13 Facts About James Hagerty

James Campbell Hagerty served as the eighth White House Press Secretary from 1953 to 1961 during the Presidency of Dwight D Eisenhower.

James Hagerty was known for providing much more detail on the lifestyle of the president than previous press secretaries; for example, he covered in great detail Eisenhower's medical condition.

James Hagerty handled embarrassing episodes, such as those related to the Soviet downing of an American spy plane, the U-2 in 1960.

James Hagerty handled press relations on Eisenhower's international trips, sometimes taking the blame from a hostile foreign press.

James Hagerty graduated from Columbia College in 1934, and worked as a reporter for The New York Times.

James Hagerty became the press secretary to Governor of New York Thomas E Dewey in 1943, and handled Dewey's presidential campaigns in 1944 and in 1948.

James Hagerty was in charge of candidate Eisenhower's press office in the 1952 campaign, leading to his appointment as Press Secretary in January 1953.

James Hagerty introduced television cameras to press conferences in 1955.

James Hagerty occasionally handled political assignments from Eisenhower, such as liaison with the Senate.

In 1960, Hagerty was at the center of a major diplomatic incident between the United States and Japan.

James Hagerty was picked up in a black car by US Ambassador to Japan Douglas MacArthur II, but as the car left the airport it was surrounded by 6,000 Japanese protesters protesting the revision of the US-Japan Security Treaty as part of the broader 1960 Anpo protests.

Ultimately, MacArthur and James Hagerty had to be rescued by a US Marines military helicopter, creating indelible imagery of the so-called "James Hagerty Incident" that was transmitted by newswires around the world.

The James Hagerty Incident shocked much of the Japanese public, insofar as it was seen as a grave discourtesy to a foreign guest, and contributed to the cancellation of Eisenhower's visit, for fear that his safety could not be guaranteed, as well as the forced resignation of Japanese prime minister Nobusuke Kishi shortly thereafter.