The Chairman: John J. McCloy and the Making of the American Establishment

by Kai Bird

The biography of an ultimate self-made aristocrat tells how a poor kid from Philadelphia climbed to the highest rungs of the world's legal, corporate, diplomatic, and political ladders. 12,500 first printing.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, The United States Of America

800 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 1992

About the author

Kai Bird is an American Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist, best known for his biographies of political figures. He has also won the National Book Critics Circle Award for biography, the Duff Cooper Prize, a Woodrow Wilson Center Fellowship, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. He is a Contributing Editor of The Nation magazine.

Bird was born in 1951. His father was a U.S. Foreign Service officer, and he spent his childhood in Jerusalem, Beirut, Dhahran, Cairo and Bombay. He finished high school in 1969 at Kodaikanal International School in Tamil Nadu, South India. He received his BA from Carleton College in 1973 and a M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University in 1975. Bird now lives in Miami Beach, Florida with his wife, Susan Goldmark, and their son, Joshua.

Reviews

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

McCloy was an interesting guy who made a few notable mistakes- letting Krupp recover his industrial empire being perhaps the most prominent. Nonetheless, by the standards of the time he was one of the talented and useful U.S. officials. The book does well to show the important moments of McCloy's life and does not shy away from some of his failures but I would have liked to have seen a lot more about his relationship with his bosses in Washington and how they influenced the level of autonomy he was able to have as a "man on the spot".

Extra marks awarded for including this revealing comment of McCloy's re. opposition in Germany to rearmament:

“Why, just give me a brass band and a loudspeaker truck. Then let me march from Lake Constance in the South to the Kiel Canal up north, and I will have a German army of a million men behind me- all eager-eyed.” [Chapter 16]

[Christopher Sutch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazingly well-researched biography of a little-known (in most circles) figure who was at the center of many American political events and institutions over the past century. While Bird is often too close to his subject (or, perhaps, a little too far toward the political center for my taste), he does often chastise McCloy for the horrendous things he often did (interring the Japanese during WWII, for example). It's very hard to think of another individual who had quite as much impact on American politics and foreign policy than McCloy had, and this should be essential reading for students of American history.

[Metin Ozsavran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this heavy, 800 page thick, but very engaging tome of a biography in Istanbul American Consulate Library circa 1992-93. Its been 32 years. (Although I could swear I read it 1987-ish) The consulate moved from that old Ottoman building on Pera (Beyoğlu) Boulevard to a bigger more modern campus. But that old place was unforgettable. So is Kai Bird's research, and writing. The importance of this book comes from the fact that John J. McCloy was an untalented social butterfly amongst America'a rich and elite. The book showcases many truths about life. On a person level, the book shows that an untalented, clumsy, dumb person can succeed, sometimes even preferred to succeed by the elite gatekeepers, if he is just persistent, and a good loyal lap dog, of course. Having no talent, no ideals, no backbone, no character or personality can be advantageous. If you just want to be around, not be yourself, if you don't really have a self, that is. So both persistence, patience, and sycophantsy are ways to success. Alas the second is disgusting to me. On a societal level this books shows you why and how elite clubs, and masonic lodges are formed. They are different that professional or academic merit based societal groups. These are dependency based. Meaning the dumber, the talentless you are, the more you need to be in the club. So much that you may even become the Chairman of the American establishment. Have enough money to hire writers paint over your ugly true self.

Kai Bird, is such an excellent writer almost without peer. Nobody's biography I ever read this smoothly in my life. That has a big part from dumb honesty of McCl0y himself. We do owe him a debt of that.

All in all, I have been recommending this book to many young players seeking advice from us oldies. Although I read this book only once, the automatic rehashing happening in the background of my mind actually grows the lessons I derive from this excellent book.

Literally could not recommend it any higher. Live Long & Prosper dear Mr. Bird! :)

[Anne Cupero · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could only give this book three stars for a reason; it gave me many details of the rich and powerful who have influenced foreign and domestic policy in the country. McCloy came from very little, but if were not white, he wouldn't have gotten anywhere. That is neither here nor there, he did manage to use his brain well. Everything he was part of, the Council on Foreign Relations, the intricacies of Milbank, Tweed, and other expensive attorneys' firms he was part of, that is all fascinating and interesting. It is all a bit sickening as well. The lives that are controlled/manipulated by these men were many. Japanese-Americans who were interned in camps, McCloy did that. Not bombing Auschwitz and putting out the lie that Americans did not know what was happening in that camp, to protect I.G. Farben, was despicable. My father, who was of McCloy's generation (born 1909) believed a lot of the lies that the ruling elite put out there, about the country, about the necessities in wartime, what a sad commentary on our country. But my dislike of these men who controlled so much, is not the reason for my three-star review. It was because I never got to see McCloy as a person - he HAD to be monetarily driven, not just from "love of country" because that was the reason mentioned money so frequently, and even when his wife was dying, he mentioned to someone the cost of her nursing home care. So I never felt like I knew him from this long biography. I saw a man on a pedestal, which, like I said, sickened me. So he played a competitive game of tennis, so what? He supposedly had a diary - was that all generic information in there? Did he never write of feelings, emotions? Oh well, interesting that his funeral was not mentioned in the book, nor his interment in a little-known cemetery - from nothing to nothing, I guess.

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding and even handed account of one of the most remarkable, perhaps the most remarkable, American to live in the 20th century. He appears everywhere, it's hard to describe how many places and things he did in his career. The son of a penniless hairdresser he worked his way up to Harvard Law School and to the bottom rung of Cravath. He served in World War I, investigated German sabotage, served as a kind of Chief of Staff to Stimson the Secretary of War during the second world war, was the Chairman of CHase Bank, merged it with Manhattan, was governor General of Germany, Kennedy's lead on arms control and the negotiator with the Russians at the UN for ending the Cuban Missile crisis, he was on the Warren Commission, and engaged in American economic and foreign policy for 50 years. It's an astounding record. THe book is honest and fair with him, something that would be impossible to write and publish today. McCloy was responsible for organizing the internment of the Japanese during the war, as well as setting in motion the desegregation of the American military. He was nearly able to prevent the use of atomic weapons against Japan and also pardoned Nazi war criminals. He was a complex figure, often assigned complex and unpleasant tasks and was so highly trusted that he often represented both sides in major political and finanical conflicts. Such a complex figure deserves the treatment that Bird gives him and this is an outstanding work which I would highly recommend.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this after “The Arms of Krupp”. I was also interested in his contributions to the Warren Commission. All through my life, the name John J McCloy turned up in the news. Kai Bird’s vivid depiction of the Philadelphia Establishment made for informed discussion with my 90yo in-law , born & raised in Philadelphia. McCloy’s mother’s insistence of a private school education , & the rationale that, everyone was the same , and one learned from their peers better when they shared a commonality; pretty much reflected WASP attitude. This book reinforced my negative ideas about Truman & Eisenhower. All around, I enjoyed reading about historical events from a conservative establishment aspect, the beginning of NATO, ; how the French were cajoled into NATO by the US’s bribe of bankrolling Franc’s Indo-China (Vietnam) War; how the council on foreign relations. got it’s start etc., since it helped make sense of this country’s current stature in the world. Currently, the government is a facade for the Wall Street aristocracy., with billionaire celebrities

[Metin Ozsavran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent life story. From 2 angles:

1-) You can succeed with hard work, dur diligence, and sucking up to power

2-) Those on top of power clubs are actually are ones that need them, the idiots.

Second point is more relevant today than ever before. As technology allows us more and more to be independent creators, we are now free to see what establishement is for real. Its a fort to protect the untalented, the inferiority complexed yes men. :)

And this book was first printed way before 1992. I read it in a wonderfully old building in old Istanbul, right next to very spy-storied Pera Palace Hotel, in Istanbul American Consulate library, circa 1987-88.

Its a big tomb, but very well written. Goes smoothly.

[srdjan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read on a man whose thumbprints were all over the 20th century. How did he do it? Working really hard, collaborating with people on interesting problems, and doing his best with a positive attitude. For fun I watched his speech on the White House lawn at the ripe old age of 90. I’ve never seen a more vibrant 90 year old. Rather than being burnt out by a life of work, he seemed absolutely engaged and vigorous.

[Vincent Lombardo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring! Perhaps it would have been more interesting had it been shorter, but it was much too long. In addition, I found the subject unlikable since he was often on the wrong side of history.

[JerryDeanHalleck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written, detailed, and interesting biography of John J. McCloy. Mr. Bird writes from a a leftist, philosemitic, point-of-view, but he gets his facts right, and his analysis and judgements of MCloy are reasonable and well-argued.

Its rather ironic that the liberal, internationist, philosemitc McCloy has been tagged as an antisemite and "right-wing" Wall Street banker. McCloy supported the establishment of Israel, and constantly pushed Germans to provide reparations to the Jews and punish Nazis.

As for being "Right-wing", McCoy passionately hated Joe McCarthy, and deplored the "fear of Communism" that gripped the USA in the 50s. During the 40s, he supported our alliance with USSR, and hoped we could reach a settlement with Stalin. And no one was more enthusiastic about getting the USA into WW II, or defeating Hitler, no matter what the cost in American lives.

So, where does this bad reputation come from? Well, despite being a Friend of Felix Frankfurter and Henry Morgenthau, and a proponent of helping Jewish refugees and a "hard peace", McCloy sometimes got on the bad side of Henry Morgenthau. First, by opposing the Morgenthau plan as overly-destructive. Secondly, by denying a request to have the US Army Air Force to bomb Auscwhitz, And in a 3rd case, telling the Jewish Refugee Board in 1944, that Army resources couldn't be spared to to provide more help for the Jews.

Similarly, his stand against using A-bombing Japan was cancelled out by his support for Japanese internment. And while against McCarthy, he was also anti-communist at times and supported the Vietnam and Korean wars.

All in all, a complex and interesting fellow, who lived an interesting life.

[donald fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Le renard
This is an extensively researched and well written biography of an exceptional American and his influence on U.S. foreign policy throughout the post World War II period. As the US financed the reconstruction of allied countries and former Axis powers as well, it developed a sense of responsibility for protecting freedom and democracy from militant Communism, which led to terrible military ventures abroad. The author recognizes that McCloy did not use his influence strongly enough to curtail the Vletnam fiasco, but he did insist to LBJ that he was not familiar enough with the situation in Asia to be useful and was fully engaged in protecting Europe from Communism. McCloy was the acknowledged leader of elite institutions, including his law firm, the Chase bank, the CFR, and Ford Foundation. Personally he was trusted for civic virtue and commitment and gravitas. Leaders of both political parties, including LBJ and Nixon, sought his guidance. His overriding commitment to a principle guided democracy was stronger than his traditional membership in the Republican Party when it nominated Goldwater.
Unfortunately, the age of virtuous meritocracy able to guide an increasingly disfunctional democracy has passed. If the Republican Party cannot avoid domination by a populist demagogue, the concept of loyal opposition will suffer unless replaced by a new opposition, as was the Whig party in the early days of our republic

[towner77 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read, but a tough slog at the same time. In 800 pages you are given great detail about this behind the scenes power broker and how he came to position, but the same story could have been told in half the pages and saved the reader time and effort. My 3 Star rating is based on this complain, for this book does reveal much detail regarding the evolution of the Post WWI power establishment of the US, the World Bank, and the UN.

[Ferris Mx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.