John Macy
Encyclopedia
John Williams Macy, Jr. (April 6, 1917 - December 22, 1986) was a United States Government administrator and civil servant.http://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/25/obituaries/john-w-macy-jr-69-ex-leader-of-civil-service-commission-dies.html
, he received a B.A. from Wesleyan University
in 1938. In 1938 Macy moved to Washington, D.C.
where he began his government service and studied at American University
. He worked as an intern at the National Institute of Public Affairs from 1938–1939 and later became an administrative aide of the Social Security Board (1939–1940).
From 1940 to 1942, he was a personnel specialist for the War Department
in Washington and Chicago. From 1942 to 1943 he became the assistant director of civilian personnel. He enlisted during World War II
, served in the U.S. Army
from 1943 to 1946, and attained the rank of captain fighting in the China theater. In 1944, he married Joyce Hagen. After the war, he returned to the War Department as director of civilian personnel.
From 1947 to 1951, Macy was the organization and personnel director for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
in Los Alamos, New Mexico
. From 1951 to 1953, Macy was the special assistant to the Under Secretary of the Army.
In 1953, he was appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
as President of the United States Civil Service Commission
(CSC). He held this post until 1958.http://www.lib.umd.edu/NPBA/papers/macy.html He left government service in 1958 to act as the executive vice-president of his alma mater, Wesleyan University.
President John F. Kennedy
asked Macy to return to the Civil Service Commission in 1961, and Macy chaired the commission through Kennedy and Johnson Administrations. He called for federal salaries to be put on par with private industry salaries. It was during this period that Macy spoke out against sexual and racial discrimination in the federal government. Macy was an adamant supporter of the ban on homosexual employment by the federal government. He wrote The Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C. ( 2/25/66): "Pertinent considerations here are the revulsion of other (federal) employees by homosexual conduct and the consequent disruption of service efficiency , the apprehension caused other employees of homosexual advances, solicitations or assaults, the unavoidable subjection of the sexual deviate to erotic stimulation (on-the-job)". As head of the CSC, he was also a named defendant in an early gay-rights case, Norton v. Macy. During the Johnson Administration, Macy also directed the White House Personnel Appointment Office.
Macy left the CSC in 1969 and served as president for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
(1969–1972). His work landed him on the master list of Nixon political opponents
. Later, he ran the Council of Better Business Bureau
s (1972–1979).
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter
nominated Macy to became the first Senate-confirmed director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
. He served in that position until 1981.
Macy also authored several books, including Public Service: Human Side of Government (1971) and To Irrigate a Wasteland (1974).
A civil servant with a career spanning six different decades, John Macy died in McLean, Virginia
.
In 1988, the U.S. Army established the John W. Macy, Jr., Award that recognizes demonstrated excellence in the leadership of civilians by an Army military or civilian supervisor. The first awardee was John T. Lovo, Director of Engineering and Housing for the US Army in Munich, Germany.
Biography
Born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, he received a B.A. from Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
in 1938. In 1938 Macy moved 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....
where he began his government service and studied at American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
. He worked as an intern at the National Institute of Public Affairs from 1938–1939 and later became an administrative aide of the Social Security Board (1939–1940).
From 1940 to 1942, he was a personnel specialist 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 Washington and Chicago. From 1942 to 1943 he became the assistant director of civilian personnel. He enlisted during 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...
, served in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1943 to 1946, and attained the rank of captain fighting in the China theater. In 1944, he married Joyce Hagen. After the war, he returned to the War Department as director of civilian personnel.
From 1947 to 1951, Macy was the organization and personnel director for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
in Los Alamos, New Mexico
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Los Alamos is a townsite and census-designated place in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States, built upon four mesas of the Pajarito Plateau and the adjoining White Rock Canyon. The population of the CDP was 12,019 at the 2010 Census. The townsite or "the hill" is one part of town while...
. From 1951 to 1953, Macy was the special assistant to the Under Secretary of the Army.
In 1953, he was appointed by President Dwight D. 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...
as President of the United States Civil Service Commission
United States Civil Service Commission
The United States Civil Service Commission a three man commission was created by the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, which was passed into law on January 16, 1883...
(CSC). He held this post until 1958.http://www.lib.umd.edu/NPBA/papers/macy.html He left government service in 1958 to act as the executive vice-president of his alma mater, Wesleyan University.
President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
asked Macy to return to the Civil Service Commission in 1961, and Macy chaired the commission through Kennedy and Johnson Administrations. He called for federal salaries to be put on par with private industry salaries. It was during this period that Macy spoke out against sexual and racial discrimination in the federal government. Macy was an adamant supporter of the ban on homosexual employment by the federal government. He wrote The Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C. ( 2/25/66): "Pertinent considerations here are the revulsion of other (federal) employees by homosexual conduct and the consequent disruption of service efficiency , the apprehension caused other employees of homosexual advances, solicitations or assaults, the unavoidable subjection of the sexual deviate to erotic stimulation (on-the-job)". As head of the CSC, he was also a named defendant in an early gay-rights case, Norton v. Macy. During the Johnson Administration, Macy also directed the White House Personnel Appointment Office.
Macy left the CSC in 1969 and served as president for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a non-profit corporation created by an act of the United States Congress, funded by the United States’ federal government to promote public broadcasting...
(1969–1972). His work landed him on the master list of Nixon political opponents
Master list of Nixon political opponents
A master list of Nixon political opponents was compiled to supplement the original Nixon's Enemies List of 20 key people considered opponents of President Richard Nixon. The master list was compiled by Charles Colson's office and sent in memorandum form to John Dean. Dean later provided this...
. Later, he ran the Council of Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau , founded in 1912, is a corporation consisting of several private business franchises of local BBB organizations based in the United States and Canada, which work through their parent corporation, the Council of Better Business Bureaus .The Better Business Bureau, through...
s (1972–1979).
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
nominated Macy to became the first Senate-confirmed director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
. He served in that position until 1981.
Macy also authored several books, including Public Service: Human Side of Government (1971) and To Irrigate a Wasteland (1974).
A civil servant with a career spanning six different decades, John Macy died in McLean, Virginia
McLean, Virginia
McLean is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia. The community had a total population of 48,115 as of the 2010 census....
.
In 1988, the U.S. Army established the John W. Macy, Jr., Award that recognizes demonstrated excellence in the leadership of civilians by an Army military or civilian supervisor. The first awardee was John T. Lovo, Director of Engineering and Housing for the US Army in Munich, Germany.