Richard Caples

Richard Robert Caples (December 23, 1921 – April 28, 2002) was an American politician who served as Massachusetts public safety commissioner.

Richard Caples
Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Safety
In office December 22, 1964 – September 28, 1965
Preceded by	Robert W. MacDonald
Succeeded by	Leo L. Laughlin
Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 3rd Suffolk District
In office 1959–1963
Preceded by	John Yerxa
Succeeded by	Oliver F. Ames
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 20th Suffolk District
In office 1951–1959
Personal details
Born	December 23, 1921 Boston
Died	April 28, 2002 (aged 80) Lebanon, New Hampshire
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Princeton University Boston University School of Law

Early life

Caples was born on December 23, 1921 in Boston. He attended the Brighton High School, Princeton University, and the Boston University School of Law.[1] He served in the United States Navy during World War II and was a member of the Naval Reserve for 27 years.[2]

Political career

Caples was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1951 to 1959 and the Massachusetts Senate from 1959 to 1963. He then served as a legislative aide to Massachusetts Governor Endicott Peabody.[2]

Public safety Commissioner

Peabody lost his reelection bid in 1964 and spent his final days appointing aides to government positions. Peabody had until December 31 to legally make an appointment that could not be recalled by his successor, but due to Christmas break, this deadline was pushed to midnight on December 23. Men who held Caples position were usually appointed to judgeships, however there were no vacancies available. On December 22, it was announced that public safety commissioner Robert W. MacDonald had resigned and Caples would succeed him. Caples and his family arrived at the Governor's office for his swearing in, however, MacDonald showed up and announced that he never intended to resign. MacDonald's wife, however, convinced her husband to return to his law practice and at 11:35 pm on December 22, Caples was sworn in.[2]

Caples appointment was to fill the unexpired term of Frank S. Giles, who had been suspended since his indictment on charges of conspiracy, larceny, aiding and abetting in making false reports, and conflict of interest. However, Giles resigned on September 27, 1965 and Governor John A. Volpe appointed Leo L. Laughlin to succeed him. Caples claimed that he could not legally be replaced until the expiration of Giles' term on July 20, 1966 and refused to give up his office. Laughlin instead took a temporary office in the agency's headquarters while Caples pursued legal action.[3] On September 30, 1965, Suffolk County Superior Court Judge Harry T. Kalus refused to issue an injunction to prevent the Secretary of the Commonwealth from issuing Laughlin's commission and Laughlin moved into the commissioner's office.[4] Kalus later ruled that Laughlin was "the legally and duly qualified Commissioner of Public Safety". His decision was affirmed by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.[5]

Later career

Caples practiced law in Boston for many years and during the 1970s also served as an assistant attorney general under Robert H. Quinn. He later retired to Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, where he worked as a real estate broker.[2]

Caples died on April 28, 2002 in Lebanon, New Hampshire.[2]

References

1. Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1961-62. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
2. Long, Tom (May 3, 2002). "Richard Caples, 80; Led State Police Force, Appointment Caused Stir". The Boston Globe.
3. Mahoney, Frank (September 30, 1965). "Two Heads---But One Hat". The Boston Globe.
4. "Laughlin Rules State Police as Caples Loses First Court Test". The Boston Globe. October 1, 1965.
5. Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court 350 Mass. 638 (1966), RICHARD R. CAPLES vs. SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH & another., Boston, Ma.: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, p. 640