John Doerfer
Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission
In office
July 1, 1957 – March 10, 1960
PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded byGeorge McConnaughey
Succeeded byFrederick Ford
Personal details
Born(1904-11-30)November 30, 1904
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
DiedJune 5, 1992(1992-06-05) (aged 87)
Boston, Massachusetts
Political partyRepublican

John C. Doerfer (November 30, 1904 – June 5, 1992) served as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission from July 1, 1957 to March 10, 1960 as a Republican.[1][2]

Early life

Prior to his chairmanship of the FCC, Doerfer was the city attorney for West Allis, Wisconsin. He served on Milwaukee Mayor Frank P. Zeidler's Metropolitan Transportation Committee. In 1950, he became chairman of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, the state agency that oversees public utilities.

In 1957, Doerfer was appointed to head the Federal Communications Commission by President Dwight Eisenhower. A short time into his term he came under suspicion for accepting trips and other gifts from the broadcasters he was supposed to regulate.[3] The eruption of the 1950s quiz show scandals concerning the rigging of T.V. game show answers that brought widespread criticism for Doerfer and the F.C.C. for their failure to properly police these programs.

In March 1960, an investigation revealed that Doerfer had been a guest on the luxury yacht of George B. Storer, president of Storer Communications.[4] In the wake of these revelations he was asked to resign, which he did on March 14, 1960.[5][6]

References

  1. ↑ "Commissioners from 1934 to Present". Federal Communications Commission. 2013-06-05. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  2. ↑ "John Doerfer's Obituary". Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  3. ↑ William M. Blair (March 11, 1960). "DOERFER RESIGNS AS F.C.C. CHAIRMAN AT PRESIDENT'S BID". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ "The Political Graveyard: Politicians in Trouble or Disgrace: Florida". politicalgraveyard.com.
  5. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com, John Charles Doerfer, 87, Is Dead; Headed F.C.C. in Era of Scandals By BRUCE LAMBERT Published: June 8, 1992,
  6. ↑ "HOW DOERFER'S HOPES DIED .. " (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. March 14, 1960.
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