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

* {{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