Frank R. McNinch

Frank Ramsay McNinch (April 27, 1873 – April 2, 1950) was born in Charlotte, North Carolina.[1] He was a political figure who served as the mayor of Charlotte, as chairman of the Federal Power Commission, and as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.[2] In the 1928 presidential election, McNinch, a Democrat, supported Republican Herbert Hoover for president. After he was elected, Hoover appointed McNinch to a seat on the Federal Power Commission, leading to a split in the North Carolina Democratic Party that damaged the political fortunes of new U.S. Sen. Cameron Morrison, a friend of McNinch.[3] He was later appointed FPC chairman by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Frank R. McNinch
McNinch takes the oath of office, October 1, 1937, administered by Pansy Wiltshire; photo by Harris & Ewing
Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission
In office
October 1, 1937 – July 25, 1939
PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded byAnning S. Prall
Succeeded byJames Lawrence Fly
Chairman, Federal Power Commission
In office
July 19, 1933 – September 30, 1937
Preceded byGeorge Otis Smith
Succeeded byClyde L. Seavey
Member of the Federal Power Commission
In office
December 27, 1930 - June 22, 1934
PresidentHerbert Hoover
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded byposition established
Mayor of Charlotte
In office
1917–1920
Preceded byThomas Leroy Kirkpatrick
Succeeded byJohn M. Wilson
Personal details
Born
Frank Ramsay McNinch

April 27, 1873
Charlotte, North Carolina
DiedApril 2, 1950 (1950-04-03) (aged 76)
Political partyDemocratic

The controversial 1938 Orson Welles War of the Worlds radio broadcast occurred during his tenure as FCC head. McNinch resigned as FCC chairman on July 25, 1939, due to ill health.[4]

His home, the Frank Ramsay McNinch House, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.[5]

References
  1. Prominent People of North Carolina: Brief Biographies of Leading People for Ready Reference Purposes. Asheville, NC: Evening News Pub. Co. 1906. p. 31.
  2. "Commissioners from 1934 to Present". Federal Communications Commission. 2013-06-05. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
  3. "Robert Rice Reynolds of North Carolina"
  4. "James L. Fly to Become Chairman of FCC". Broadcasting. 17 (3): 11. August 1, 1939.
  5. Richard L. Mattson (July 1990). "Frank Ramsay McNinch House" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2015-02-01.

Further reading
  • Flannery, Gerald V. (1995). Commissioners of the FCC, 1927-1994. Lanham, MD: University Press of America. pp. 55–57. ISBN 0-8191-9669-X.
Government offices
Preceded by
Anning S. Prall		 Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission
1937–1939		 Succeeded by
James Lawrence Fly
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