George E. Allen
George E. Allen | |
|---|---|
John Russell Young | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Edward Allen February 29, 1896 Booneville, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | April 23, 1973 (aged 77) Palm Desert, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mary Keane |
| Education | Cumberland University (LLB) |
George Edward Allen (February 29, 1896 – April 23, 1973) was an American lawyer, businessman, and friend ("poker-playing intimate" and even "court jester"[1]) for U.S. presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was also head football coach of Cumberland University's football team during their famed lopsided match against Georgia Tech, losing 222–0.[2][3][4]
Background
George Edward Allen was born on February 29, 1896, in Booneville, Mississippi.[2][3][4][5] He earned a law degree (LLB) at Cumberland University in Tennessee.[2][3] In 1939, he earned an LLD.[2]
Career
Coaching
In 1916, Allen served as
A favorite is his account of the Georgia Tech-Cumberland U. football game in 1916. Cumberland's fullback and captain, George Allen himself, made the best run of the game for his hard pressed side: "I only lost six yards." He would have made one beautiful punt if his own center had not blocked it with the back of his neck. George recalls: "I once dropped the ball and yelled at another fellow: 'Pick it up.' He yelled back at me, 'Pick it up yourself, you dropped it.'" The score: Tech, 222; Cumberland, 0.[4]
Cumberland had actually discontinued its football program before the season but was not allowed to cancel its game against the Engineers. Georgia Tech coach John Heisman insisted on the schools' scheduling agreement, which required Cumberland to pay $3,000 (considered a sizeable sum in 1916 and roughly equivalent to $70,000 currently) to Tech if its football team failed to show.[8]
George Allen (who was elected to serve as Cumberland's football team student manager after first serving as the baseball team student manager), also a
Head coaching record (football):
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland Phoenix (Independent) (1916) | |||||||||
| 1916 | Cumberland | 0–1 | |||||||
| Cumberland: | 0–1 | ||||||||
| Total: | 0–1 | ||||||||
WWI
During World War I, Allen "wangled himself a commission in the US Army".[4]
Law and business
Allen later practiced law in
Politics
Allen "wangled himself" onto the Board of Commissioners for the
On behalf of the
On July 2, 1948, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Allen would undertake to ask General Eisenhower for a "Sherman-like pronouncement that he would not run if nominated at the Democratic convention and would serve if elected" in the November 1948 US presidential elections. "This effort will be made with the 'full knowledge and acquiescence' of the President and his so-called 'Kitchen Cabinet' of political strategists."[1]
Business, law, and political circles
Although Allen left government service with the end of the Truman administration, Allen remained in the public eye as a friend of President Eisenhower, a prominent member of "Ike's millionaires", a group of businessmen who socialized with Eisenhower in various leisure activities. Allen had a home in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania near Eisenhower's residence, and in 1959 Eisenhower stayed at Allen's home in La Quinta, California.[13]
From 1947 to his death in 1973, Allen was an executive with several business corporations including AVCO, Inc. During the Eisenhower administration, he was part of a group known as "Ike's millionaires."[3] By 1964, he held numerous corporate directorships. He was also an associate of the Washington, DC-based law firm of Alvord and Alvord (whose members included Jess Larson).[2]
Time attributed Allen's success to his good humor: "George's job was Good Relations... George was a fixer and a puller of wires." He became vice president of the Home Insurance Company to help solve a fire insurance scandal. Numerous companies put him on their boards, including Victor Emanuel's Aviation Corp. and Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp., Tom Girdler's Republic Steel, General Aniline and Film Corp.[4]
Personal life and death
In 1930, Allen married Mary Keane.[3] They were living in the Wardman Park Hotel in the 1940s.[4]
The press called Allen many names in his time, including:
The press referred to Truman's close advisers as his "gang," prompters, and Kitchen Cabinet. In August 1946,
George E. Allen died age 77 on April 23, 1973, of a heart attack in Palm Desert, California.[2][3]
Legacy
The public library in Allen's home town of Booneville, Mississippi, is named the George E. Allen Library in his honor, and a major street is named "George E. Allen Drive".
According to the Eisenhower Library:
Though lawyer, businessman, and public servant, Allen was foremost known as a raconteur. This, along with mutual interests in golf, bridge, and farming probably formed the basis of the friendship between Allen and Eisenhower. The relationship was largely social and according to Eisenhower associates it was valuable to the President as an antidote to the stress of the office. The friendship continued through Eisenhower's retirement and Allen remained close to Mamie after Eisenhower's death.[2]
Works
Based on experience as a White House intimate, Allen wrote Presidents Who Have Known Me in 1950, and then wrote a revised edition in 1960.[3][14]
References
- ^ a b c Blair, William M. (July 3, 1948). "Eisenhower Query Laid to President: Newspaper Says George Allen Will Ask Clear Declination". New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "George E. Allen Papers" (PDF). Eisenhower. May 1989. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "George Allen, Presidents' Crony, Dies". New York Times. April 24, 1973. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "The Regular Guys". Time. August 12, 1946. Archived from the original on November 17, 2007. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- ^ Who's Who in America, Volume 24, 1946-1947 (1946). Chicago: A. N. Marquis Company
- ^ "The Game of the Century". Cumberland University. Archived from the original on July 4, 2007.
- ^ "Cumberland 0, Tech 222". Georgia Tech Alumni Association.
- ^ "Football's Glorious Slaughter". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012.
- New York Times.
- ^ "Football history". Cumberland University Athletics.
- ^ U. S. Government Manual, 1942?, p. 403
- ^ "August 12, 1946, Vol. XLVIII No. 7". Time. August 12, 1948. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ Brad Bigelow (August 17, 2012). "Presidents Who Have Known Me, by George E. Allen". The Neglected Books Page. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
External links
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