Wilton Persons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilton Persons
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| 3rd White House Chief of Staff | |
| In office October 7, 1958 – January 20, 1961 |
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| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Sherman Adams |
| Succeeded by | Kenneth O'Donnell (Appointments Secretary) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Wilton Burton Persons
January 19, 1896 Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | September 5, 1977 (aged 81) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Relations |
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| Education | Auburn University (BS) Harvard University (MBA) |
| Military career | |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917–1949, 1951–1952 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Service number | O-7088 |
| Battles/wars |
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| Top - 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Wilton Burton "Jerry" Persons (born January 19, 1896 – died September 5, 1977) was an important American military officer. He later served as the White House Chief of Staff for President Dwight D. Eisenhower. This means he was a top helper and advisor to the President. He held this role from October 7, 1958, until January 20, 1961.
Persons graduated from Alabama Polytechnic Institute in 1916. He fought in both World War I and World War II. He was in charge of the legislative division for the Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1942 to 1948. He also worked for the Department of Defense from 1948 to 1949. In 1951, he was called back to serve as a special assistant to General Dwight D. Eisenhower. This was at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe. He became a deputy assistant to Eisenhower in 1953. Later, he became an assistant to the president in 1958. He was then made chief of staff that same year.
Early Life and Education
Wilton Burton Persons was born in Montgomery, Alabama, on January 10, 1896. He was one of five brothers. People often called him "Jerry." He went to Starke University School in Montgomery. Then he studied electrical engineering at Alabama Polytechnic Institute. He graduated in 1916. After college, he worked for the Western Electric Company in Lynn, Massachusetts.
Military Service and World War I
Persons wanted to join the military for World War I. At first, he was too light, weighing 129 pounds. This was four pounds less than the minimum needed. But because he was a top graduate, he joined the United States Army Coast Artillery Corps. He served with American forces in France. He worked in the Signal Corps, which handles communications.
Between the World Wars
After World War I, Persons stayed in the Army. He taught military science at the University of Minnesota from 1924 to 1929. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University in 1931. That same year, he met Major Dwight D. Eisenhower. They met while Persons was working in the Office of the Secretary of War in Washington, D.C..
World War II Contributions
Persons graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1938. From 1939 to 1941, he worked as a link between the Chief of Staff and Congress. Even though war was coming, Congress was slow to approve new weapons. They especially hesitated on weapons they saw as "aggressive."
Persons helped get money for secret radar work. He showed Congressmen the work being done by the Signal Corps at Fort Monmouth. A big success was convincing Congress to extend the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940. This was the first peacetime draft in the U.S. It passed by a very close vote: 203 to 202.
From 1942 to 1948, Persons led the legislative division in the Office of the Chief of Staff. He was promoted to brigadier general in June 1942. He became a major general in November 1944. Eisenhower wanted Persons to join his headquarters in Europe. But the request was denied because Persons was too important in Washington. For his service, Persons received the Distinguished Service Medal.
Post-War Career and White House Role
After World War II, Persons led the legislative liaison office for the Department of Defense. He did this from 1948 until he retired in 1949 as a major general. He received the Legion of Merit for his work. Other countries also honored him. These awards included the Grand Officer of the Cross of the Sun and the Medal of War from Brazil. He also received the Order of Abdon Calderon from Ecuador. He was the superintendent of Staunton Military Academy from 1949 to 1950.
Persons was called back to active duty in 1951. He served as a special assistant to Eisenhower at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe. He retired from the Army again in 1952. This time, he worked on Eisenhower's presidential campaign.
On January 20, 1953, he became a deputy assistant to the president. In 1958, he was made an assistant to the president. He managed connections with Congress. On October 7, 1958, he took over from Sherman Adams as Eisenhower's chief of staff.
After the 1960 presidential election, Persons played a key role. He was Eisenhower's representative during the change of government. This was from the Eisenhower to the John F. Kennedy administrations. He often met with Clark Clifford, Kennedy's representative. They worked together to ensure a smooth transfer of power. He stayed as chief of staff until January 20, 1961. After that, he became the director of the Graham‐Dex Preparatory School in Palm Beach, Florida.
Family and Legacy
Wilton Persons's brother, Gordon Persons, was the Governor of Alabama from 1951 to 1955. His son, Wilton B. Persons Jr., was the Judge Advocate General of the United States Army from 1975 to 1979.
Wilton Persons passed away in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on September 5, 1977. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His important papers are kept at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, Kansas.
Images for kids
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Seal of the U.S. Department of the Army
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Insignia for a Major General in the U.S. Army
