James P. Mitchell
Encyclopedia
James Paul Mitchell was an American politician from New Jersey
. Nicknamed "the social conscience of the Republican Party
," he served as United States Secretary of Labor
from 1953 to 1961 in the Eisenhower Administration. Mitchell was considered a potential running mate for the 1960 Republican presidential candidate, Vice President Richard M. Nixon, but was ultimately not chosen, and instead ran unsuccessfully that year for Governor of New Jersey
. He then retired from politics.
, Mitchell attended Battin High School and St. Patrick High School
there, graduating in 1917. He began his political career in 1932 as the Union County
supervisor for the New Jersey Relief Administration. Six years later he was appointed to the New York City division of the Works Progress Administration
.
When Brehon B. Somerwell went to Washington, D.C.
to become head of the Army Construction Program, he made Mitchell head of the labor relations division in the Army Construction Program. In 1942, Mitchell became director of industrial personnel for the War Department
, in charge over one million men. After the war he returned to the private sector and in 1947 became director for labor relations and operations at Bloomingdale Brothers. In 1948 he was hired to the Army for personnel work in Germany
, and was later responsible for a similar task in Korea
. He also sat in the personnel advisory board in the first Hoover Commission
.
. He served as Secretary of Labor from 9 October 1953 to 20 January 1961. As Secretary, Mitchell was a staunch advocate of labor-management cooperation, fought against employment discrimination, and was concerned by the plight of migrant workers. He was selected as the administrator-designate of the Emergency Manpower Agency; part of a secret group created by President
Eisenhower
in 1958 that would serve in the event of a national emergency that became known as the Eisenhower Ten
.
in a bitter primary over State Senators Walter H. Jones and Wayne Dumont, Jr. with 43.7% of the vote in 1961, but lost a close general election to the Democratic candidate, Richard J. Hughes
by 1,084,194 to 1,049,274; a margin of 34,920. He returned to the private sector with the Crown-Zellerbach Corporation, becoming its senior vice president in 1962.
He died of congestive heart failure
in New York City
in 1964. He is buried in the St. Gertrude's Cemetery in Rahway, New Jersey
.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Nicknamed "the social conscience of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
," he served as United States Secretary of Labor
United States Secretary of Labor
The United States Secretary of Labor is the head of the Department of Labor who exercises control over the department and enforces and suggests laws involving unions, the workplace, and all other issues involving any form of business-person controversies....
from 1953 to 1961 in the Eisenhower Administration. Mitchell was considered a potential running mate for the 1960 Republican presidential candidate, Vice President Richard M. Nixon, but was ultimately not chosen, and instead ran unsuccessfully that year for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
. He then retired from politics.
Early career
Born and raised in Elizabeth, New JerseyElizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
, Mitchell attended Battin High School and St. Patrick High School
St. Patrick High School (New Jersey)
St. Patrick High School Academy is a co-educational four-year Catholic high school in Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States. The school operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark...
there, graduating in 1917. He began his political career in 1932 as the Union County
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
supervisor for the New Jersey Relief Administration. Six years later he was appointed to the New York City division of the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
.
When Brehon B. Somerwell went to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to become head of the Army Construction Program, he made Mitchell head of the labor relations division in the Army Construction Program. In 1942, Mitchell became director of industrial personnel for the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
, in charge over one million men. After the war he returned to the private sector and in 1947 became director for labor relations and operations at Bloomingdale Brothers. In 1948 he was hired to the Army for personnel work in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and was later responsible for a similar task in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. He also sat in the personnel advisory board in the first Hoover Commission
Hoover Commission
The Hoover Commission, officially named the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government, was a body appointed by President Harry S. Truman in 1947 to recommend administrative changes in the Federal Government of the United States...
.
Eisenhower administration
In 1952, Mitchell was a "Democrat-for-Eisenhower." After Eisenhower's inauguration as President in 1953, Mitchell was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. In 1953, Eisenhower chose him to replace another Democrat, Martin P. Durkin, as Secretary of LaborUnited States Secretary of Labor
The United States Secretary of Labor is the head of the Department of Labor who exercises control over the department and enforces and suggests laws involving unions, the workplace, and all other issues involving any form of business-person controversies....
. He served as Secretary of Labor from 9 October 1953 to 20 January 1961. As Secretary, Mitchell was a staunch advocate of labor-management cooperation, fought against employment discrimination, and was concerned by the plight of migrant workers. He was selected as the administrator-designate of the Emergency Manpower Agency; part of a secret group created by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
in 1958 that would serve in the event of a national emergency that became known as the Eisenhower Ten
Eisenhower Ten
The Eisenhower Ten or E-10 were a group of U.S. citizens who were secretly tasked by President Eisenhower in 1958 to serve as administrators in the event of a national emergency. There were actually nine positions, but one administrator-designate resigned and was replaced...
.
Achievements as Secretary
- Established the administrative machinery of the Landrum-Griffin ActLabor Management Reporting and Disclosure ActThe Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 , is a United States labor law that regulates labor unions' internal affairs and their officials' relationships with employers.-Background:...
. - Improved DOL organization and clarified the roles of labor to reduce overlapping functions
- J. Ernest Wilkins was appointed Assistant Secretary of Labor for International Affairs, the second African-American at DOL.
- Executive Order No.10590 established the Committee on Government Employment Policy to eliminate discriminationDiscriminationDiscrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
within the U.S. Federal government. (January 18, 1955) - Welfare and Pensions Plans Disclosures Act established. (August 28, 1958)
- Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. (September 14, 1959)
- Supported minimum wages for the soft-coalCoalCoal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
industry, and made that other industries according to the Walsh-Healy Act.
Governor's race
After stepping down as Secretary of Labor, Mitchell was chosen the Republican candidate for Governor of New JerseyGovernor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
in a bitter primary over State Senators Walter H. Jones and Wayne Dumont, Jr. with 43.7% of the vote in 1961, but lost a close general election to the Democratic candidate, Richard J. Hughes
Richard J. Hughes
Richard Joseph Hughes was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 45th Governor of New Jersey from 1962 to 1970, and as Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1973–1979...
by 1,084,194 to 1,049,274; a margin of 34,920. He returned to the private sector with the Crown-Zellerbach Corporation, becoming its senior vice president in 1962.
He died of congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1964. He is buried in the St. Gertrude's Cemetery in Rahway, New Jersey
Rahway, New Jersey
Rahway is a city in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the New York metropolitan area, being 15 miles southwest of Manhattan and five miles west of Staten Island...
.
External links
- U.S. Department of Labor Biography
- Papers of James P. Mitchell, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library