WILLIAM PATTERSON MACCRAKEN, JR. (September 17, 1888-September 1969)
became the first federal regulator of commercial aviation when then-Secretary
of Commerce Herbert Hoover named him the first Assistant Secretary of Commerce
for Aeronautics in 1926. He served as a
flight instructor during World War I.
After helping to draft key safety standards and regulations,
which became part of the 1930 Air Mail Act, MacCracken returned to his private
law practice, where he continued to be involved in the growth of commercial
aviation by representing many major airlines.
Consequently, Postmaster General Walter F. Brown asked him to preside
over what was later scandalized as the Spoils Conference to work out an
agreement between the carriers and the Post Office. Both sides were exposed to
charges of favoritism. When MacCracken
refused later to testify before Congress, he was declared a lobbyist, found in
contempt of Congress and spent 10 days in jail.
MacCracken filed a petition of habeas corpus to overturn his arrest but
the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Congress had the constitutional right to hold
citizens in contempt and his case was dismissed.
One page, 8 ½ x 11, January 26, 1934, TLS to William J. McKenzie
on his law office letterhead.
“Your letter of December 30th should have been
acknowledged before, but the enclosed card will partially explain the reason
for the delay.
“While I have not yet arrived at the point where “long pants”
are a problem, you can see that I still have some problems on my hands.
“I certainly appreciate your well wishes and reciprocate them
most heartily.
“Cordially yours,
“W.P. MacCracken Jr.”
Toning, folds, small staple hole in upper left, affecting nothing.
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Club, The Manuscript Society and The Ephemera Society. [A104]