Charles H. Tuttle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles H. Tuttle
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Tuttle as U.S. Attorney shortly before resigning to run for Governor of New York in 1930.
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| United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York | |
| In office April 6, 1927 – September 29, 1930 |
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| Appointed by | Calvin Coolidge |
| Preceded by | Emory Buckner |
| Succeeded by | Robert E. Manley (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 21, 1879 New York City, New York |
| Died | January 26, 1971 (aged 91) New York City, New York |
| Resting place | Evergreen Cemetery, Lake George, New York |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Helene L. Wheeler (m. 1907) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Columbia University Columbia Law School |
Charles Henry Tuttle (born April 21, 1879 – died January 26, 1971) was an American lawyer, a person involved in politics, and someone who worked to improve society. In 1930, he was the Republican candidate for Governor of New York in the election against Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Charles Henry Tuttle was born in New York City on April 21, 1879. His father, H. Croswell Tuttle, passed away when Charles was young. He was then raised by his mother and his grandfather, Isaac H. Tuttle.
Charles went to Columbia University and earned his first degree in 1899. He continued his studies at Columbia Law School, where he received his law degree in 1902. After passing his exams, he became a lawyer.
Beginning His Career
From 1902 to 1927, Charles Tuttle worked as a lawyer for a firm in New York City called Davies, Stone and Auerbach. During this time, he also became very involved with the Republican Party in New York City.
Serving as U.S. Attorney
In 1927, President Calvin Coolidge chose Charles Tuttle to be the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. This meant he was a top lawyer for the government in that area.
Fighting Corruption
For three years, Tuttle worked as a prosecutor. He became known for fighting against corruption. He successfully brought cases against many public officials who were breaking the law.
- He helped convict federal Judge Francis A. Winslow and Kings County Judge W. Bernard Vause.
- Tuttle found that Judge Vause had received a large sum of money. This money was given to him to help a shipping company get special permission for pier leases.
- In another case, Judge Albert Vitale was accused of owing money to a gangster. The court looked into how Judge Vitale had earned a lot more money than his official salary. Judge Vitale was removed from his position.
- Tuttle also investigated groups that were setting fires on purpose to get money from insurance. He successfully prosecuted these groups.
Other Important Cases
In 1927, Tuttle led an investigation into Broadway ticket agencies. These agencies were charging people too much money for tickets.
He also successfully prosecuted several dishonest people who helped accused criminals get out of jail on bail.
In 1928, a British cruise ship called the Vestris sank, and many people died. Tuttle investigated this disaster. His work led to important changes that made international ship travel much safer.
In 1930, Tuttle was investigating illegal activities in Albany, New York, including illegal gambling. The Democratic political leader of Albany, Daniel P. O'Connell, refused to answer Tuttle's questions. Because of this, Tuttle had O'Connell sent to jail for not cooperating with the court.
1930 Campaign for New York Governor
Because of his important work as U.S. Attorney, Charles Tuttle became a well-known public figure. On September 17, 1930, he left his job as U.S. Attorney to run for Governor of New York. He won the Republican nomination at their meeting on September 26.
The Prohibition Issue
During this time, there was a law called Prohibition that made alcohol illegal in the United States. Tuttle personally believed that alcohol should remain illegal. However, he thought that each state should decide its own rules about alcohol, not the federal government. He wanted to campaign on fighting corruption.
But his views on Prohibition caused problems. People who strongly supported Prohibition thought he was not strict enough. They even put forward their own candidate to run against him.
Democrats, on the other hand, said Tuttle was in favor of alcohol being legal because he wanted to change the federal law. This made the election confusing. Democrats even made fun of the Republican candidates, saying they were trying to please everyone on the Prohibition issue.
Election Results
On November 4, Charles Tuttle lost the election to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt won by a very large number of votes. People believed Tuttle lost because of his stance on Prohibition. Also, it was during the Great Depression, and voters blamed Republicans for the difficult economic times. Roosevelt's big win helped him become a leading candidate for president in 1932.
Later Career and Community Work
After losing the governor's race, Tuttle went back to being a lawyer. He became a senior partner at a law firm called Breed, Abbott & Morgan. He also served on a commission that planned for public transportation. He continued to be active in the Republican Party.
Tuttle was also involved in many charities and community causes.
- From 1913 to 1966, he was a member of the board of trustees for the City College of New York.
- He led his local Selective Service Board during both World War I and World War II. This board helped organize who would serve in the military.
- Tuttle believed in equal rights for all people. He helped write a New York State law that made it illegal to discriminate against people when hiring for jobs.
- He was active in the Episcopal church. He worked to bring together different religious groups, including Catholic and Jewish leaders.
In 1945, Tuttle received a special award called the Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre from the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem. In the 1940s, only four Americans had received this award. The other three were Presidents Warren G. Harding, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Harry S. Truman.
Retirement and Passing
After he stopped practicing law full-time, Tuttle continued to advise his old law firm. He also had a summer home in Lake George. For many years, he was a lawyer for the Lake George Association, which works to protect the lake.
Charles Tuttle passed away in New York City on January 26, 1971. He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Lake George, New York.
Personal Life
In 1907, Charles Tuttle married Helene L. Wheeler. She was born on November 12, 1881, and passed away on October 6, 1968. They had four children: a son named H. Croswell Tuttle, and three daughters named Evelyn, Charlotte, and Helene Jasmine.
See also
- List of Columbia Law School alumni
- List of people from New York City
