American politician (1918-1996)
Joseph Barr
In office December 21, 1968 – January 20, 1969President Lyndon B. Johnson Preceded by Henry H. Fowler Succeeded by David M. Kennedy In office January 22, 1964 – April 21, 1965Preceded by James J. Saxon Succeeded by Kenneth A. Randall In office January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1961Preceded by Charles B. Brownson Succeeded by Donald C. Bruce
Born Joseph Walker Barr
(1918-01-17 ) January 17, 1918Bicknell , Indiana , U.S.Died February 23, 1996(1996-02-23) (aged 78)Playa del Carmen , Mexico Political party Democratic Spouse Beth Williston Children 5 Education DePauw University (BA )Harvard University (MA )Signature Allegiance United States Branch/service United States Navy Years of service 1942–1945 Battles/wars World War II [1]
Joseph Walker Barr (January 17, 1918 – February 23, 1996) was an American businessman and politician from Indiana . He served one term in the United States House of Representatives . He was also the United States Secretary of the Treasury from December 21, 1968 until January 20, 1969, in President Lyndon B. Johnson 's cabinet. He was a member of the Democratic Party .
Early life and career
Barr was born in Vincennes, Indiana , on January 17, 1918, the son of Oscar Lynn Barr and Stella Florence Walker. He graduated from DePauw University , and married the former Beth Ann Williston in Indianapolis on September 3, 1939; they had five children: Bonnie Barr Gilliom, Cherry Ann Barr, Joseph Williston Barr, Elizabeth Eugenia Barr LoSasso and Lynn Hamilton Barr Fineberg. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and earned a master's degree in economics from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts , in 1941.[2]
He served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1945, during World War II , with subchaser duty in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean . He received a Bronze Star for sinking a submarine off Anzio Beach .[2]
After Barr returned from the war, he engaged in the operation of grain elevators , theaters , real estate and publishing businesses.
Political career
In 1958 , he defeated Charles B. Brownson for a seat in Congress from Indiana's 11th congressional district , a Republican stronghold. He was aided by Democratic gains that increased the party's majority from 35 to 129 seats.[3] During his time in the House, he became friends with then-Senator John F. Kennedy.[4] He served only one term before being defeated for re-election in 1960.[2]
After his electoral defeat, President Kennedy appointed him as the Assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury for Congressional Relations.[5] In 1963, he was appointed Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation .[2] Barr served as the Undersecretary of the Treasury from 1965 to 1968, during the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson . When Henry H. Fowler resigned in December 1968, Johnson named Barr as the Secretary of the Treasury with a recess appointment , effective for the remainder of Johnson's term in office.[6] His 28 days in the position was the shortest term of any Treasury Secretary. Given his short period in office, his signature appears only on the one-dollar bill .[7] [8]
Later years
After leaving office, he was named as the vice chairman of American Security and Trust Company .[9] He then served as the president and the chairman from 1969 to 1974 and the chairman of Federal Home Loan Bank in Atlanta, Georgia from 1977 to 1981.[2]
Barr died of a heart attack in Playa del Carmen , Mexico , and was interred in Leeds Episcopal Church Cemetery in Hume, Virginia .[2]
References
^ "Joseph Walker Barr." Marquis Who's Who TM. Marquis Who's Who, 2006.
Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC
Document Number: K2014405121.
^ a b c d e f "Joseph Barr, 78, Bank Executive Who Held Several Federal Posts" . New York Times . February 29, 1996.
^ "Democrats' Edge Tripled in House". New York Times . November 6, 1958.
^ Katz, Bernard; Vencill, C. Daniel (1996). Biographical Dictionary of the United States Secretaries of the Treasury . Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9780313280122 .
^ "3 Treasury Aides Sworn" . New York Times . February 1, 1961.
^ "Barr Named Treasury Secretary" . New York Times . December 24, 1968.
^ "Shortest Stays in the White House" . Saturday Evening Post. August 1, 2017.
^ "New Names Appearing on Currency" . New York Times . April 13, 1969.
^ "Barr to Join Bank Board" . New York Times . January 17, 1969.
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