MORE ON THE TENURE OF U.S. MINT DIRECTORS

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V14 2011 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 14, Number 3, January 16, 2011, Article 13

David L. Ganz submitted the following notes on U.S. Mint Director tenures in response to Scott Barman's discussion last week, which was in turn based on a newspaper article about the resignation of Director Moy which quoted David. At issue was the general statement "If you look back 50 years, there's no Mint director that has served a full term when there has been a change of administration..." -Editor

In the actual interview (which went on for over an hour), I started with the generalization, then gave the specifics. I give you that Donna Pope served her full term, but Bush I made it clear that David Ryder was his man -- and used a rare recess appointment to prove it.

Scott wrote: "Eva Adams, appointed by Kennedy in 1961, was reappointed by Johnson in 1966, and resigned in August 1969 after Nixon was in the White House".

Eva knew the rules better than anyone. The term is for five years, but you are part of the Administration, and she offered her resignation to LBJ right after the assassination (he declined it and for that reason he re-nominated her; those who tried to keep their appointments made under JFK suffered and were eased out]. Anyhow, when Nixon took office on January 20, Eva knew that the Philadelphia Mint (which she had been a strong advocate for) would open that summer; she also knew Nixon from her days working on the Hill for Sen. Pat McCarran.

The Nevada Women's History web site simply says "She served on boards of directors of several corporations and foundations and was a consultant to the Chairman of the Board of Mutual of Omaha. In 1969 she resigned from the U.S. Mint when President Nixon came into office and wanted a Republican for the position. After retirement she continued working for Mutual of Omaha in Washington for a time, but ultimately retired to Reno"

Not that long ago, I wrote "Her proudest and most lasting accomplishment as director was in the creation of a new Mint at Philadelphia, which opened in August, 1969, at the conclusion of the ANA summer convention, held that year in Philadelphia.

The new facility, then the largest and most modern in the world, was shown in a rare floor tour to attendees of the ANA Convention. One major press -- the General Motors coin roller -- was the technology around which the Mint was predicated.

It ultimately turned out to be a failure, incapable of producing coins at the rate of tens of thousands per minute, compared with the 600 coins per minute then the industry standard used in the Denver Mint and San Francisco Assay office.

Although Adams was appointed to a five year term, she understood the politics of the job, and was pressured by President Nixon, who took office January 20, 1969, to conclude her term before it expired in 1971. She held on through the opening of the Philadelphia Mint, and introduced her successor, Mary T. Brooks, as well as Treasury Secretary David M. Kennedy, to the assembled crowd."

Anyhow, Eva made her deal with Nixon and did get to stay, but she understood the dynamics and had to depart.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: ON U.S. MINT DIRECTOR TENURES (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v14n02a13.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor