THE CHIEF ENGINEER

The man who engineered Adlai Stevenson's campaign through the primaries and into the convention is now setting a course for the White House: James Aloysius Finnegan.

Early Life: Born in Philadelphia, Dec. 20, 1906. Father (an oil-refinery worker) and mother came from County Mayo, Ireland. Graduated from West Philadelphia's Catholic High School for Boys, studied accounting at University of Pennsylvania's night school.

Career: At 24 entered Depression politics, within a year was chairman of his ward's executive committee. In 1939 Philadelphia's Congressman (later Senator) Frank Myers made Finnegan his secretary. Enlisted in the Army Air Forces in 1942 (air combat intelligence), was discharged a lieutenant colonel in 1946. Thrusting once again into home-town politics, he was elected his party's city chairman, built his success by staying mostly in the background and pushing attractive candidates, e.g., Philadelphia Mayors Joe Clark (1951) and Richardson Dilworth (1955). In 1954 he helped persuade an unknown but respected chicken farmer named George Leader to run for governor. Leader won, appointed Finnegan Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Early in 1952, he saw Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson on TV, decided then that Adlai was a sure winner. At the 1952 convention, he helped run the draft-Stevenson movement on the floor, returned to Philadelphia to whip up enthusiasm for the national ticket. Result: Philadelphia gave Stevenson a majority of 160,000 votes.

Techniques: Meticulous planner, canny strategist, he worked from file cards showing names, family and business connections, clubs, hobbies, likes, dislikes of all 1956 convention delegates and alternates. After Stevenson's California victory, Finnegan crossed Kefauver off his list, recognized Harriman as Stevenson's foremost opponent. He roused Stevenson (who was ready to take it easy), began shuttling him into the West. On a plane to Denver, Adlai complained: "Why do I have to make all these trips?" "Because," said Finnegan evenly, "Averell Harriman might beat you." Adlai stared at him hard, breathed: "Incredible."

Personality & Politics: Silver-haired, trim and ruddy, Finnegan is a light eater, disdains cigars, watches his blood pressure like a campaign manager watching a wavering delegate. No jolly backslapper or joke-smith, he has only an ordinary memory for names and faces, seldom relaxes ("The only time I ever knew him to relax," says Campaign Executive Director Hy Raskin, "was when he took off a weekend in Atlantic City. And then all he did was to sit on someone's front porch and talk politics"). He has never married. He blends a good sense of practical politics with a fairly idealistic view of "good government." Typical Finneganisms: "Good government is good politics." "There should be a reward for those who make a consistent effort for the party. When men have an ability in their jobs and also are a potent political force and are really interested in it, why shouldn't they get a job? More often than not, they give better service than some nonpartisans."

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