Hassett, William D., 1880-1965

William D. Hassett (1880-1965) was born in Northfield, Vermont. He attended Clark University from 1902 to 1904, then became a reporter for the Burlington Free Press (Burlington, Vermont). In 1909, Hassett went to Washington, D.C., where he continued his newspaper career with the Washington Post and the Associated Press, and also served as Washington correspondent for the Cincinnati Enquirer and the New York Telegram. From 1921 to 1925, he served in London as correspondent for the Philadelphia Public Ledger and the Associated Press. Hassett began his government career in 1933 with the National Recovery Administration moving in 1935 to the White House as an Assistant Secretary to Franklin D. Roosevelt. On February 19, 1944, President Roosevelt appointed him Secretary to the President. Hassett also served occasionally as White House press secretary, and it was he who announced the Roosevelt’s death in Warm Springs, Georgia. He was appointed Secretary to President Harry S. Truman on April 16, 1945, and held this post until his retirement in 1952. Hassett was a director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Foundation, a trustee of Norwich University (Vermont), and a member of the Board of Management of the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C. He wrote several articles and books, the best known being, Off the Record with FDR (1958).

Journalist and secretary to Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Journalist.

Hassett held government posts with the National Recovery Administration, 1933-1935, and on the White House staff, 1935-1952, including Secretary to President Roosevelt and President Truman.