McAdoo, W. G. (William Gibbs), 1863-1941

Lawyer, business executive, Democratic Party leader, U.S. secretary of the treasury, Director General of Railroads, and U.S. senator from California.

From the description of Papers of William Gibbs McAdoo, 1786-1941 (bulk 1880-1941). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71063506

McAdoo was born near Marietta, Cobb County, GA, on Oct. 31, 1863; attended the Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville; admitted to TN bar in 1885 and began law practice in Chattanooga, TN; moved to NYC, 1892; developed system of rapid transit tunnels under the Hudson River and was president (1902-13) of the company which built them; vice chairman, Democratic National Committee, 1912; appointed Secretary of the Treasury by Woodrow Wilson, 1913-1918; chairman of the Federal Reserve Board during WWI; moved to Los Angeles, CA, 1922; served as Democrat, US Senate, 1933-38; died while visiting Washington, D.C., on Feb. 1, 1941.

From the description of Papers, 1902-1938. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 38273495

William Gibbs McAdoo (1863-1941) was a lawyer in Chattanooga and New York City before he developed and oversaw the construction of the Hudson River Tunnels, acting as president of the company that operated them from 1902-13. He served as vice chairman for the Democratic National Committee in 1912 and as a delegate in 1912, 1932, and 1936. He was a member of President Wilson's cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury from 1913-1918, Director-General of the United States railroads during World War I, and a U.S. senator from California from 1933-1936. He was married to Sarah Hazlehurst Fleming in 1885. His second wife was President Wilson's daughter, Eleanor Wilson, and they were married in 1914 but divorced at a later date. McAdoo's third wife was Doris Cross, whom he married in September 1935.

From the description of Papers of William Gibbs McAdoo, 1823-1992. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 122510100

Biographical Note

• 1863, Oct. 31: Born near Marietta, Ga.
• 1880: Attended University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.
• 1882: Clerk, United States circuit court, Chattanooga, Tenn.
• 1885 - 1892 : Admitted to the bar and set up law practice, Chattanooga, Tenn.
• 1892 - 1902 : Practiced law, New York, N.Y.
• 1902 - 1912 : Organized the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Co., which drove the first tunnel under the Hudson River in 1904
• 1912: Delegate to Democratic National Convention, Baltimore, Md. Vice chairman and acting chairman, Democratic National Committee, during election campaign of 1912
• 1913: Appointed secretary of treasury
• 1917: Appointed director general of railroads
• 1920: Contender for presidential nomination, Democratic National Convention, San Francisco, Calif.
• 1920 - 1932 : Practiced law, Los Angeles, Calif.
• 1928: Published The Challenge. New York, London: Century Co.
• 1931: Published The Crowded Years: Reminiscences of William G. McAdoo. Port Washington, N.Y.: Kennikat Press
• 1933 - 1938 : United States senator from California
• 1938 - 1941 : Chairman, board of directors, American President Lines
• 1941, Feb. 10: Died, Washington, D.C.

From the guide to the W. G. McAdoo Papers, 1786-1941, (bulk 1880-1941), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Biography

William Gibbs McAdoo was born in Marietta, Georgia on 31 October 1863 to Mary Faith (Floyd) McAdoo and William Gibbs McAdoo. He was a practicing lawyer in both Chattanooga, Tennessee and New York City after passing the bar in 1885. William Gibbs McAdoo developed and oversaw the construction of the Hudson River Tunnels, acting as president of the company which operated them from 1902-1913. He served as vice chairman for the Democratic National Committee in 1912 and as a delegate for the Democratic National Convention in the years 1912, 1932, and 1936. McAdoo was also a member of President Woodrow Wilson's cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury from March 1913 to December 1918. He was Director-General of the United States Railroads during World War I from December 1917 to January 1919. One interesting fact about McAdoo that is little known is that he was the leading candidate for the Presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention in 1920. He was a United States senator from California from 1933 until his resignation in 1936. He was then an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1938.

McAdoo was first married to Sarah Hazlehurst Fleming in 1885. His second wife was the daughter of President Woodrow Wilson, Eleanor Wilson, and they were married in 1914 but divorced at a later date. McAdoo's third wife was Doris Cross, whom he married in September 1935.

William Gibbs McAdoo died of a heart attack on 1 Feb 1941 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Meyer, Virginia.

From the guide to the William G. McAdoo Papers, 1823-1992 (bulk 1936-1941), (The Huntington Library)

Biography

McAdoo was born near Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia, on October 31, 1863; attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; admitted to Tennessee bar in 1885 and began law practice in Chattanooga, Tennessee; moved to New York City, 1892; developed system of rapid transit tunnels under the Hudson River and was president (1902-13) of the company which built them; vice chairman, Democratic National Committee, 1912; appointed Secretary of the Treasury by Woodrow Wilson, 1913-1918; chairman of the Federal Reserve Board during World War I; moved to Los Angeles, California, 1922; served as Democrat, U.S. Senate, 1933-38; died while visiting Washington, D.C., on February 1, 1941.

From the guide to the William Gibbs McAdoo Papers, 1902-1938, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)