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Hull resigned in [[November]], [[1944]] because of failing health — Roosevelt portrayed Hull upon his departure as "the one person in all the world who has done his most to make this great plan for peace (the United Nations) an effective fact". The [[Norwegian Nobel Committee]] honored Hull with the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] in [[1945]] in recognition of his efforts for peace and understanding in the [[Western Hemisphere]], his trade agreements, and his work to establish the United Nations. Hull served 11 years, nine months as Secretary of State, longer than anyone else.
Hull resigned in [[November]], [[1944]] because of failing health — Roosevelt portrayed Hull upon his departure as "the one person in all the world who has done his most to make this great plan for peace (the United Nations) an effective fact". The [[Norwegian Nobel Committee]] honored Hull with the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] in [[1945]] in recognition of his efforts for peace and understanding in the [[Western Hemisphere]], his trade agreements, and his work to establish the United Nations. Hull served 11 years, nine months as Secretary of State, longer than anyone else.


One of the controversies surrounding the Roosevelt administration is Hull's insistence on following federal laws that limited the entry of foreign refugees. The most dramatic case involved the [[SS St. Louis]] in 1939 carrying over 950 Jewish refugees. It was turned away.
One of the controversies surrounding the Roosevelt administration is Hull's opposition to allow Jews seeking refuge to the U.S. The St. Louis sailed out of Hamburg into the Atlantic Ocean in the summer of 1939 carrying over 950 Jewish refugees, mostly wealthy, seeking asylum from Nazi persecution just before World War II. After seeking asylum in Cuba and being refused, the ship headed to Florida, where, on 4 June 1939, it was also refused permission to unload on orders of President Roosevelt. Initially President Roosevelt showed modest willingness to take in some of those on board, but vehement opposition by Hull and from Southern Democrats — some of whom went so far as to threaten to withhold their support of Roosevelt in the 1940 Presidential election if this occurred. On 4 June 1939 Roosevelt issued an order to deny entry to the ship, which was waiting in the Caribbean Sea between Florida and Cuba. The passengers began negotiations with the Cuban government, but those broke down at the last minute. Forced to return to Europe, many of its passengers died in Nazi concentration camps.


Hull died in [[Washington, D.C.]] and is buried in the vault of the [[Chapel of St. Joseph of Arimathea]] in the [[Washington National Cathedral|Washington Cathedral]]. His memory is preserved by Cordell Hull Dam on the [[Cumberland River]] near [[Carthage, Tennessee]]. Hull was portrayed by veteran actor [[George Macready]] in the [[1970]] film [[Tora! Tora! Tora!]].
Hull died in [[Washington, D.C.]] and is buried in the vault of the [[Chapel of St. Joseph of Arimathea]] in the [[Washington National Cathedral|Washington Cathedral]]. His memory is preserved by Cordell Hull Dam on the [[Cumberland River]] near [[Carthage, Tennessee]]. Hull was portrayed by veteran actor [[George Macready]] in the [[1970]] film [[Tora! Tora! Tora!]].

Revision as of 20:40, 15 October 2006

Cordell Hull
47th United States Secretary of State
In office
March 4, 1933 – November 30, 1944
Preceded byHenry L. Stimson
Succeeded byEdward Stettinius, Jr.
Personal details
BornOctober 2, 1871
Olympus, Tennessee, USA
DiedJuly 23, 1955
Washington, D.C., USA
Political partyDemocratic
ProfessionPolitician

Cordell Hull (October 2, 1871 – July 23, 1955) served as United States Secretary of State from 1933-1944 under Franklin Delano Roosevelt and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945.

Life and career

Born in Olympus, Pickett County, Tennessee, Hull attended a teachers' college from 1889 until 1890. At the age of 19, Hull became the elected chairman of the Clay County Democratic Party. In 1891, he graduated from Cumberland School of Law at Cumberland University and was admitted to the bar. He served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1893 to 1897. During the Spanish-American War, Hull served in Cuba as a captain in the Fourth Regiment of the Tennessee Volunteer Infantry.

From 1903 to 1907, Hull served as a local judge; later he was elected to the United States House of Representatives where he served 11 terms (1907-1921 and 1923-1931) totaling 22 years. After his defeat in 1920, he served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee. As a member of the powerful Ways and Means committee, he fought for low tariffs and claimed authorship of the federal income tax laws of 1913 and 1916 and the inheritance tax of 1916. He was elected to the Senate in 1930. In 1933, Roosevelt named him Secretary of State. Roosevelt often ignored Hull in making major foreign policy decisions, leaving the Secretary, in the opinion of most historians, to play the role of a highly popular empty suit. Hull did try to enlarge foreign trade and lower tariffs. In 1943, Hull served as United States delegate to the Moscow Conference.

Hull chaired the Advisory Committee of Postwar Foreign Policy, created in February, 1942.

When the Free French Forces of Charles de Gaulle liberated the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (located south of Newfoundland) in December, 1941, Hull lodged a very strong protest and even went as far as referring to the Gaullist naval forces as "the so called Free French." His request to have the Vichy governor reinstated was met with strong criticism in the American press. The islands remained part of the Free French movement until the end of World War II.

Hull was an ardent supporter of the United Nations. He pushed his staff to draft a suitable "Charter of the United Nations", which it accomplished by mid-1943.

Hull resigned in November, 1944 because of failing health — Roosevelt portrayed Hull upon his departure as "the one person in all the world who has done his most to make this great plan for peace (the United Nations) an effective fact". The Norwegian Nobel Committee honored Hull with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945 in recognition of his efforts for peace and understanding in the Western Hemisphere, his trade agreements, and his work to establish the United Nations. Hull served 11 years, nine months as Secretary of State, longer than anyone else.

One of the controversies surrounding the Roosevelt administration is Hull's insistence on following federal laws that limited the entry of foreign refugees. The most dramatic case involved the SS St. Louis in 1939 carrying over 950 Jewish refugees. It was turned away.

Hull died in Washington, D.C. and is buried in the vault of the Chapel of St. Joseph of Arimathea in the Washington Cathedral. His memory is preserved by Cordell Hull Dam on the Cumberland River near Carthage, Tennessee. Hull was portrayed by veteran actor George Macready in the 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora!.

A segment of Kentucky highway route 70, leading from Interstate 65 to Mammoth Cave National Park, is named "Cordell Hull Highway."

Fictional Appearance

In the Worldwar series of alternate history novels by Harry Turtledove, Hull becomes president at some point in 1944, following the deaths of first Vice-President Wallace and then President Roosevelt.

Sources

Primary

  • Cordell Hull. Memoirs (1948).

Secondary

Multimedia

Wikiquote has quotations related to Cordell Hull.
Preceded by United States Secretary of State
1933-1944 		Succeeded by
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