Frank Harris Hitchcock was an American politician. He served as a chairman of Republican National Committee, and was the 44th United States Postmaster General.
Background
Frank Harris Hitchcock was born on October 5, 1867 in Amherst, Ohio, United States. He was the son of Reverend Henry Chapman and Mary Laurette (Harris) Hitchcock. He was the second son and child in a family of three boys and two girls, and a descendant of Matthias Hitchcock, who emigrated from London to Boston, Massachussets, in 1635. His mother's father, Josiah Harris, moved from Becker, Berkshire County, Massachussets, to Amherst, and was postmaster, sheriff, and associate justice of the court of common pleas.
Education
Frank prepared for college at the Somerville (Massachussets) Latin School, entered Harvard in 1887, and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1891. His academic career was not noteworthy; he spent much time in boxing and in precinct organization for the Republican party. After his graduation he went to Washington, where he held a minor position in the Treasury Department, later qualifying as a biologist in the Department of Agriculture. While thus engaged he studied law and received the degrees of Bachelor of Law in 1894 and Master of Law in 1895 from Columbian (now George Washington) University.
Career
In 1897 Hitchcock was advanced to be chief of the division of foreign markets. Altogether he prepared about forty bulletins, chiefly on foreign trade, for the Department of Agriculture. Upon the creation of the Department of Commerce and Labor in 1903 he was transferred to it as chief clerk. A year later he resigned to become assistant secretary of the Republican national committee in immediate charge of the eastern headquarters in New York City. He was first assistant postmaster-general, 1905-1908, serving also as one of five members of the Keep commission appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt to investigate the administrative methods of government departments and to recommend improvements for greater economy and efficiency.
On February 15, 1908, he resigned to manage William H. Taft's presidential campaign, later becoming chairman of the Republican national committee. He received the usual reward of a successful campaign manager, being appointed postmaster-general in 1909. In the preceding year the department had had a deficit of $17, 000, 000. Within two years, by economies and improved business methods, it was being operated with a small surplus, despite additions to the number of post-offices, extensions of the rural free delivery service, increases in salary for many employees, and provision for one day's rest in seven. Hitchcock reorganized the accounting service of the department, consolidated star routes with rural free delivery, and began the transportation of magazines and postal equipment by freight.
Upon the adoption of the postal savings system he put it into gradual operation. In 1911 he established the first air-mail route, from Garden City to Mineola, New York. The following year Congress authorized a parcel-post system which he had advocated from the beginning of his administration. He also recommended that the telegraph lines be taken over and combined with the postal service. Hitchcock's businesslike and forward-looking policies as an administrator were in sharp contrast to his policies as dispenser of patronage. His recommendations for postal appointments in the South were apparently made with the carefully calculated motive of keeping control of delegates to the next national convention. Taft refused to approve many of them and complained that Hitchcock could not understand the presidential policy of choosing the most decent men and making the service efficient. Later, however, the friends of Taft complained that some of Hitchcock's regulations had alienated many postal employees from the administration.
As the campaign of 1912 approached, tension between Taft and Hitchcock steadily increased. The President was importuned by his friends to dismiss him, particularly when rumors that he was supporting Theodore Roosevelt gained wide circulation. Inclined to brood by himself and to exchange few confidences, Hitchcock made no effort to define his position until Taft demanded in cabinet meeting, "Are you for me or against me?" On receiving a satisfactory reply, Taft announced to the press that Hitchcock would support him. In 1914 Hitchcock began practising law in New York City. He managed the pre-convention campaigns of Charles E. Hughes in 1916 and of Leonard Wood in 1920, and was retained by Hiram Johnson for similar work in 1924.
Having long been interested in mining and newspaper properties in Arizona, he moved his residence to that state in 1928, and was its Republican national committeeman, 1932-1933. He was interested in aviation, a colonel in the Air Corps Reserve, and active in the National Aeronautical Association. He died of pneumonia in the Desert Sanatorium, Tucson.
Achievements
Politics
Hitchcock was a Republican.
Personality
In personal appearance Hitchcock was tall, broad-shouldered, red-haired, aloof in bearing, and inclined to foppishness in his dress.