Chat Paterson

{{Short description|American soldier, intelligence official, and activist (1920 – 1992)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Chat Paterson

| birth_date = {{birth date |1920|6|26}}

| death_date = {{death date and age|1992|3|5|1920|6|25}}

| birth_place = Ottumwa, Iowa, U.S.

| death_place = Golden, Colorado, U.S.

| birth_name = Lewis Paterson

| branch = United States Army
Office of Strategic Services

| serviceyears = 1942 – 1945

| rank = Second lieutenant

| unit =

| known_for =

| battles = World War II

| alma_mater = Western Reserve Academy
Antioch College

| children = 6

| laterwork =

| 1blankname =

| 1namedata =

| office = 2nd National Chairman of the
American Veterans Committee

| predecessor = Charles G. Bolté

| successor = Gilbert A. Harrison

| occupation =

| term_end = 1948

| term_start = 1947

| office1 =

| image = Chat_Paterson.png

| caption = Paterson in 1947

| width = 200

| president1 =

| termend1 =

| termstart1 =

| spouse = {{marriage|Joanne Kuth|1950}}

| party = Democratic

}}

Lewis "Chat" Paterson (June 26, 1920 – March 5, 1992) was an American soldier, intelligence official, and activist who served as the second national chairman of the American Veterans Committee.

Early life and education

Paterson was born on June 26, 1920 in Ottumwa, Iowa, and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Walter C. Paterson and Virginia Lewis. Paterson was a descendant of Francis Lewis, signer of the United States Declaration of Independence.{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Current_Biography/vPMpAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Chat+Paterson&pg=PA490&printsec=frontcover |title=Current Biography |date=1948 |publisher=H.W. Wilson Company |pages=490–492 |language=en |chapter=Chat Paterson: Veterans Leader}}

In 1933, Paterson won a scholarship to the Western Reserve Academy where he graduated in 1938. He attended Antioch College, where he studied public administration.{{Cite news |date=March 19, 1992 |title=Vets' Chief Chat Paterson |work=The Star Press |pages=21}}

Wartime service

Beginning in the late 1930s, Paterson worked for the Quaker fellowship and American Friends Service Committee as a relief worker in Cuba and Mexico, where he aided in the resettlement of European refugees.{{Cite news |date=March 17, 1992 |title=Chat Paterson, Leader Of Veterans, Dies at 72 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/17/obituaries/chat-paterson-leader-of-veterans-dies-at-72.html |work=The New York Times |page=6}}{{Cite news |date=June 24, 1947 |title=Red 'Footholds' Erased by AVC, New Leader, Arriving Here, Says |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/867991699/?match=1&terms=Chat%20Paterson |work=Evening Star |pages=3}}

During World War II, Paterson worked for the United States Department of State, and then served in the United States Army as an air cadet.{{Cite news |date=July 20, 1947 |title=New Chief Sees Big Future for AVC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/182934215/?match=1&terms=Chat%20Paterson |work=Star Tribune |pages=15}} Beginning in 1944, he was stationed in Europe as an agent with the Office of Strategic Services, where he carried out missions in documents intelligence. Paterson attained the rank of second lieutenant, and was appointed as head of the Continental Central Intelligence Division of the OSS, with duty in all Army units in the European Theater of Operations.

= Nuremburg trials =

Paterson was assigned to Germany to procure incriminating documents from the home of Alfred Rosenberg, head of the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories. While taking part in the search of his house, Paterson uncovered copies of Rosenberg's top secret reports to Adolf Hitler. The discovered evidence aided in Rosenberg's conviction of crimes against peace; planning, initiating and waging wars of aggression; war crimes; and crimes against humanity at the Nuremberg trials in 1946. The evidence also aided in the conviction of Vidkun Quisling.

Later career

After returning to the United States following the second world war, Paterson briefly worked for the State Department as acting chief of the trainee section of the International Exchange of Persons Division. He also was an early member of the Society for the Prevention of World War III.{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Prevent_World_War_III/H_JRBcfUqj8C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Chat+Paterson&pg=RA17-PP2&printsec=frontcover |title=Prevent World War III. |date=1950 |publisher=Society for Prevention of World War III |language=en}}

In 1946, Paterson became involved with the American Veterans Committee (AVC), including serving as its national legislative representative.{{Cite book |last=Goulden |first=Joseph C. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Best_Years_1945_1950/iLK8DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Charles+G.+Bolt%C3%A9&pg=PA61&printsec=frontcover |title=The Best Years, 1945-1950 |date=2019-12-18 |publisher=Courier Dover Publications |isbn=978-0-486-83826-7 |language=en}} He was a guest panelist on March 1946 and May 1947 episodes of The American Forum of the Air.{{Cite web |date=March 19, 1946 |title=Should Congress Adopt the Wyatt Housing Plan? |url=https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/The-American-Forum-of-the-Air-Should-Congress-Adopt-the-Wyatt-Housing-Plan-1.pdf |website=HUD USER}}{{Cite web |date=May 20, 1947 |title=Should Congress Adopt the Taft-Ellender-Wagner Housing Bill? |url=https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/The-American-Forum-of-the-Air-Wagner-Housing-Bill.pdf |website=HUD USER}}

At its second national convention in 1947, he was elected as the AVC's second national chairman, succeeding Charles G. Bolté.{{Cite book |last=Levine |first=Isaac Don |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Plain_Talk/-6sj63wdfLUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Chat+Paterson&dq=Chat+Paterson&printsec=frontcover |title=Plain Talk |date=1947 |publisher=Plain Talk, Incorporated |language=en}} While in the role, Paterson advocated for adequate housing and racial integration for military veterans. During his time as national chairman, he led efforts to push back against the efforts of the House Un-American Activities Committee, including passing a resolution favoring the abolition of the committee.{{Cite news |date=February 11, 1948 |title=AVC Head Visits Here, Strikes at Congress |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1090785880/?match=1&terms=Chat%20Paterson |work=The Oregon Daily Journal |pages=9}} He referred to the committee as "undemocratic" and a group which espoused "dangerous methods and practices of totalitarianism."{{Cite web |date=October 30, 1947 |title=Letter from Chat Paterson, National Chairman, American Veterans Committee, Inc., to Danny Kaye |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/2023864048 |publisher=Library of Congress}}

Paterson completed his term as national chairman in late 1948,{{cite news |date=January 8, 2008 |title=Gilbert Harrison, Ex-Editor, 92, Dies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/08/obituaries/08harrison.html |newspaper=New York Times}}{{Cite book |last=Harrison |first=Gilbert A. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Parts_of_a_Past/h5h1HLQlOIUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Chat+Paterson&pg=PA129&printsec=frontcover |title=Parts of a Past |date=2009 |publisher= |isbn=978-1-4401-4929-0 |language=en}} and returned to serving as the organization's national legislative representative and a member of its national committee.{{Cite journal |last=Paterson |first=Chat |date=1948 |title=Housing |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4609291 |journal=The Antioch Review |volume=8 |issue=4 |pages=393–398 |doi=10.2307/4609291 |issn=0003-5769}} In the late 1940s, Paterson lobbied for a national health insurance plan sought by President Harry Truman, which did not come to fruition. He remained on the organization's board for several decades.{{Cite web |last=Karson |first=Stanley G. |date=January 17, 1966 |title=American Veterans Committee Correspondence |url=https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/research/online-documents/post-presidential/027-003.pdf |website=www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov}}

Paterson testified to the U.S. Congress on several occasions. In 1946, Paterson testified before the Senate Committee on Finance in favor of granting Social Security credits for military service. He argued that veterans should receive Social Security protection for their service period, ensuring they do not lose benefits due to their time in the armed forces. His recommendation was to treat military service as covered employment under the Social Security system, which would provide continuity of benefits for those who served during wartime and peacetime.{{Cite web |year=1946 |title=Veterans' Social Security Hearing before the Committee on Finance, United States Senate, Seventy-Ninth Congress, Second Session, On S. 2204 |url=https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/79Hrg.VeteranSS.pdf |website=www.finance.senate.gov}} In 1947, Paterson urged Secretary of Defense James Forrestal to end racial discrimination and segregation in the armed forces.

Outside of his advocacy for veterans and members of the armed services, Paterson worked as an industrial realtor and builder,{{Cite news |date=September 18, 1958 |title=Chat Paterson Committee |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/886663392/?match=1&terms=Chat%20Paterson |work=East Cleveland Leader |pages=6}}{{Cite news |date=October 30, 1958 |title=Real Estate Men Backing Paterson |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/886664857/?match=1&terms=Chat%20Paterson |work=East Cleveland Leader |pages=7}} and helped develop affordable housing programs in the inner city of Cleveland. He later moved to Colorado, where he was an active real estate developer in the Denver metropolitan area and active in Democratic politics. He oversaw the construction of Brooks Tower, which was the tallest building in Denver.{{Cite news |last=Rebchook |first=John |date=May 25, 1995 |title=Downtown's Brooks Towers Going Condo Conversion Largest in Denver's History |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D7AB4CAB745C82A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB4E2D9B3C55E38 |work=Rocky Mountain News |page=55A}} He also served on the Colorado Tourism Board, Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission, and the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau.{{Cite news |date=March 7, 1992 |title=Chat Paterson, pioneer of low-income housing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1069544424/?match=1&terms=Chat%20Paterson |work=The Plain Dealer |pages=22}}

= Electoral History =

Paterson ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1950, 1952, 1954, 1958, 1960, and 1964 as the Democratic party nominee to represent Ohio's 22nd congressional district.{{Cite news |last=Clifford |first=Robert H. |date=May 4, 1966 |title=Feighan Slips In, Faces Recount |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1161307234/?match=1&terms=Chat%20Paterson |work=The Cleveland Press |pages=4}} He was defeated by Frances P. Bolton on each occasion.{{Cite web |title=Frances Payne Bolton |url=https://www.bw.edu/centers/women-and-politics-of-ohio/bios/01-bolton-frances-payne/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241114010505/https://www.bw.edu/centers/women-and-politics-of-ohio/bios/01-bolton-frances-payne/ |archive-date=2024-11-14 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=www.bw.edu |language=en}} In October 1960, Paterson was appointed by John F. Kennedy to serve as his campaign manager for the 22nd district of Ohio, and also served on his campaign's advisory committee on natural resources.{{Cite news |date=October 6, 1960 |title=Appointment of Chat Paterson as Kennedy Campaign Manager in the 22nd District of Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/886705672/?match=1&terms=Chat%20Paterson |work=East Cleveland Leader |pages=4}}{{Cite news |date=October 11, 1960 |title=Kennedy Names Chat Paterson to Advisory Group |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1061452441/?match=1&terms=Chat%20Paterson |work=The Plain Dealer |pages=20}}

President Truman referred to Paterson as a "good man" and a "good Democrat."{{Cite web |title=Address in the Public Square in Cleveland {{!}} The American Presidency Project |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/address-the-public-square-cleveland |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=www.presidency.ucsb.edu}}{{Cite web |title=President Truman, Address in the Public Square in Cleveland {{!}} Harry S. Truman |url=https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/soundrecording-records/sr59-157-president-truman-address-public-square-cleveland |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=www.trumanlibrary.gov}}