Background

Harry Hines Woodring was born in Elk City, Kansas, on May 31, 1887. He was the son of Hines and Melissa Cooper Woodring. His siblings included Louisa Effa Woodring Caroll, Claudine Woodring Piper, Linda Cooper, and Grace E. Woodring Shaffer.

Woodring's early life was influenced by his family's poverty and the overprotectiveness of five older sisters. As a youth, he swept floors and did odd jobs at the First National Bank of Elk City.

Education

After attending Elk City and Montgomery County high schools, Harry enrolled in Lebanon Business University, Lebanon, Indiana, where he stayed for ten months.

Career

In 1905, Harry Hines Woodring became an assistant cashier at the First National Bank. In 1909 he accepted an assistant cashier's position at the First National Bank of nearby Neodesha, Kansas, and soon became a cashier.

In 1918, Woodring enlisted in the Army Tank Corps and was sent to Camp Colt Pennsylvania, where he served as a personnel clerk. He was recommended for officers' school, and in October 1918 he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Tank Corps. Before he could be shipped overseas, the war ended. Woodring then worked briefly at the Mid-West National Bank in Kansas City before returning to Neodesha as managing director of the First National Bank. Throughout the 1920s the quiet yet personable bachelor was involved in civic activities, his church (Disciples of Christ), and the American Legion, of which he was elected state commander in 1928. His leadership of the 19,000-member legion whetted his political appetite and provided contacts throughout the state. In March 1929, Woodring, who had gained a controlling interest in the bank, decided to sell out and retire.

The following January, with little backing and no political experience, he announced he would seek the Democratic nomination for governor. He won the Democratic nomination.

In 1932, Woodring ran for reelection against Republican Alf M. Landon and, again, independent John Brinkley. The Republican wounds of two years before had healed enough to enable Landon to edge out Woodring by less than 6,000 votes. But Woodring, who had been one of the first governors to champion the presidential nomination of New York governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, returned to public life in 1933 when Roosevelt named him assistant secretary of war. When Woodring arrived in Washington, he was touted as one of the city's most highly sought-after bachelors.

In the fall of 1936, Secretary of War George Dern died and Woodring was given a recess appointment as secretary. The following April the assignment was made permanent. For the next three years, Woodring helped improve the army's state of readiness by developing the Protective Mobilization Plan and revising the Industrial Mobilization Plan. The plans ultimately served as the basis for America's World War II mobilization. As Europe moved closer to war in 1939 and early 1940, Woodring increasingly came into conflict with President Roosevelt over whether American-built military aircraft (including the relatively few B-17's just coming off the assembly line) and army "surplus" should be made available to Britain and France so that they could resist Nazi Germany. Roosevelt favored such action, but Woodring argued that it would leave the nation vulnerable if the United States went to war. Roosevelt tolerated the war secretary's obstructiveness until June 19, 1940, when he asked for, and received, Woodring's resignation. Woodring thus earned the dubious distinction of being the only cabinet member ever removed by Roosevelt. Woodring's term as secretary was marred by a well-publicized feud with his assistant secretary of war, Louis Johnson, an able but ambitious man whose pursuit of the secretaryship divided the War Department at a time when unity and order were needed. Following his dismissal, Woodring returned to Kansas. In 1946 he won the Democratic nomination for governor but was defeated in the general election by Republican Frank Carlson. Ten years later, in his final campaign, he again sought the gubernatorial nomination but lost to George Docking by less than 900 votes.

Achievements

• Harry Hines Woodring was elected department commander of the Kansas State American Legion in 1928. In 1930, he was elected as a Democrat the 25th Governor of Kansas, serving until 1933. During his term, the state's crumbling finances were dealt with, utility rates were cut, a separated labor department was created, tax relief was endorsed, driver's licenses became mandatory for all motor vehicle operators and a permanent crippled children's commission was formed.

Politics

When the Republican party split and John Brinkley ran as an independent, Woodring carried the election by 251 votes over his Republican opponent, Frank Haucke. Although new to politics, Woodring performed extremely well as governor. Under his leadership, the Republican-controlled legislature adopted a state income tax and limited property taxes, measures that provided considerable relief to residents of the depression racked state. Woodring also established the Crippled Children's Commission; expanded road construction; outlawed large-scale corporation farming, which threatened the small family farm; and strictly controlled holding companies and stock transactions. His well-publicized battle with large utility companies resulted in major reductions in gas rates.

Views

As an assistant secretary, Woodring instituted many reforms in military procurement procedures that promoted competitive bidding and improved quality at a reduced cost. He also advocated that the Army Air Corps play a major role in the establishment of the General Headquarters Air Force and in the development of a four-engine bomber - the B-17 of World War II fame.

Quotations: "The fact that a Kansas country boy could be elected governor of this great commonwealth of ours, and subsequently serve in the Cabinet of the President, is further evidence that our great democracy does work... A Kansas boy has dined with kings and queens, with princes and princesses, ambassadors and foreign diplomats, and has sat at the right hand of the President. But, truly, a Kansas boy has seen Utopia from the mountaintops. But today a Kansas boy returns to heaven."

Personality

Harry Hines Woodring was an effective orator and campaigner.

Connections

Woodring married Helen Coolidge, the daughter of the Massachusetts democratic senator Marcus A. Coolidge, on July 25, 1933. They had three children: Marcus, Melissa, and Cooper. In 1946 his twelve-year-old son Marcus died of polio. In 1960 Harry and his wife were divorced.

Father:

Hines Woodring

Mother:

Melissa Cooper Woodring

ex-wife:

Helen Coolidge Woodring

Son:

Marcus Woodring

Sister:

Louisa Effa Woodring Carroll

Sister:

Claudine Woodring Piper

Sister:

Lida Cooper Woodring

Sister:

Grace E. Woodring Shaffer

Daughter:

Melisa Woodring

Son:

Cooper Woodring

colleague:

Franklin Roosevelt

Friend:

Frank Haucke

Woodring managed to defeat his friend and fellow Legionnaire Frank Haucke in 1930.

opponent:

Alfred Mossman Landon

Woodring ran again in 1932 (as did Brinkley) but Alfred M. Landon, the Republican candidate, but the G.O.P. back into the governor's office.

References

• Charlatan: America's Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam
  2008
• No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II
  1995
• Harry H. Woodring: A Political Biography of FDR's Controversial Secretary of War
  1975