Frederick Ayer Jr.
Frederick Ayer Jr. (December 28, 1915 – January 4, 1974) was an American government official, attorney, and author who worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Mission in Greece, and the United States Air Force.
Early life
Ayer was born on December 28, 1915, in Topsfield, Massachusetts, to Frederick Ayer Sr. and Hilda Proctor Rice Ayer.[1] His uncle was General George S. Patton and his grandfather was Frederick Ayer.[1]
Ayer grew up in Wenham, Massachusetts.[2] He graduated from The Hill School in 1933, Harvard College in 1937, and Harvard Law School in 1941.[2] While an undergraduate, Ayer was a member of Harvard's varsity polo and track and junior varsity football and rifle teams.[3] On November 16, 1941, he married Anne Proctor Moody of San Francisco in Hamilton, Massachusetts.[4] They had two sons and one daughter.[5]
Government service
From 1941 to 1946, Ayer was an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He was sworn in on August 25, 1941, placed in an accelerated training program, and assigned to the
From 1947 to 1948, Ayer worked at the American Mission in Greece as deputy legal advisor. He later as the chief of the mission's Intelligence and Security Division, where he was tasked with stopping Communist activities in relation to the American aid program. In 1948, United States Secretary of State
In April 1950, Ayer was named assistant counsel to the
Fundraising
In 1948, Ayer accepted an unpaid position as vice-chairman of the Boston Children's Hospital's Children's Medical Center Fund. The following year he was named chairman of the Fund. At the age of 33 he was believed to be the youngest chairman of a major charitable campaign in Massachusetts history.[2] In 1951 he served as general chairman of the YMCA's World Service Campaign.[11]
Political career
Ayer was encouraged to enter politics by his uncle, George S. Patton, who told him that too many qualified people avoided politics because they thought it was a "dirty business".[5] He was active in Leverett Saltonstall's 1936 campaign for Governor of Massachusetts and took two months off from law school to assist Wendell Willkie's presidential campaign.[5] In 1948, Ayer served as vice chairman and later as acting chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party's Finance Committee.[2]
On March 15, 1950, Ayer announced his candidacy for
Later life
In 1953 Ayer was named special assistant to United States Secretary of the Air Force Harold E. Talbott.[18] On April 22, 1955, Ayer suffered a heart attack in Washington, D.C.[19] He eventually recovered and returned to work. After leaving government service in 1960, Ayer practiced law in Washington, D.C., with the firm of Ford, Ayer, Horan, and Lester.[18] He also dedicated much of his time to writing. His books included "Before the Color Fades: Portrait of a Soldier" about his uncle George S. Patton, "The Man in the Mirror: A Novel of Espionage", "Yankee G-Men", and "Walter, the Improbable Hound." In 1965 he appeared as a guest on The Merv Griffin Show.[20] He also wrote articles for Massachusetts newspapers, including The Boston Globe on a number of subjects, chiefly European affairs.[7][18] Ayer died of a heart attack on January 4, 1974, while on vacation in Tucker's Town, Bermuda.[7]
References
- ^ a b Harvard College Class of 1911 Decennial Report. 1921. p. 14.
- ^ a b c d e "Frederick Ayer Jr. to Head Children's Center Campaign". The Boston Daily Globe. July 7, 1959.
- ^ a b c "Ayer Enters G.O.P Race for Attorney General: Nephew of Gen Patton, Former FBI Agent Warns of Communists". The Boston Daily Globe. March 16, 1950.
- ^ "Frederick Ayer Jr, Weds Miss Anne Moody in Hamilton Today". The Boston Daily Globe. November 16, 1941.
- ^ a b c Cutler, Samuel B. (October 26, 1950). "Meet the Candidates: Ayer Took Blunt Advice of Patton, Entered Politics". The Boston Daily Globe.
- ISBN 0-393-32128-2.
- ^ a b c "Frederick Ayer, U.S. Aide Abroad". The New York Times. January 5, 1974.
- ^ a b White, William S. (April 13, 1950). "Red Inquiry Clash Flares as Tydings Bars a G.O.P. Aide". The New York Times.
- ^ a b "Ayer Declines Inquiry Post". The New York Times. April 19, 1950.
- ^ "Ayer Named to Aid Probe of Alleged State Dept. Reds". The Boston Daily Globe. April 12, 1950.
- ^ "YMCA Needs Aid for Work Abroad, Ayer Says Here". The Boston Daily Globe. March 13, 1951.
- ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1950. p. 169.
- ^ "Kelly Quotes Police to Deny Ayer Charges". The Boston Daily Globe. October 14, 1950.
- ^ "Kelly Bungled Brink's Probe, Ayer Charges". The Boston Daily Globe. October 13, 1950.
- ^ "Ayer Declares Kelly Attempts Smear Campaign". The Boston Daily Globe. October 7, 1950.
- ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1950. p. 5.
- ^ "Ayer to Run Again in 1952". The Boston Daily Globe. November 14, 1950.
- ^ a b c d "Frederick Ayer, 58; attorney, FBI official". The Boston Globe. January 5, 1974.
- ^ "Frederick Ayer Jr. in Hospital After Heart Attack at 39". The Boston Daily Globe. April 23, 1955.
- ^ "The Merv Griffin Show". imdb.com. Retrieved 1 December 2022.