Harry Hines Woodring Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

Harry Woodring (1887-1967) entered the banking business on the bottom rung, as a janitor, but rose to be a bank president and V.P. of the Kansas Bankers Association. A World War I veteran, he also became state commander of the American Legion. A Democrat in a heavily Republican state, he won election as Governor in 1930 when an independent candidate split the vote, but lost narrowly two years later to Alf Landon, who would be President Roosevelt's Republican opponent in the 1936 Presidential election. Woodring was appointed Assistant Secretary of War in 1933 and became full Secretary in 1936. Although Woodring took some measures to improve US military preparedness, he was basically an isolationist who opposed President Roosevelt's active aid to Britain in the early stages of World War II. By 1940 FDR was maneuvering to remove Woodring from office, reportedly offering ambassadorships as an inducement.