Cannon, James M., 1918-2011

James Monroe Cannon was born on February 26, 1918 in Sylacauga, Alabama. He received a B.S. from the University of Alabama in 1939, and served in the U.S. Army from 1939 to 1940. He worked for Burroughs Adding Machine Company from 1940 to 1941, and again served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1946. Cannon went on to work as an reporter and editor for several publications: Reporter for the Potsdam (NY) Herald-Recorder, 1947 to 1948; Reporter for the Gloversville (NY) Leader-Republican, 1948 to 1949; Reporter for the Baltimore Sun, 1949 to 1954, serving as a foreign correspondent in 1950 and 1951; and Contributing editor for Time magazine, 1954 to 1956. He was employed by Newsweek magazine from 1956 to 1969, in the following positions: National Affairs Editor, Washington correspondent, Chief of Correspondents, and Vice President and Assistant to the Publisher. Cannon served as Special Assistant to New York Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller for Federal, State and Intergovernmental Affairs, from 1969 to 1973. His main responsibility was liaison between the State of New York and the White House and Congress. From January to August 1974, he served as Special Assistant to Nelson A. Rockefeller with the Commission on Critical Choices for Americans, and from August to December 1974 he was employed by Rockefeller Brothers and Associates. During this time he served as Nelson A. Rockefeller's congressional liaison for the vice presidential confirmation hearings. During the Ford Administration, he served on Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller's staff, from January to February 1975. He then served as Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs and Executive Director of the Domestic Council from 1975 to 1977. After leaving the White House, he was Administrative Assistant to the Senate Minority Leader (Senator Howard Baker) from 1977 to 1980. In 1981 he was Chief of Staff for the office of Senator Howard Baker, and continued to serve as Administrative Assistant to the Senate Majority Leader.