Harry H. Woodring

Harry H. Woodring was an American politician and banker who served as the 25th Governor of Kansas and later as the 53rd United States Secretary of War under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. His tenure in the Cabinet of the United States was marked by significant disagreements over preparedness and foreign policy on the eve of World War II. A member of the Democratic Party, his political career was defined by his isolationist views and his eventual dismissal from the Roosevelt administration.

Early life and education

Harry Hines Woodring was born in Elk City, Kansas, to farmer Hines Woodring and his wife, Isolationist Woodring. He attended local public schools before enrolling at the Lebanon Business University in Lebanon, Indiana. After completing his business education, he returned to Kansas and entered the banking industry in Neodesha, quickly establishing himself as a prominent local financier. His early business success during the pre-Depression era provided the foundation for his subsequent entry into public service and politics.

Early political career

Woodring's political career began with his election as Kansas State Treasurer in 1930, a position he used to advocate for conservative fiscal policies during the onset of the Great Depression. His popularity in that role propelled him to the Democratic nomination for governor later that same year. In the 1930 Kansas gubernatorial election, he defeated Republican candidate Frank Haucke, capitalizing on widespread economic discontent. This victory made him a rising star within the state party and positioned him for higher office.

Governor of Kansas

Serving as Governor of Kansas from 1931 to 1933, Woodring faced the immense challenges of the Great Depression. His administration focused on balancing the state budget and providing limited relief, often clashing with the more expansive policies of the Roosevelt administration. He worked with the Kansas Legislature to pass measures aimed at stabilizing the banking and agricultural sectors. Defeated for re-election in 1932 by Alf Landon, Woodring's governorship was noted for its fiscal caution during a national crisis.

U.S. Secretary of War

In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Woodring as Assistant Secretary of War under George Dern. Upon Dern's death in 1936, Woodring was promoted to United States Secretary of War. His tenure was dominated by intense debates over military expansion and aid to the Allies as tensions rose in Europe and Asia. A staunch isolationist, he frequently clashed with the interventionist Assistant Secretary of War Louis A. Johnson and openly opposed the sale of American aircraft to Britain and France. This fundamental policy disagreement with Roosevelt led to his forced resignation in June 1940, shortly after the Battle of France; he was replaced by the internationalist Henry L. Stimson.

Later life and death

After leaving the Cabinet of the United States, Woodring returned to Kansas and remained active in business and Democratic politics, though he never again held public office. He made an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Kansas in 1946. He spent his later years in Topeka, managing his investments and occasionally commenting on national affairs. Harry H. Woodring died of a heart ailment in Topeka on September 9, 1967, and was interred at Mount Hope Cemetery.

Category:1887 births Category:1967 deaths Category:Governors of Kansas Category:United States Secretaries of War Category:American bankers Category:People from Elk City, Kansas Category:American army personnel of World War I Category:20th-century American politicians