J. Howard McGrath
A Woonsocket son on the national stage
Born on November 28, 1903 in Woonsocket, J. Howard McGrath went on to become the second Rhode Island Governor from Woonsocket. He served as governor from January 7, 1941 to October 6, 1945 under the DEmocratic platform.
In 1935 he was appointed as U.S. District Attorney and served until 1940 when he resigned to become governor of Rhode Island. During his tenure, he reorganized the juvenile system and sponsored a workers’ compensation fund and a labor relations board. During WWII, Governor McGrath rendered noteworthy service in organizing the Civilian Defense of State. Mcgrath resigned in the middle of his third term to accept appointment as Solicitor General of the United States, a position he held until 1946. He was then elected United States Senator from Rhode Island. He was in office from January 3, 1947, until August 23, 1949, when he resigned. He was briefly chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on the District of Columbia for the 81st Congress. In the Senate, McGrath opposed reducing wartime economic controls and taxes, wishing to spend the latter instead on Social Security, national health insurance and education.
He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1947 to 1949. In Managing President Truman’s successful 1948 election campaign. McGrath alienated white Southeners but won over crucial Black constituencies by integrating the Democratic national headquarters staff.
President Truman appointed Senator McGrath as the 60th Attorney General of the United States on August 24, 1949. Refusing to cooperate in a corruption investigation initiated by his own department, he resigned on April 3, 1952 after President Truman asked for his resignation.
J. Howard McGrath died on September 2, 1966 at the age of 62 of a heart attack in Narragansett, RI.
