Charles Henry Tuttle (April 21, 1879 – January 26, 1971) was an American lawyer, politician and civic activist. He was the 1930 Republican nominee for Governor of New York in the election against Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Early life and education
Born in New York City on April 21, 1879, he was raised by his mother and his grandfather Isaac H. Tuttle following the death of his father H. Croswell Tuttle.Branch Rickey, by Jimmy Breslin, 2011, Chapter 6The City College Quarterly, published by College of the City of New York, Volume 9, 1913, page 143
Tuttle received a bachelor's degree from Columbia University in 1899 where he was a member of the Philolexian Society. He received his law degree from Columbia Law School in 1902, passed the bar and became an attorney. Catalogue of officers and graduates of Columbia University, published by the university, 1916, page 182
Start of career From 1902 to 1927 Tuttle was a lawyer with the New York City firm of Davies, Stone and Auerbach.Newspaper article, Two men a Day Hurt in Blasting?, The New York Times, February 17, 1907Newspaper article, Tuttle as Student Excelled in Debate, The New York Times, October 5, 1930 He also became active in the New York City Republican party.Newspaper article, Hylan Gives Advice to the Republicans; Tells C.H. Tuttle They Should Stop Finding Fault and Support His Program, The New York Times, March 28, 1925Newspaper article, Asks Central Rule for Republicans; Tuttle Says Party Should Have Organization Like Tammany for City Politics, The New York Times, November 24, 1925Newspaper article, Young Republican Dinner; Charles H. Tuttle Will Speak Tonight on Organization Work, The New York Times, July 18, 1926
Service as U.S. Attorney In 1927, President Calvin Coolidge appointed Tuttle as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.Newspaper article, Tuttle is favored for Buckner Post, The New York Times, March 10, 1927Hilles for Tuttle in Buckner's Post, The New York Times, March 29, 1927Newspaper article, Tuttle is Appointed to Succeed Buckner, The New York Times, March 30, 1927
During his three years as a prosecutor Tuttle earned a reputation as an anticorruption crusader, winning convictions of numerous public officials, including federal Judge Francis A. Winslow and Kings County Judge W. Bernard Vause.Newspaper article, Accused Judge Resigns, by Associated press, published in Rochester Evening Journal, April 1, 1929Newspaper article, obituary, ex-Judge Winslow, The New York Times, March 30, 1932Newspaper article, Jurist is Accused of Accepting Fees, Baltimore Sun, May 11, 1930Newspaper article, Vause Loses Plea to Escape Jail, The New York Times, December 22, 1931 During Tuttle's investigation into Tammany Hall's connection to organized crime and corruption, he discovered that Vause was paid $190,000 in return for obtaining pier leases for a shipping company.
In another Tuttle case, Judge Albert Vitale was accused of owing $19,600 to gangster Arnold Rothstein, and was investigated by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for failing to explain how he accrued $165,000 over four years while receiving a total judicial salary of $48,000 during that same period. Vitale was removed from the bench and George Ewald, who succeeded him, was accused of paying Tammany Hall $10,000 in order to obtain the seat.
In 1927 Tuttle led an investigation into price gouging by Broadway ticket agencies.Newspaper article, Ticket Speculators Are Gouging Public, Prescott Evening Courier, July 20, 1927Newspaper article, Tuttle Acts to Stop Fight Ticket Gouge, The New York Times, July 20, 1927Newspaper article, Tuttle Ready to Act in New Ticket Gouge, The New York Times, August 27, 1927Newspaper article, Tuttle is Defied by Ticket Agency, The New York Times, November 5, 1927Newspaper article, Scores Ticket Gouging; Producer Says Not Any Show Is Worth $6.60 an Admission, The New York Times, March 23, 1928
During his term as U.S. Attorney Tuttle also successfully prosecuted several crooked bail bondsmen.Newspaper article, Whalen Demands Data on Bail Graft; Tells Tuttle It Is His "Duty" to Turn Over Grand Jury's Charges Against Police, The New York Times, January 26, 1930Newspaper article, 300 Brokers Face Bail Bond Inquiry, The New York Times, February 2, 1930Newspaper article, Grand Jury Indicts 2 Bronx Bondsmen, The New York Times, March 1, 1930
Tuttle also successfully prosecuted the Moscahlades and Dachis Brothers arson rings, organizations responsible for several for profit fires in New York City.Newspaper article, Six Plead Guilty in Warehouse Fire, The New York Times, November 10, 1927Newspaper article, Eight in Arson Gang Get Prison Terms, The New York Times, November 12, 1927Newspaper article, Face Arson Charges: Furriers Accused of Hiring Man to Fire Shops, Reading Eagle, March 18, 1930Newspaper article, Fur Incendiaries Enter Guilty Plea, The New York Times, April 17, 1930
In 1928 the British cruise ship Vestris sank and 111 passengers and crew were killed, including American tourists.Newspaper article, 339 Take to Lifeboats as Liner Vestris Sinks, The New York Times, November 13, 1928newspaper article, Survivors Relate Tales Of Heroism As Vestris Sinks, Owosso Argus-Press, November 16, 1928, Baltimore Sun, November 22, 1928 Tuttle investigated, and his work led to major reforms in international maritime safety.Newspaper article, Ship Engineer Says Crew Quit, Toledo News-Bee, November 23, 1928Newspaper article, Tuttle Wants Aids to More Safety at Sea, Baltimore Sun, November 24, 1928Newspaper article, Ship Disaster Laid to Federal Laxity; Tuttle Declares Government Failed to Adopt Devices Urged After Vestris Inquiry, The New York Times, October 2, 1934
In 1930 Tuttle sent Albany's Democratic political boss Daniel P. O'Connell to jail in New York City for contempt of court. Tuttle was investigating illegal activities in Albany, including gambling, and O'Connell refused to answer his questions.Newspaper article, Albany Politician Sent to Jail for Court Contempt, by Associated Press, published in Meriden Record, August 2, 1929Newspaper article, O'Connell Gives Up; Bail Set at $30,000; Politician Sought on Perjury Charge in Baseball Pool Surrenders in Albany, The New York Times, January 8, 1930Newspaper article, O'Connell in Court, Fights Coming Here, The New York Times, January 23, 1930
1930 campaign for New York Governor Tuttle's high profile as U.S. Attorney made him a likely candidate for political office, and on September 17, 1930, he resigned as U.S. Attorney in anticipation of running for governor. He won the Republican nomination at the state party's September 26 convention.Newspaper article, Tuttle Boom Gains, The New York Times, August 10, 1930Newspaper article, Tuttle Demands Dry Repeal, by Associated Press, published in Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, September 17, 1930Newspaper article, Newburgher on State Ticket, Newburgh News, September 27, 1930Newspaper article, Charles Tuttle is Party Leader, Gettysburg Times, September 27, 1930, Hartford Courant, September 28, 1930, Chicago Tribune, October 1, 1930
Although he described himself personally as "dry" on the issue of Prohibition (in favor of keeping alcohol production and consumption illegal), Tuttle favored repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment and argued that individual states, not the federal government, should be free to regulate alcohol as they saw fit. He hoped to campaign on an anticorruption platform, but his opposition to federal prohibition drew fierce criticism from rural Drys. Deciding that he was not sufficiently in favor of Prohibition, the Drys fielded a third-party candidate.Newspaper article, State Drys Move to Name Candidate; Charles H. Tuttle Consults the Oracle, The New York Times, September 26, 1930Newspaper article, New York Drys Will Put Third Party In Field, Meriden Daily Journal, September 27, 1930Newspaper article, Tuttle Won't Sign a State Dry Law Like Volstead Act; In Reply to Roosevelt, He Pledges Dry Enforcement Under Nuisance Statute, The New York Times, October 3, 1930Newspaper article, Baumes Shuns Stand of Tuttle on Repeal; Says He Will Back Running Mate Fully, But Is Not Ready to Give His Prohibition Views, The New York Times, October 4, 1930Newspaper article, Drys to Nominate Dr. Carroll Today, The New York Times, October 7, 1930Newspaper column, Why I cannot support Mr. Tuttle, by S.E. Nicholson, The Canaseraga Times, October 16, 1930
While the Drys argued that Tuttle was too weak on prohibition, New York Democrats argued that Tuttle was a Wet because he favored repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment. During the campaign, Democrats mocked the Republican ticket of Tuttle (an alleged Wet) and lieutenant governor nominee Caleb Baumes (a prominent Dry who supported the Eighteenth Amendment) as asking for votes by trying to please all sides on the Prohibition issue.Newspaper article, Lehman Attacks Baumes as Dry-Wet, The New York Times, October 16, 1930Newspaper article, Smith Ridicules Republican Wets; They Illustrate Latest "Duck and Dodge" of Party on Prohibition, He Says The New York Times, October 31, 1930Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom, by Conrad Black, 2005, page 206
On November 4 Tuttle lost to Roosevelt by what was then the largest plurality in New York State history. Roosevelt's victory was attributed to Tuttle's position on Prohibition, as well as the hard economic times of the Great Depression, for which voters blamed Republicans. As a result of his landslide, Roosevelt became the frontrunner for the presidency in 1932.Newspaper column, Daily Washington Letter, by Rodney Dutcher, Southeast Missourian, August 12, 1930Newspaper article, Roosevelt Reelected Governor of New York; Democratic Executive Carries Entire Ticket With Him in Statewide Sweep; Plurality Sets Record, Reading Eagle, November 5, 1930Newspaper article, Latest Election Returns, by Associated Press, published in Lincoln Telegraph-Herald, November 6, 1930Newspaper article, Cox Praises Roosevelt; Suggests Governor Is "Logical" 1932 Candidate, The New York Times, October 2, 1930
Later career and civic activism After losing the race for governor, Tuttle returned to practicing law as senior partner in the firm of Breed, Abbott & Morgan.Newspaper article, Chas. Tuttle to Resume Law Work in New York, Newburgh News, November 8, 1930Newspaper article, C.H. Tuttle Attacks Trust Law Methods, The New York Times, May 28, 1940Newspaper article, Church Leaders Ok Funds For Ghettoes, Miami News, September 15, 1967 He also served on the Metropolitan Rapid Transit Commission and maintained an active role in the Republican party.Newspaper article, Area Study Urged on Transit Needs; Tuttle Asks Up to $1,000,000 for it -- Would Include Loop Railroad Link to Jersey, The New York Times, December 8, 1954Newspaper article, Head Metropolitan Transit Agency, The New York Times, September 22, 1955Newspaper article, Tuttle Elected Head of Republican Club, The New York Times, April 25, 1951Newspaper article, Republicans Choose New York Delegates, The New York Times, February 8, 1952