Frank Harris Hitchcock was born in Amherst, Ohio on October 5, 1867.[1]
According to historian David Leighton, "He graduated from Harvard in 1891 and the George Washington University Law School in 1894. During his time at Harvard he met Theodore Roosevelt at the Audubon Society, both sharing a passion for the study of birds. Hitchcock credited Roosevelt for his success at the national level: From 1897 to 1905 Hitchcock served in the departments of Agriculture and Commerce. From 1905-08, he was assistant postmaster general."
He is credited with establishing the first U.S. airmail service. As Postmaster General, he made prosecution of mail fraud a top priority, and led a major crackdown on people using the mails to sell shares in worthless companies.[2] He's also credited with starting the US Postal Service's Operation Santa in 1912, instructing local postmasters to let workers and citizens respond to Santa letters that were popping up in post offices.[3]
Hitchcock managed the campaign to nominate Taft for the presidency at the 1908 Republican Convention.[4] Hitchcock's subsequent role as Postmaster General made him the main dispenser of patronage jobs for the Taft administration, giving him control over many delegates at the 1912 Republican Convention and prompting anxieties on the part of Taft and others over rumors that Hitchcock might support Roosevelt that year.[5]
