Richard Maguire | |
|---|---|
| Treasurer of theDemocratic National Committee | |
| In office April 1963 – December 1965 | |
| Preceded by | Matthew McCloskey |
| Succeeded by | Clifton C. Carter (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Died | February 18, 1983 (age 68) |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
Richard Maguire (died February 18, 1983) was an American lawyer and political fundraiser for theDemocratic Party, particularlyJohn F. Kennedy andLyndon B. Johnson. Maguire served as the treasurer of the Democratic National Committee from 1963 to 1965, where he developed a reputation as a secretive yet powerful figure.
Maguire attendedBoston Latin School andPhillips Exeter Academy, before enteringHarvard University. At Harvard, he played baseball, and metJoseph P. Kennedy Jr.. He graduated in 1936, and three years later earned a degree fromHarvard Law School. Maguire found employment in Boston as a lawyer. For five years (1941-1946), he served in theUnited States Army, fighting inWorld War II.[1] After being discharged, he metJohn F. Kennedy, who at the time was running for a seat in the USHouse of Representatives. Maguire worked on Kennedy's campaign, as the treasurer.[2]
When Kennedy was elected as president in 1960, Maguire worked as an aide in his office.[2] He was a member of the "Irish mafia"—people who were close to Kennedy before being placed on staff, rather than being affiliated with the broader Democratic Party.[3]
He was appointed by JFK to succeedMatthew McCloskey as Treasurer of theDemocratic National Committee (DNC) in April 1963.[4][5] Maguire established the "President's Club", a program that held dinners with the president at the price of $1,000 per person.[6] This club was partially an effort to free Kennedy from reliance on contributions to his campaign from the broader Democratic party.[7] After theassassination of John F. Kennedy, Maguire was, according to the historian Sean Savage, seeminglyLyndon B. Johnson's most trusted party official, in contrast to other party members who Johnson feared sought to runRobert F. Kennedy as president.[5] Later in 1963, he organized the sale of 68 pages of ads to major corporations in a tribute book to Johnson, raising around a million dollars.[8] Maguire's fundraising programs were highly successful, and allowed the Democratic Committee to pay off $4 million of debt in three years.[6]
Maguire quickly emerged as a prominent member in the Democratic Party's organization. In December 1963, reportersRobert S. Allen and Paul Scott described Maguire as "the real behind-the-scenes power in the [Democratic] national headquarters." They wrote that he wasRobert F. Kennedy's "man" in the committee.[9] In February 1965, Maguire drew attention from SenatorJohn J. Williams, who launched an investigation into the DNC's use of their funds. The journalistsRowland Evans andRobert Novak highlighted that Maguire was little-known but a highly effective fundraiser. Evans and Novak described him as "easily the most powerful man in the national party structure." However, he was unwilling to speak to journalists and secretive with his records.[10] In December 1965 he left his role as treasurer of the DNC,[11] which was temporarily filled byClifton C. Carter.[12] Maguire was eventually replaced byJohn Criswell.[13]
After leaving DNC leadership, Maguire worked on the finances of theHubert Humphrey campaign in 1968,[14] and was involved in foundation of theNational Council for Civic Responsibility.[15]
Maguire lived inEast Boston. In 1942 he married Marian Grady,[2] and the couple had five children.[2] He died on February 18, 1983.[2]