John Thomas Connor (November 3, 1914 – October 6, 2000) was an American government official and businessman. He served as the
United States Secretary of Commerce from January 18, 1965 to January 31, 1967.
Life and career
Connor was born in
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse ( ) is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, Onondaga County, New York, United States. It is the fifth-most populous city in the state of New York following New York City, Buffalo, New York, Buffa ...
, to Michael Joseph and Mary Vivian (née Sullivan) Connor. Connor graduated from
Syracuse University
Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...
and
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School (Harvard Law or HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States.
Each class ...
, where he was a member of the
Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Connor was a Roman Catholic. He married the former Mary O'Boyle on June 22, 1940; they had two sons and one daughter. He was a lawyer in New York. In 1942, he became a researcher for the Office of Scientific Research and Development, which helped to find cures for many diseases and illnesses.
He served in the
United States Marine Corps as the assistant to the future Navy secretary
James V. Forrestal
James Vincent Forrestal (February 15, 1892 – May 22, 1949) was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense.
Forrestal came from a very strict middle-class Irish Catholic fami ...
. He was working on penicillin production and procurement issues. He worked in the pharmaceutical industry after the
World War II, entering politics as the co-chairman of the Johnson-Humphrey Campaign in 1964.
He was awarded the Commerce Secretaryship in 1965 but wielded less influence within the administration than
Secretary of the Treasury Henry H. Fowler and the Economic Advisor
Gardner Ackley
Hugh Gardner Ackley (June 30, 1915 – February 12, 1998) was an American economist and diplomat.
Ackley served as a member of the Council of Economic Advisers under President John F. Kennedy, and as the Chairman under President Lyndon B. Johnso ...
. He helped to the settle an East Coast dock strike in 1965, as well as a
General Electric strike in 1966. Connor resigned on January 31, 1967.
In the 1970s, headed the Committee of Business Executives against the Vietnam War, and was to also, the served as the
Rockefeller Commission to the investigation of the CIA activities.
He died from
leukemia at
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital (Mass General or MGH) is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School located in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It is the third oldest general hospital in the United Stat ...
in
Boston, Massachusetts on October 6, 2000, at the age of 85.
Connor was interred in Mosswood Cemetery in
Cotuit, Massachusetts
Cotuit ( ) is one of the villages of the Town of Barnstable on Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. Located on a peninsula on the south side of Barnstable about midway between Falmouth and Hyannis, Cotuit is bounded by t ...
.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Connor, John T.
1914 births
2000 deaths
Syracuse University alumni
Harvard Law School alumni
United States Secretaries of Commerce
Deaths from cancer in Massachusetts
Businesspeople from Syracuse, New York
Lyndon B. Johnson administration cabinet members
20th-century American politicians
Politicians from Syracuse, New York
Lawyers from Syracuse, New York
Catholics from New York (state)
Henry Laurence Gantt Medal recipients
Military personnel from Syracuse, New York