William Gibbs McADOO, Congress, CA (1863-1941)

McADOO, William Gibbs, a Senator from California; born on a farm near Marietta, Cobb County, Ga., October 31, 1863; attended the rural schools and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville; appointed deputy clerk of the United States Circuit Court for the Southern Division, Eastern District of Tennessee 1882; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1885 and commenced practice in Chattanooga, Tenn.; moved to New York City in 1892 and continued the practice of law; developed the system of rapid-transit tunnels under the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey and from 1902 to 1913 was president of the company which constructed and operated them; vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1912; Secretary of the Treasury in the Cabinet of President Woodrow Wilson 1913-1918; during the First World War served as director general of railways, chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Farm Loan Board, and the War Finance Corporation; resumed the practice of law in New York City in 1919; moved to Los Angeles, Calif., in 1922 and continued to practice law; unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in 1920 and 1924; author; member of the Democratic National Committee 1932-1940; elected in 1932 as a Democrat to the United States Senate from California and served from March 4, 1933, to November 8, 1938, when he resigned; unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1938; chairman, Committee on Patents (Seventy-third through Seventy-fifth Congresses); returned to Los Angeles, Calif., and served as chairman of the board of directors of a steamship line; died while on a visit in Washington, D.C., February 1, 1941; interment in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.

Bibliography

American National Biography; Dictionary of American Biography; Bromesamle, John J. William Gibbs McAdoo: A Passion for Change. Port Washington, NY: Kennikat Press, 1974; McAdoo, William G. Crowded Years: The Reminiscences of William G. McAdoo. 1931. Reprint. Port Washington, NY: Kennikat Press, 1971.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present