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From New York Assemblyman John H. Terry to RN RE: Request to have John Hable appointed Postmaster. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Letter], 11/3/1969
Copy of memo from John H. Terry to T. Elmer Bogardus RE: John Hable and his possible appointment as Postmaster of Syracuse, NY. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Letter], 11/8/1968
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WHSF: Contested, 5-28
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This file contains:
From New York Assemblyman John H. Terry to RN RE: Request to have John Hable appointed Postmaster. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Letter], 11/3/1969
Copy of memo from John H. Terry to T. Elmer Bogardus RE: John Hable and his possible appointment as Postmaster of Syracuse, NY. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Letter], 11/8/1968
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Richard Nixon Presidential Library
Contested Materials Collection
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5
28
11/3/1969
Campaign
Letter
Letter from New York Assemblyman John
H. Terry to RN RE: Request to have John
Hable appointed Postmaster. 3 pgs.
5
28
11/8/1968
Campaign
Letter
Copy of memo from John H. Terry to T.
Elmer Bogardus RE: John Hable and his
possible appointment as Postmaster of
Syracuse, NY. 3 pgs.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Page 1 of 1
NOV
12 1969
THE ASSEMBLY
STATE OF NEW YORK
ALBANY
JOHN H. TERRY
200 EMPIRE BLDG.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. 13202
November 3, 1969
IH
Honorable Richard M. Nixon
The President
The White House
Washington, D. C.
Dear President Nixon:
On October 12, 1968, I was present at the
Fairmount Fire Department Clambake when Thomas R. DeYulia, Jr.
berated John Hable over his failure to support the
Democrats, especially President Johnson and Congressman
James Hanley. Hable stood his ground and several times
said he was a Republican; was supporting Richard Nixon
for President and the entire Republican ticket. This was
said in the presence of Congressman Hanley. I was at the
next table and heard the entire conversation. I felt that
John Hable was intimidated by DeYulia. On October 18 I
memoed the occurrence to our Republican County Chairman
T. Elmer Bogardus (copy of memorandum attached) and con-
cluded by recommending career Postal employee Hable for
Postmaster if Richard Nixon was elected.
To identify the above named: John Hable is a
34 year Post Office employee, then serving as Station
Superintendent. Thomas DeYulia is the top Syracuse staffer
for Congressman James M. Hanley.
Richard Nixon was elected. I attended a meeting
of top Onondaga County Republicans and it was determined
that we would recommend a veteran politico Robert Roney,
who is a good businessman and outstanding citizen for the
then vacant position of Syracuse Postmaster. (Former
Postmaster Caffrey died in September.) Hable would be
considered for advancement. Thereafter, the mementous
decision was announced that henceforth politics would not
play a role in the appointment of Postmasters; that legislation
would be recommended by the Chief Executive for the formation
of a corporation to carry out the function of the Post Office
Honorable Richard M. Nixon
Page 2
November 3, 1969
Department. As a politician I did not like it, but I saw
in it a sincere desire to reform the antiquated methods
of that department and have long recognized that the
strong union grasp and political influence on the
department precluded major reform without an entirely
new direction. The formation of a corporation could
well be the vehicle for this transition. A bill to
authorize this was introduced in Congress and referred
to the Post Office Committee of the House of Representatives.
The Committee thereafter defeated the bill by a vote of
6 to 5. Any negative vote could be called the deciding
vote. One of the negative votes was cast by Congressman
James M. Hanley of Syracuse.
In the interim and undoubtedly with an eye
toward ridding the department of dead wood, the Post
Office retirement measure was enacted substantially
enhancing benefits effective November 1, 1969. Its result
in Syracuse was the retirement of several top officials
including Assistant Postmaster in Charge Lawrence Ryan.
Ryan is a fine man but it was common knowledge that he
was elevated because of a substantial contribution to the
Democrat Campaign Fund several years ago (and continued
after his appointment). Since the Post Office reform bill
was defeated, it would appear that you would be required
to live with the present system for some time to come.
Who was appointed as Officer in Charge of the
Post Office of Syracuse? Thomas R. DeYulia, Sr. Does that
name sound familiar? If you refer back to the opening
paragraph of this letter you will find the same name, but
in that case it was his son that was chastising Hable for
his support of Richard Nixon for President.
Our County Chairman, reflecting the sentiment
of a rather conservative county, was lukewarm toward one
of your pre-convention opponent's quest for the top spot
and this was publicly noted. Onondaga County gave you a
plurality of more than 10,000 votes in 1968. I could take
the position that many of my colleagues have -- the
appointment of the father of Congressman Hanley's home
office secretary is an insult to our County Chairman. I
could accept the rumor that a deal was made -- you approve
the appointment of DeYulia and Hanley will switch his vote
when the Post Office reform bill is reconsidered in Congress.
It might even make sense to say that Postmaster Blount will
Honorable Richard M. Nixon
Page 3
November 3, 1969
not listen to White House recommendations. I respectfully
request the real reason and express to you in advance my
appreciation of your advices.
Why am I entitled to a definitive response?
To answer the question I respond I have been a candidate
for public office on eleven occasions and elected on each
occasion; that I am presently a Member of Assembly as the
stationery indicates, and have been for the past seven years.
Prior to that I served for two and one-half years as
Assistant Secretary to the Governor and before that as a
County Supervisor. I was the Republican Campaign Chairman.
My vocation is the practice of law, but my avocation has
always been politics. I have lived through a County
Chairman pleading guilty to a morals charge; having Goldwater
lose my district by nearly 20,000 votes while I survived;
running 2,250 votes ahead of the Governor in the last
gubernatorial election, but no event in my 22 years as
a government official has been more discouraging than
the appointment of a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat whose son
is a top aide to our Democrat Congressman who was first
elected in the Goldwater debacle.
Again, I express to you my appreciation for
your consideration and advices in this matter.
Sincerely,
John H. Terry
JHT:ljk
Enclosures
MEMORANDUM
November 8, 1968
TO:
Honorable T. Elmer Bogardus
FROM:
John H. Terry
As you are aware, on November 7 I had a
breakfast for a number of the people who worked so
diligently in the 121st Assembly District on behalf
of the Republican candidates in the 1968 campaign.
Two of those in attendance were Mr. and Mrs. John Hable
because they have both done so much.
I told John of recommendation made several
weeks ago to you, with the expectation Richard Nixon
would be our next President, of his appointment as Post-
master for Syracuse. This was done after talking with
Pete Napier, who joins one hundred percent in the
recommendation.
John said he had been anxious to talk with
me since 11:00 Wednesday when the election of Nixon
was consummated, and hopeful I could bring to your
attention the fact that Congressman Hanley's power
base has been in the Syracuse post office.
I was of the opinion all the jobs were civil
service and in the untouchable category which prevails
in the Health and Mental Hygiene Departments in Albany.
I admit being extremely naive. Even though all the
jobs below the level of Postmaster are civil service
including even Assistant Postmaster, politics plays a
very prominent role, whother the opening be as a
substitute mail carrier or chief administrative
services, et cetera.
There are presently several prominent vacancies
in the Syracuse post office and the Acting Postmaster,
any 2 -
who previously was Assistant Postmaster, is scheduled
for retirement next April. Chief Administrative Service
is presently vacant. There are several new jobs which
came out under date of November 5, 1968, one of which
is Area Safety Counsellor, which is a civil service
grade 10.
I was not previously aware of this but John
presently serves, and has served for the past three
years, as President of Syracuse Postal Superviors Union
so he knows whereof he speaks. He said when the
Democrats came into power eight years ago the day after
election a freeze order was placed on all jobs. This
was done by placing appropriate pressure on the Regional
Director who has the right to order a halt on all jobs.
This can be done even without putting out a formal
order because all jobs in order to be filled on even an
acting basis have to be approved by the Regional Director
so, therefore, if he just does not approve any they are
not filled. It is, therefore, suggested that Charlie
Schoeneck contact A. C. Hahn (Acting). Regional Director
Post Office, New York Region, at the main post office in
New York City and the freeze could be put on for the
entire state.
I found of great interest the way in which
Mr. Hanley has played a prominent role in the appointment
of carriers all the way up to Acting Postmaster even
though they are allegedly civil service jobs. The test
that is given is apparently legitimate and in order to
get some of these jobs that are involved in taking the
written test you have to get on the list. Other jobs
do not require a test and they are called "specialty
jobs" and there are a number of those. In both instances
the person does go before a promotional board which
consists of the Acting Postmaster, General Superintendent
of Mails, either the Assistant General Superintendent of
Mails (designated services) or the Assistant General
Superintendent of Mails (postal services), and when
the post involves new money the Finance Chief, known
as the Chief Accountant. is called in. They then draw
up a list and obstensibly the Postmaster has to take
one of the first three. However, there are many ways
of getting around this. An expert on this is a fellow
by the name of Donald Stohrer, who is a Personnel
Officer, and a Republican, and I am advised he would
be glad to explain this rather complicated process to
you.
I am advised that Hanley, on most jobs, will
make recommendations to the Postmaster and he, in turn,
- 3 -
quietly lets the Chairman of the Promotional Board know
of his requests and that name is one of the names
submitted. In one instance involving a relative of
Mike Callahan apparently even Caffrey decided this
fellow could not do the job so he rejected the man
only to find the Regional Director suggested to the
Postmaster this was the man to hire, and guess what,
he is in the job today.
You may desire to designate to have someone
look into this more extensively and give you a report
or you may want to look into it yourself, but in any
event the stop order should be sought immediately.
JHT:ljk