Herbert Earle Gaston

Background

Gaston was born on August 20, 1881 in Halsey, Oregon, the son of William Hawks Gaston, a merchant and farmer, and Maria Glasgow Irvine.

Education

Gaston attended schools in Tacoma, Washington, and studied at the University of Washington (1903-1904) and the University of Chicago (1904-1906).

Career

While in high school, Gaston began a career in newspaper work that was eventually to provide him with an entrée into the political arena. His first jobs were on papers in Tacoma, Seattle, and Chicago as reporter, printer, and as assistant city editor on the Tacoma Tribune. Between 1898 and 1910 Gaston was employed as well by the West Coast Trade (Tacoma), the Seattle Times, the Tacoma Ledger, and the Chicago Record-Herald. From 1910 to 1916 Gaston was assistant editor of the Spokane Chronicle. He was then hired as editor of the Nonpartisan Leader in Fargo, North Dakota. The following year he edited the Fargo Courier-News and then continued work with the Nonpartisan League from 1918 to 1920. He helped to establish the Minneapolis Star and became its first editor and publisher in 1920. Later that year he published his only book, The Nonpartisan League. His departure, two years later, from the league and the Star resulted from a rift with members who criticized his attack on gambling interests in the Twin Cities. Gaston subsequently moved to New York City, where he became a staff member of the New York World, remaining with the paper until it ceased publication in 1931; from 1929 until its closing he was night editor. Among those who noticed his work on the World was Henry Morgenthau, Jr. , who was then New York State commissioner of conservation. After the newspaper folded, Gaston went to work for Morgenthau as secretary of the New York State Conservation Department. He was appointed deputy commissioner of the department within a year. From state service Gaston went on to hold several posts within the federal government, beginning as secretary of the Federal Farm Board and deputy governor of the U. S. Farm Credit Administration, both before the end of 1933. In November of that year he was appointed special assistant to Morgenthau, in which post he handled matters of public relations. Morgenthau leans on him heavily in matters of public policy as well as public relations. In 1939 Gaston became assistant secretary of the treasury under Morgenthau, with jurisdiction over the coast guard, the Secret Service, and the Bureau of Narcotics. Also that year he served as delegate to the first Conference of American Treasuries in Guatemala. He remained in the Treasury Department until 1945, when he became vice-chairman and director of the Export-Import Bank. Gaston succeeded William McChesney Martin, Jr. , as bank president and chairman in 1949, retaining both posts until his retirement from government service in 1953. Gaston had a variety of other positions on government boards and committees. From 1940 to 1945 he was a member of the Interdepartmental Committee on Cooperation With American Republics. At this time President Roosevelt was beginning to concern himself with hemispheric defense against the Axis powers. One of Gaston's recommendations resulted in the extension of gold loans to strengthen the monetary systems of Latin American countries. His background in journalism led to a position as secretary of the Board of War Communications (1941-1945). From 1942 to 1947 he presided over the Interdepartmental Committee on Employee Investigation, and in 1946 he was an alternate member of the Cabinet Committee on Palestine in London. He died in Los Angeles, California, on December 7, 1956.

Achievements

• Gaston was a government official, who occupied various posts and was noted for his views on various matters.

Politics

Gaston was a Roosevelt Republican under 'Teddy, ' a Bull-Mooser in 1912, then a Wilsonite, then a Socialist, then a La Follette independent in 1924, an Al Smith man in 1928, and finally a Roosevelt Liberal.

Personality

Quotes from others about the person

• In his study of the Morgenthau diaries, John Morton Blum wrote that Gaston, along with Morgenthau's general counsel Herman Oliphant, was considered "the most dependable of Morgenthau's subordinates. "

Connections

On October 16, 1907, Gaston married Ethel Bell. They had two children.

Father:

William Hawks Gaston

Mother:

Maria Glasgow Irvine

Spouse:

Ethel Bell

References

• The New Dealers (FDR and the Era of the New Deal)
• The Nonpartisan League
• Years of urgency: 1938-1941 (From the Morgenthau diaries)