in April 1948...
programs, asked FitzGerald to help organize the Agricultural Division of the Economic Cooperation Administration Thus began FitzGerald’s 16 year career as an administrator of U.S. government foreign assistance programs. For roughly his first year on the job, FitzGerald was dual-hatted as Director of Foreign Agricultural Relations
Foreign Agricultural Service
The Foreign Agricultural Service is the foreign affairs agency with primary responsibility for the United States Department of Agriculture's overseas programs—market development, international trade agreements and negotiations, and the collection of statistics and market information...
at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Over the years the name of the agency responsible for these programs changed from Economic Cooperation Administration
Economic Cooperation Administration
The Economic Cooperation Administration was a United States government agency set up in 1948 to administer the Marshall Plan. It reported to both the State Department and the Department of Commerce. The agency's head was Paul G. Hoffman, a former head of Studebaker. Much of the rest of the...
to the Mutual Security Administration; then it became the Foreign Operations Administration followed by the International Cooperation Administration until finally, in 1961 the Kennedy Administration established the U.S. Agency for International Development which currently administers foreign economic assistance programs. FitzGerald served in important positions through all of these changes in agency names and presidential administrations until the fall of 1961 when he was removed by Fowler Hamilton, President Kennedy’s first head of the U.S. Agency for International Development. During these years FitzGerald was primarily an administrator who from 1955 on had the operational responsibility of his agency. In this capacity he exercised broad supervision of U.S. overseas missions and instructed each mission to submit draft programs for each fiscal year. He provided continuity within an agency characterized by frequent changes at the top level. Although a professionally trained agricultural economist with years of administrative experience with foreign aid programs, FitzGerald was also a political appointee and thus subject to the fate of holdover political appointees who are normally replaced by an incoming presidential administration wanting to pick its own people to carry out its policies and programs.
While he was shuffled out of his position as Deputy Director of Operations after the creation of the new Agency for International Development in 1961, FitzGerald retained his connections with the Agency as a consultant to Fowler Hamilton until December 1962. Meanwhile, in September 1962 he joined the Senior Staff of Brookings Institution
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
as a research scholar and remained at Brookings until 1966. While at Brookings FitzGerald conducted research on issues involving foreign economic assistance, participated in Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
discussions and in the spring of 1963 served as a consultant for the United Nations Special Fund which provided development assistance to Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. In July 1966 he became Vice President of Checci and Company in Washington, DC. He retired in June 1972.