US Presidential Cabinet Member. He received bachelor's (1891) and law degrees (1893) from Yale University and became an attorney in Stamford, Connecticut. He served as Stamford's Mayor from 1900 to 1902 and 1904 to 1906. From 1908 to 1912 Cummings was Stamford's Corporation Counsel. In 1914 he became Fairfield County State's Attorney, serving until 1924. He was a delegate to numerous state and national Democratic conventions, represented Connecticut on the Democratic National Committee from 1900 to 1925, and served as Democratic National Committee Chairman from 1919 to 1920. In 1932 Cummings was Franklin Roosevelt's Floor Manager during the Democratic national convention and seconded Roosevelt's nomination. When Roosevelt became President in 1933 he offered Cummings the position of Governor of the Philippines, but when Senator Thomas Walsh died before taking office as Attorney General Roosevelt appointed Cummings. As Attorney General he was responsible for improving conditions in federal prisons, as well as creating Alcatraz, the first federal maximum security facility. After Prohibition ended, Cummings merged three agencies to create the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He was also a supporter of the "court packing" plan, Roosevelt's attempt to circumvent a conservative Supreme Court by appointing additional Justices. Cummings resigned in 1939, afterwards practicing law in Washington, DC and Connecticut.
US Presidential Cabinet Member. He received bachelor's (1891) and law degrees (1893) from Yale University and became an attorney in Stamford, Connecticut. He served as Stamford's Mayor from 1900 to 1902 and 1904 to 1906. From 1908 to 1912 Cummings was Stamford's Corporation Counsel. In 1914 he became Fairfield County State's Attorney, serving until 1924. He was a delegate to numerous state and national Democratic conventions, represented Connecticut on the Democratic National Committee from 1900 to 1925, and served as Democratic National Committee Chairman from 1919 to 1920. In 1932 Cummings was Franklin Roosevelt's Floor Manager during the Democratic national convention and seconded Roosevelt's nomination. When Roosevelt became President in 1933 he offered Cummings the position of Governor of the Philippines, but when Senator Thomas Walsh died before taking office as Attorney General Roosevelt appointed Cummings. As Attorney General he was responsible for improving conditions in federal prisons, as well as creating Alcatraz, the first federal maximum security facility. After Prohibition ended, Cummings merged three agencies to create the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He was also a supporter of the "court packing" plan, Roosevelt's attempt to circumvent a conservative Supreme Court by appointing additional Justices. Cummings resigned in 1939, afterwards practicing law in Washington, DC and Connecticut.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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