Andrew Hatcher
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File:Andrew T. Hatcher (JFKWHP-KN-C22992 cropped).jpg
Andrew Hatcher (1923–1990) was an associate press secretary to President John F. Kennedy and a founder of 100 Black Men of America in 1963.{{Cite book |last1=Jules |first1=Jason |title=Black Ivy |last2=Marsh |first2=Graham |publisher=Reel Art Press |year=2021 |isbn=978-1-909526-82-2 |location=London, UK |pages=190}}
Life and career
Born in Princeton, New Jersey,{{Cite news |date=April 4, 1964 |title=Inside--Andy Hatcher. Politics first and last love. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fesmAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Andrew+Hatcher%22&pg=PA7 |access-date=February 6, 2024 |work=The Afro American |pages=7}} Hatcher graduated from Witherspoon School for Colored Children in 1937 and Princeton High School in 1941. He attended Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts{{Cite news |date=April 29, 1963 |title=Tampa Urban League To Hear Andrew Hatcher, Aide To JFK |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jpdhAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Andrew+Hatcher%22&pg=PA39 |access-date=February 6, 2024 |work=St. Petersburg Times |pages=39}} and served three years in the United States Army as a second lieutenant until 1946.{{Cite news |last=Spivak |first=Alvin |date=November 12, 1960 |title=Press Aides Californians |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TFBeAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Andrew+Hatcher%22&pg=PA12 |access-date=February 6, 2024 |work=The Press-Courier |pages=12}}{{Cite news |last=Irwin |first=Don |date=November 12, 1960 |title=The New Men On The Kennedy Team |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P10rAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Andrew+Hatcher%22&pg=PA18 |access-date=February 6, 2024 |work=The Montreal Gazette |pages=18}} A few years later, he relocated to San Francisco, California, working as a journalist at the San Francisco Sun-Reporter and later as an assistant labor commissioner under Governor of California Pat Brown. From 1950 to 1959, Hatcher worked as a court clerk for Federal Judge Oliver J. Carter. In 1950, Hatcher worked with Pierre Salinger as a coordinator on Helen Gahagan Douglas's senatorial campaign against Richard Nixon. Hatcher served under Adlai Stevenson as a campaign organizer during Stevenson's two unsuccessful runs for President of the United States in 1952 and 1956. He worked on the 1958 campaign of Clair Engle.
In 1960 with his close friend Pierre Salinger, he joined Sen. John F. Kennedy’s campaign press staff as a speechwriter. Immediately after his election as President, Kennedy named both men to his White House staff, with Salinger as White House Press Secretary, and Hatcher as Assistant White House Press Secretary. This made Hatcher the highest ranking black person to serve in the White House.{{Cite news |last=Day |first=Dan |date=April 4, 1964 |title=Hatcher shifts energies but not his loyalty from Johnson administration |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fesmAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Andrew+Hatcher%22&pg=PA7 |access-date=February 6, 2024 |work=The Afro American |pages=7}} After Kennedy was assassinated, Hatcher resigned from the Johnson administration to support Salinger's successful senatorial campaign in California.{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Jack |date=July 16, 1972 |title=Hubert's 'Last Hurrah' Hit Home At His Miami Waterloo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aetVAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Andrew+Hatcher%22&pg=PA3 |access-date=February 6, 2024 |work=The Robesonian |pages=3}}
In 1972, Hatcher was working on the staff of Senator Henry M. Jackson. Hatcher also later worked as vice-president of an advertising agency.{{Cite news |date=March 5, 1971 |title=Hatcher to Speak At CFJC Mar. 11 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YpVPAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Andrew+Hatcher%22&pg=PA26 |access-date=February 6, 2024 |work=Ocala Star-Banner |pages=26}}
Hatcher was married to Ruth Avery, with whom he had seven children. His young son Avery was a student in the home school which Jacqueline Kennedy established for her daughter Caroline Kennedy and children of White House staffers.C-SPAN, First Ladies: Influence & Image, Jacqueline Kennedy, 2013 November 11.
Hatcher died in 1990.
References
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External links
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- [http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKWHP-AR6295-F.aspx John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum]
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Category:White House press secretaries
Category:Kennedy administration personnel
Category:American civil rights activists
Category:People from Princeton, New Jersey
Category:Activists from New Jersey
Category:United States Army personnel of World War II