James Hagerty | |
|---|---|
 James C. Hagerty and Pierre Salinger 6 December 1960 | |
| 8thWhite House Press Secretary | |
| In office January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961 | |
| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Roger Tubby |
| Succeeded by | Pierre Salinger |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Campbell Hagerty (1909-05-09)May 9, 1909 Plattsburgh, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 11, 1981(1981-04-11) (aged 71) Bronxville, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Marjorie Lucas |
| Education | Columbia University (BA) |
James Campbell Hagerty (May 9, 1909 – April 11, 1981) served as the eighthWhite House Press Secretary from 1953 to 1961 during thePresidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was known for providing much more detail on the lifestyle of the president than previous press secretaries; for example, he covered in great detail Eisenhower's medical condition. Most of the time, he handled routine affairs such as daily reports on presidential activities, defending presidential policies, and assisting diplomatic visitors. He handled embarrassing episodes, such as those related to the Sovietdowning of an American spy plane, the U-2 in 1960. He handled press relations on Eisenhower's international trips, sometimes taking the blame from a hostile foreign press. Eisenhower often relied on him for advice about public opinion, and how to phrase complex issues. Hagerty had a reputation for supporting civil rights initiatives.[1]
After his Irish Catholic family moved to New York when he was 3 years old, James Hagerty attendedEvander Childs High School inthe Bronx, before enrolling in and graduating fromBlair Academy, which he attended for his last two years in high school. He graduated fromColumbia College in 1934, and worked as a reporter forThe New York Times.
He became the press secretary to Governor of New YorkThomas E. Dewey in 1943, and handled Dewey's presidential campaignsin 1944 andin 1948.[2] He was in charge of candidate Eisenhower's press office in the1952 campaign, leading to his appointment as Press Secretary in January 1953. He introduced television cameras to press conferences in 1955. He occasionally handled political assignments from Eisenhower, such as liaison with the Senate.
In 1960, Hagerty was at the center of a major diplomatic incident between the United States and Japan. On June 10, Hagerty arrived at Tokyo'sHaneda Airport to make advance preparations for a planned visit to Japan by Eisenhower that was scheduled for later that month.[3] Hagerty was picked up in a black car by US Ambassador to JapanDouglas MacArthur II (the nephew of thefamous general), but as the car left the airport it was surrounded by 6,000 Japanese protesters protesting the revision of theU.S.-Japan Security Treaty as part of the broader1960 Anpo protests.[3] The protesters surrounded the car, rocking it back and forth for more than an hour while cracking its windows, smashing its tail lights, standing on its roof, and chanting anti-American slogans and singing protest songs.[4] Ultimately, MacArthur and Hagerty had to be rescued by aUS Marines military helicopter, creating indelible imagery of the so-called "Hagerty Incident" (ハガチー事件,Hagachii jiken) that was transmitted by newswires around the world.[5] The Hagerty Incident shocked much of the Japanese public, insofar as it was seen as a grave discourtesy to a foreign guest, and contributed to the cancellation of Eisenhower's visit, for fear that his safety could not be guaranteed, as well as the forced resignation of Japanese prime ministerNobusuke Kishi shortly thereafter.[6]
Hagerty appeared as a mystery challenger on the March 10, 1957, and panelist on the June 23, 1957 episodes ofWhat's My Line?[7][8]
After Eisenhower left office in January 1961, Hagerty became a vice president of theABC television network, serving from 1961–1975.[9]
"If you lose your temper at a newspaper columnist, he'll get rich or famous or both."[10][11]
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| Preceded by | White House Press Secretary 1953–1961 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Academics | |
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