Byrnes, James F.

Byrnes, James F. (Francis) (1879–1972) secretary of state, public official, Supreme Court justice; born in Charleston, S.C. He served the U.S. House of Representatives (Dem., S.C.; 1910–25) and the Senate (Dem., S.C.; 1930–41) where he promoted the passage of landmark legislation such as the Neutrality Act (1935) and the Lend-Lease Act (1941). Appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1941, he stepped down after one year to head up the Office of Economic Stabilization (1942) and then the Office of War Mobilization (1943). The title of "assistant president" was bestowed on him by President Roosevelt and he was considered as a running mate both in 1940 and 1944. He accompanied Roosevelt to Yalta (1945) and served as secretary of state under President Truman (1945–47). As governor of South Carolina (1950–55), despite his belief in segregation, he worked to suppress Ku Klux Klan activities and to improve the education of African-Americans.