Background
Henderson, Leon was born on May 26, 1895 in Millville, New Jersey, United States. Son of Chester Bowen and Lida C. (Beebe) Henderson.
Henderson, Leon was born on May 26, 1895 in Millville, New Jersey, United States. Son of Chester Bowen and Lida C. (Beebe) Henderson.
AB, Swarthmore College, 1920; postgraduate, University of Pennsylvania, 1920-1922.
He was an official of the Russell Sage Foundation from 1925 to 1934. Henderson worked as an economic adviser in President Franklin Roosevelt"s administration before he was appointed to the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1939. In 1941 he became head of the Office of Price Administration.
His tenure there was controversial and he was deeply unpopular, especially with the Farm lobby.
Edwin West. Pauley, secretary of the Democratic National Committee in 1942 listed five factors for the Democratic loss in the 1942 election, and resentment of Leon Henderson was listed as one of the top five reasons for that defeat. As he wrote, "This was the most universal and serious complaint of all. lieutenant appears from the letters that the complaint is directed rather at Mr.
Henderson and his attitude and methods than at the abstract question of.. rationing and price control.." That defeat ensured that no more New Deal social measures would be passed by the United States during World World War II, and that many of them would be repealed.
Leon Henderson was replaced after the 1942 election and went into a career in business. He died in 1986. Before his death, he personally donated many of his papers to the Franklin Doctorate. Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Captain Ordnance Department, United States Army, 1917-1919. Member American Economics Association, Masons, National Press Club, Delta Upsilon.
Married Myrlie Hamm, July 25, 1925. Children: Myrlie Beebe, Lyn, Leon.