Paul A. Porter | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission | |
| In office December 21, 1944 – February 25, 1946 | |
| Nominated by | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | E. K. Jett |
| Succeeded by | Charles R. Denny |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Paul Aldermandt Porter (1904-10-06)October 6, 1904 Joplin, Missouri, US |
| Died | November 26, 1975(1975-11-26) (aged 71) Washington, D. C., US |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Bessie Edgar Banton (div. 1956) Kathleen Winsor (1956–his death) |
| Alma mater | University of Kentucky Kentucky Wesleyan College |
| Profession | lawyer |
Paul Aldermandt Porter (October 6, 1904 – November 26, 1975) was an Americanlawyer and politician.[1] He served as chairman of theFederal Communications Commission from 1944 to 1946.[2] The following year he joinedWashington, D.C.law firm Arnold & Fortas, now known asArnold & Porter. In addition to his career in public service, he became a member of thePeabody Awards Board of Jurors, serving from 1947 to 1963.[3]
Born inJoplin, Missouri, Porter's family moved toWinchester, Kentucky when he was very young. He graduated fromKentucky Wesleyan College and attained a law degree from theUniversity of Kentucky College of Law. While in law school, he worked as city editor for theLexingtonHerald. Fresh from law school, he joined the law firm of Judge J.M. Banton, where he was assigned to work on theAl Smith presidential campaign inClark County, where he lived. After the election, he joined General Newspapers, where he worked on acquisitions. He was married to Bessie Edgar Benton, a friend from childhood and the daughter of J.M. Banton;[4] they had two children. The couple divorced in 1956, and Porter later marriedKathleen Winsor.[citation needed]
Porter served as theDemocratic National Committee's head of publicity for the party's successful 1944 election campaign, which saw Democrats increase their majority in theHouse of Representatives and the reelection of PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt. Prior to his work for the Democratic Party, Porter had held a number of jobs in the Roosevelt administration, starting with the Department of Agriculture, from 1933 to 1937. He left the government to work as Washington counsel forCBS, taking leave in 1940 to join the National Defense Council.[citation needed] In 1942, Porter left CBS to join theOffice of Price Administration as deputy administrator, and then assistant director of theOffice of Economic Stabilization underFred M. Vinson.[5][6]
Porter was nominated by President Roosevelt on November 16, 1944, to fill out the remaining term of departing FCC chairmanJames Lawrence Fly, and took office on December 21 of that year under arecess appointment after theSenate failed to take up the nomination before the end of the Congressional session. Roosevelt designated Porter as FCC chairman at the same time, succeeding interim chairmanEwell K. Jett.[7] When the next Congress assembled in January 1945, Porter was renominated and was unanimously confirmed on January 18, 1945.[8] Porter did not serve out his full term, which would have expired on June 30, 1949, instead leaving the FCC in February 1946. He was succeeded as chairman by sitting commissionerCharles R. Denny.[9]
PresidentHarry Truman appointed Porter to head the American Economic Mission to Greece, with the rank of ambassador, in 1946. Two years later, he represented the United States at the Middle East peace talks in Geneva.[citation needed]
On November 21, 1975, Porter was eating dinner at a restaurant with his wife and friends when he choked on a piece of lobster. He went into a coma, and died five days later atGeorge Washington University Hospital.[10] Porter's personal papers are in theTruman Library.[11]
| Government offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission 1944–1946 | Succeeded by |
