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Harry S. New
48th United States Postmaster General

In office
March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1929
President Warren G. Harding
Calvin Coolidge
Preceded by Hubert Work
Succeeded by Walter Folger Brown
United States Senator
from Indiana

In office
March 4, 1917 – March 3, 1923
Preceded by John W. Kern
Succeeded by Samuel M. Ralston
Chair of the Republican National Committee

In office
January 7, 1907 – July 8, 1908
Acting: January 7, 1907 – March 4, 1907
Preceded by George B. Cortelyou
Succeeded by Frank Hitchcock
Personal details
Born Harry Stewart New
(1858-12-31)December 31, 1858
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Died May 9, 1937(1937-05-09) (aged 78)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Resting place Crown Hill Cemetery
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Katherine Virginia Milligan
Catherine McLean Brown
Children 1
Military service
Allegiance United States
Service/branch  United States Army
Rank Captain
Battles/wars Spanish–American War

Harry Stewart New (December 31, 1858 – May 9, 1937) was a U.S. politician, journalist, and Spanish–American War veteran. He served as Chairman of the Republican National Committee, a United States senator from Indiana, and United States Postmaster General.

Biography[]

Harry Stewart New was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on December 31, 1858, the son of John C. New and Melissa (Beeler) New. His father served as Treasurer of the United States and his uncle, Jeptha D. New, was a U.S. Representative. He attended Butler University before going to work for the Indianapolis Journal where he was a reporter, editor, part owner, and publisher from 1878 to 1903. He is a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He served in the Indiana State Senate from 1896 to 1900 and served in the Spanish–American War as captain and assistant adjutant general of the 7th Army Corps. He was a member of the Republican National Committee from 1900 to 1912, serving as chairman from 1907 to 1908, and later engaged in the stone quarrying and construction business.

New returned to politics with his election to the United States Senate in 1916, defeating incumbent John W. Kern. In the Senate, he served as chairman of the Committee on Territories and the Committee on Territories and Insular Possessions. He was also a "wet" or an anti-prohibitionist, and in August 1919 introduced early legislation proposing an independent United States Air Force.

TIMEMagazine16Feb1925

Time cover, February 16, 1925

In late March 1922, New became the first senator to use radio in his campaign—at that time, broadcasting a political speech was not widely done by candidates.[1] His speech was transmitted by a U.S. Navy station, NOF in Washington, D.C., which immediately caused a complaint by Democrats about a government station being used for partisan purposes. This in turn quickly led to a ban on further use of the station for political activities.[2]

New was defeated by Albert J. Beveridge for renomination in 1922 who lost the general election to Samuel M. Ralston. He was then appointed Postmaster General in the cabinet of President Warren G. Harding in 1923 and was reappointed by Calvin Coolidge in 1925.

After the end of the Coolidge Administration, New retired from active business pursuits and resided in Washington, D.C. In 1933, he was appointed a United States Commissioner to the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. He died in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 9, 1937, and was interred in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.

References[]

  1. "Will Campaign by Radio". Lexington KY Herald, 30 March 1922, p. 1
  2. "Denby Bars Political Speeches From All Naval Radio Stations", New York Tribune, April 9, 1922, page 9.

External links[]

  • Party political offices
    Preceded by
    George B. Cortelyou
    Chair of the Republican National Committee
    1907–1908
    Succeeded by
    Frank Hitchcock
    First Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Indiana
    (Class 1)

    1916
    Succeeded by
    Albert J. Beveridge
    United States Senate
    Preceded by
    John W. Kern
    U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Indiana
    1917–1923
    Served alongside: James Eli Watson
    Succeeded by
    Samuel M. Ralston
    Political offices
    Preceded by
    Hubert Work
    United States Postmaster General
    1923–1929
    Succeeded by
    Walter Brown
    Awards and achievements
    Preceded by
    Mackenzie King
    Cover of Time magazine
    16 February 1925
    Succeeded by
    Owen D. Young
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    The original article can be found at Harry S. New and the edit history here.