Farley, James Aloysius

(1888-1973)

   Born in Grassy Point, New York, James Farley was employed in the family businesses before qualifying as a bookkeeper. He worked for the Universal Gypsum Company in a variety of capacities until 1926. Farley entered politics in 1912 as town clerk for Stony Point, New York, and became involved in the Democratic Party. He was a supporter of Alfred E. Smith in the gubernatorial contest in 1918, and he held a number of party positions in the early 1920s before being elected to the State Assembly in 1922. Farley voted against prohibition and was defeated in 1924. In 1925, Smith appointed him to the State Boxing Commission. He also established his own General Building Supply Company in 1926 and was its president until 1933. In 1928, Farley helped manage Franklin D. Roosevelt’s gubernatorial campaign and provided crucial support for his presidential nomination in 1932. When Roosevelt was elected, Farley was appointed postmaster general. He was also chair of the Democratic National Committee, and he managed Roosevelt’s 1936 campaign. Farley was not one of Roosevelt’s inner circle of advisers, by 1940 he was opposed to the president seeking a third term. He put his own name forward for nomination but was easily defeated by Roosevelt. Shortly afterward Farley resigned from the cabinet and from his position in the Democratic Party. He made two unsuccessful attempts to win the New York gubernatorial nomination in 1958 and 1962. He became chair of the Coca-Cola Export Corporation, a position he held until 1973.