Matthew J. Connelly
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Clinton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Matthew Connelly | |
|---|---|
 | |
| White House Appointments Secretary | |
| In office 1945–1953 | |
| President | Harry S. Truman |
| Preceded by | Pa Watson |
| Succeeded by | Arthur H. Vandenberg Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 19, 1907 Clinton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | July 10, 1976 (aged 68) Oak Park, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Fordham University (BA) |
Matthew J. Connelly (November 19, 1907 – July 10, 1976) was an American civil servant. He served as executive secretary to Vice President Harry S. Truman and later appointments secretary in the Truman Administration. In 1955, he was indicted for bribery, whereupon he was convicted the following year. He served six months in prison in 1960 and was granted a full pardon by President John F. Kennedy in 1962.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Civil service
In 1930, he graduated from Fordham University and began his career as a stockbroker in New York City.[1][2]
In 1933, Connelly began civil service with federal relief agencies based in Boston and then Washington, DC. In 1935, moved to Washington. In 1938, his first job on the Hill in DC was "investigation of the relief program"—that is, "the local welfare program."[1][2][4]
In 1939, he joined the staff of the House Appropriations Committee, chaired by U.S. Representative Clarence Cannon and investigated the Works Progress Administration.[2][4]
In 1940, he joined the staff of the Senate Special Committee to Investigate Campaign Expenditures, chaired by U.S. Representative Guy Gillette. There, he worked under subcommittee chair U.S. Senator J. Lister Hill "to investigate the Kelly-Nash machine" in Chicago and then the Wendell Willkie campaign in Alabama. Senator Lister had Connelly join the Truman Committee.[2][4]
In 1941, he served as chief investigator of the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program, known as the "Truman Committee." Investigators who reported to him included: Hugh Fulton, William S. Cole, Rudolph Halley, Walter Hehmeyer, Robert L. Irvin, Donald M. Lathrom, and Frank E. Lowe.[1][2][3][4]
In July 1944, he became executive assistant to Senator Truman.[3]
In January 1945, he served as executive secretary to newly elected Vice President Truman.[2][3]
In April 1945 through 1953, he served as appointments secretary to President Truman.[2][3]
Bribery charges
In 1955, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted Connelly and T. Lamar Caudle for accepting a bribe and conspiring to defraud the government. In 1956, he received a conviction. In 1960, he served six months in prison.[1][2]
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy granted Connelly "a full and unconditional pardon."[1][2]
