View source for George M. Humphrey

{{short description|American politician}}
{{other people}}

{{Lead too short|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name         = George Humphrey
| image        = George M Humphrey.jpg
| office       = 55th [[United States Secretary of the Treasury]]
| president    = [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]
| term_start   = January 21, 1953
| term_end     = July 29, 1957
| predecessor  = [[John Wesley Snyder (US Cabinet Secretary)|John Snyder]]
| successor    = [[Robert B. Anderson (Texas politician)|Robert B. Anderson]]
| birth_name   = George Magoffin Humphrey
| birth_date   = {{birth date|1890|3|8}}
| birth_place  = [[Cheboygan, Michigan]], U.S.
| death_date   = {{death date and age|1970|1|20|1890|3|8}}
| death_place  = [[Cleveland]], Ohio, U.S.
| restingplace = [[Lake View Cemetery]]
| alma_mater   = [[University of Michigan|University of Michigan, Ann Arbor]] {{small|([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])}}
| party        = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| parents      =
| spouse       = {{marriage|Pamela Stark|January 15, 1913}}
| children     = 3
| relations    =
| signature    = G M Humphrey sig.jpg
}}

'''George Magoffin Humphrey''' (March 8, 1890{{spaced ndash}}January 20, 1970)<ref name="GMHObit1970"/> was an American lawyer, businessman and banker. He served as the [[United States Secretary of the Treasury]] for President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]].

== Early life ==
Humphrey was born on March 8, 1890, and raised in [[Cheboygan, Michigan]], the son of Caroline ([[née]] Magoffin) Humphrey (1861–1946) and Watts Sherman Humphrey (1844–1916).<ref name="case">{{cite web |title=HUMPHREY, GEORGE MAGOFFIN |url=https://case.edu/ech/articles/h/humphrey-george-magoffin |website=case.edu |publisher=[[Case Western Reserve University|Encyclopedia of Cleveland History {{!}} Case Western Reserve University]] |access-date=26 April 2019 |date=5 March 2019}}</ref>

Through his brother Watts S. Humphrey, he was the uncle of software engineer [[Watts Humphrey]].

He received both his undergraduate and law degrees from the [[University of Michigan]].<ref name="1962CorpBuilder"/>

==Career==
After practicing law in [[Saginaw, Michigan]] for five years with his father's firm, he accepted a position as general counsel with steel manufacturer [[M. A. Hanna Company]] in 1917.<ref name="1962CorpBuilder"/>  That association lasted 35 years and included his ascension to company president in 1929. He served as Chairman of [[The Business Council]], then known as the Business Advisory Council for the [[United States Department of Commerce]] in 1946.<ref name="business">[http://www.thebusinesscouncil.org/about/background.aspx The Business Council, Official website, Background] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213615/http://www.thebusinesscouncil.org/about/background.aspx |date=March 3, 2016 }}</ref> Following [[Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower|Dwight Eisenhower]]'s election to the Presidency in 1952, Humphrey was recommended by close adviser General [[Lucius D. Clay]], who had worked with the corporate magnate regarding post-war plans in Germany.

== Secretary of the Treasury ==
As [[Secretary of the Treasury]] in the first Republican Administration in 20 years, Humphrey was one of the most influential of President Eisenhower's [[Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower|Cabinet]] members.<ref name="millercenter">{{cite web |title=George M. Humphrey (1953–1957) |url=https://millercenter.org/president/eisenhower/essays/humphrey-1953-secretary-of-the-treasury |website=millercenter.org |publisher=[[Miller Center of Public Affairs]] |access-date=26 April 2019 |date=4 October 2016}}</ref>  Eisenhower was once quoted as saying, "When George speaks, we all listen."<ref name="1957News"/>

Humphrey had given up a $300,000 salary to accept the Cabinet position that paid just $22,500. He fought to have a balanced budget, tight money, limits on welfare and foreign aid, as well as "trickle down" tax cuts.<ref name="1962CorpBuilder">{{cite news |title=Corporation Builder; George Magoffin Humphrey |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1962/08/17/310077412.pdf |access-date=26 April 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=17 August 1962}}</ref>  He was even more adamant about government spending, saying in a 1957 press conference that if it wasn't curbed, "you will have a depression that will curl your hair."<ref name="1957News">{{cite news |title=A Proud Conservative; George Magoffin Humphrey A Success in Business Not So Hoover-like |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1957/01/18/87263517.pdf |access-date=26 April 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=18 January 1957}}</ref>  Humphrey left office on July 29, 1957.<ref name="1957Departure">{{cite news |title=Mr. Humphrey's Departure |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1957/07/30/84915099.pdf |access-date=26 April 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=30 July 1957}}</ref> Following Humphrey's departure that same year, he returned to the Hanna Company, serving as honorary board chairman and director, then later became chairman of [[National Steel Corporation]].<ref name="1961Chairman">{{cite news |title=Millsop Succeeding Humphrey As Chairman of National Steel; NATIONAL STEEL PICKS CHAIRMAN |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1961/02/22/118901091.pdf |access-date=26 April 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=22 February 1961}}</ref><ref name="1960Abroad">{{cite news |title=HUMPHREY FINDS U.S. APPRECIATED; Ex-Treasury Chief Asserts Eisenhower Is Held in High Regard Abroad |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1960/11/01/99817449.pdf |access-date=26 April 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=1 November 1960}}</ref>

=== Later life===
In 1962, Humphrey became embroiled in a potential controversy when a Senate committee investigated the stockpiling of nickel during his time in the [[Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower|Cabinet]].<ref name="Loftus1962">{{cite news |last1=Loftus |first1=Joseph A. |title=Inquiry Will Ask George Humphrey About Stockpile Profit Case; Political Overtones Funds Advanced |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1962/08/12/121578947.pdf |access-date=26 April 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=12 August 1962}}</ref>  The $98 million deal involved companies he had once headed, but he explained that his motivation was to increase the country's strategic stockpiles and was thus cleared. He made no profit from the deal.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

==Personal life==
On January 15, 1913, Humphrey was married to Pamela Stark of Saginaw.<ref name="1962CorpBuilder"/>  They had three children together:<ref name="VanTassel1987">{{cite book |last1=Van Tassel |first1=David Dirck |last2=University |first2=Case Western Reserve |title=The Encyclopedia of Cleveland history |date=1987 |publisher=[[Indiana University Press]] |isbn=978-0-253-31303-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B_wTAAAAYAAJ |access-date=26 April 2019 }}</ref>

* Cynthia Pamela Humphrey, who married Royal Firman Jr.<ref name="Congress1955"/> They divorced in September 1970.<ref name="1970Wedding">{{cite news |title=Mrs. Farley and Royal Firrnan Jr. Disclose Wedding Here on July 28 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1970/09/10/78816161.pdf |access-date=26 April 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=10 September 1970}}</ref>
* Gilbert Watts Humphrey (d. 1979), who became the Chairman of the Hanna conglomerate.<ref name="GWHObit1979">{{cite news |last1=Cook |first1=Joan |title=Gilbert W. Humphrey, Chairman Of Hanna Conglomerate, Is Dead |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1979/06/20/111040703.pdf |access-date=26 April 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=20 June 1979}}</ref>
* Caroline Helen Humphrey, who married John G. Butler.<ref name="Congress1955">{{cite book |last1=Congress |first1=United States |title=Congressional Directory |date=1955 |publisher=[[U.S. Government Printing Office]] |page=377 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8KOGAAAAMAAJ |access-date=26 April 2019 }}</ref>

In his later years, Humphrey essentially remained out of the spotlight.  His health deteriorated when he suffered an apparent heat stroke in August 1969.  He then became a frequent visitor to hospitals until entering Cleveland's University Hospital cardiac unit on December 27, 1969. He died there on January 20, 1970.<ref name="GMHObit1970">{{cite news |title=George M. Humphrey, 79, Dies; Former Secretary of Treasury |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1970/01/21/79095995.pdf |access-date=26 April 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=21 January 1970}}</ref><ref name="1970Sale">{{cite news |title=Estate of George Humphrey Joins in Hanna Stock Sale |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/10/21/archives/estate-of-george-humphrey-joins-in-hanna-stock-sale.html |access-date=26 April 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=21 October 1970}}</ref>  He was buried at the [[Lake View Cemetery]] in [[Cleveland, Ohio]].

[[File:Secretary of the Treasury George M. Humphrey Gravesite.jpg|thumb|The gravesite of Secretary Humphrey]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[https://eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Finding_Aids/pdf/Humphrey_George_Papers.pdf Papers of George M. Humphrey, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library]

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{U.S. Cabinet official box
| before= [[John Wesley Snyder (US Cabinet Secretary)|John W. Snyder]]
| after= [[Robert B. Anderson (Texas politician)|Robert B. Anderson]]
| years= 1953–1957
| president= [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]
| department= Secretary of the Treasury}}
{{s-end}}
{{USSecTreas}}
{{Eisenhower cabinet}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Humphrey, George M.}}
[[Category:1890 births]]
[[Category:1970 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:University of Michigan Law School alumni]]
[[Category:American Episcopalians]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:United States secretaries of the treasury]]
[[Category:American racehorse owners and breeders]]
[[Category:Burials at Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland]]
[[Category:Eisenhower administration cabinet members]]
[[Category:People from Cheboygan, Michigan]]
[[Category:Michigan Republicans]]