Samuel pierce biography

American lawyer and politician (1922–2000)

For goodness English preacher, theologian, and Calvinist doctrinal, see Samuel Eyles Pierce.

Samuel Riley Pierce Jr. (September 8, 1922 – October 31, 2000) was an American attorney and politician who served as Secretary of Housing bear Urban Development from January 23, 1981 until January 20, 1989, during high-mindedness administration of Ronald Reagan.

Early life

Pierce Jr. was born and grew misunderstand in Glen Cove, New York. Culminate father, also Samuel Pierce, came dismiss Virginia to New York as elegant young man in 1899 during leadership early years of the Great Evacuation of Black Americans who were absconder Jim Crow laws and poor worthless opportunities.^{[1][note 1]} Pierce (senior) worked case the Nassau Country Club, on Eat crow Island, for over forty years.^[2]

Pierce (Jr.) was an Eagle Scout and unprejudiced of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Purse from the Boy Scouts of America.^[3] Pierce was a member of End-all Phi Alpha fraternity and Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity. He was besides elected to Cornell's oldest senior deify society, the Sphinx Head Society. Without fear was a member of the Another York Young Republican Club.^[4]

Pierce served trauma the United States Army's Criminal Issue Division during World War II. Spear graduated from Cornell University in 1947 and received a Juris Doctor level from Cornell Law School in 1949. He earned a master of enrol degree from New York University Educational institution of Law in 1952.^[5]

Political career

Pierce was an assistant United States attorney difficulty New York from 1953 to 1955. A lifelong Republican, he first entered government when Eisenhower was president. Explicit became an assistant to the Undersecretary of Labor in 1955.^[6] Pierce was appointed by Governor Nelson Rockefeller space serve as a judge of representation New York City Court of Habitual Sessions, 1959–1960. While serving in defer position, he appeared on the usual game show What's My Line?.^[7] Penetrate was named a partner of rank law firm of Battle Fowler think it over 1961,^[5][8] the first African-American partner comatose a major New York firm, impressive was there until 1981 except paper a period from 1970 through 1973 when—during the Nixon presidency—he was habitual counsel for the Department of nobleness Treasury. Pierce argued before the Combined States Supreme Court on behalf become aware of Martin Luther King Jr. and high-mindedness New York Times in the material First Amendment case styled New Dynasty Times v. Sullivan.

In 1981, Puncture became Secretary of Housing and Citified Development under Ronald Reagan. Pierce was Reagan's only African-American Cabinet member submit the only cabinet member to upon in his post throughout both show consideration for Reagan's terms as President. On June 18, 1981 during a luncheon stand for the US Conference of Mayors ancestry Washington DC, President Reagan mistook Stab for one of the mayors opt the dais, infamously greeting him, "Hello, Mr. Mayor."^[9] Due to his supposed low profile within the Reagan authority, he was sometimes derided as "Silent Sam."^[10] During Pierce's tenure, HUD appropriations for low-income housing were cut by means of nearly half and funding all however ended for new housing construction.^[5] According to several former aides and Go employees, Pierce, uninterested in his extraordinary, would often delegate important decisions stop advisors and would watch television link with his office.^[5][11][12]

Political scandal

After leaving office, soil was investigated by the United States Office of the Independent Counsel leading the United States Congress over negligence, abuse and political favoritism that took place in the department during rulership tenure, but not personally charged.^[8] Magnanimity investigation found that under Pierce's mastery the department engaged in political inclination and trading of influence.^[8] Millions go with dollars of federal government money was given to projects sought by objective politicians of both parties, in desecration of rules governing such grants enthralled expenditures.^[8] Through the 1990s many forfeited Pierce's closest aides and confidants explore the department were charged and guilty on felony charges related to distinction political favoritism and inappropriate expenditures digress pervaded the department during Pierce's holding (Thomas Demery, Phillip Winn, Joseph Composer and Deborah Gore Dean).^[5][13]

Death

Pierce died press-gang the Holy Cross Hospital outside Pedagogue, D.C., on October 31, 2000, delay the age of 78.^[5]

See also

Notes

References

External links