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Robert K. Christenberry

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Robert K. Christenberry
Postmaster of New York City
In office
1957–1966
PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded byRobert H. Schaffer
Succeeded byJohn R. Strachan
Chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission
In office
1951–1955
GovernorThomas E. Dewey
Preceded byEddie Eagan
Succeeded byJulius Helfand
Personal details
BornJanuary 27, 1899
Huntingdon, Tennessee
DiedApril 13, 1973 (aged 74)
Memphis, Tennessee
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
ProfessionHotel manager

Robert Keaton Christenberry (January 27, 1899 – April 13, 1973) was an American businessman and political figure who served as president of the Hotel Astor, chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission and Postmaster of New York City and was the Republican nominee in the 1957 New York City mayoral election.

Early life

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Christenberry was born on January 27, 1899, in Huntingdon, Tennessee.[1][2] He grew up in Milan, Tennessee. Christenberry enlisted in the United States Marine Corps following the United States' entry into World War I. He served in the 55th Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, which was positioned in the trenches near Verdun. During grenade practice, a defective grenade exploded on Christenberry, which caused serious damage to his right arm and resulted in his discharge.[3] After the war, Christenberry served as the American vice consul in Vladivostok and Santo Domingo and was a sports reporter for The Washington Herald.[2]

Business career

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Christenberry got his start in the hotel business as a deputy hotel commissioner of Florida. He then served as public relations director of the Hotel Winton in Cleveland from 1929 to 1931, sales and promotions director of the Book-Cadillac in Detroit from 1931 to 1932, manager of the Jefferson in Peoria from 1933 to 1934, and general manager of the Roosevelt in Pittsburgh from 1934 to 1935.[2] In 1935 he became the vice president and general manager of Hotel Astor in New York City.[3] In 1944 he was promoted to president and treasurer of the Astor.[4] In 1945 the Astor was purchased by Sheraton Hotels and Christenberry became the vice president and managing director of the Sheraton Astor. From 1955 to 1964 he was the president and chairman of the Ambassador Hotel.[2]

From 1941 to 1956, Christenberry served as president of the Broadway Association.[5] During World War II he served as head of the Greater New York Civilian Defense Volunteer Office's War Identification Bureau, was a hotel industry adviser to the Office of Price Administration, and led Manhattan's air raid warden organization.[3][6] Christenberry was also as a director of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Webb and Knapp, and the Hotel Association of New York City, a member of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a trustee of the St. James School.[2][4][7]

New York State Athletic Commission

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In 1951, Governor Thomas E. Dewey appointed Christenberry chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission. Dewey tasked Christenberry and his fellow commissioners with cleaning up the sport of boxing.[7] Christenberry overturned Carmen Basilio's May 29, 1952, victory over Charles Pierce Davey after finding discrepancies on the referee's scorecard. Following a December 19, 1952 Joey Giardello-Billy Graham at Madison Square Garden, Christenberry changed judge Joe Agnello's card from 6-4 Giardello to 5–5 with Graham ahead on points, 6–5, giving Graham the victory. This decision led to legal action which concluded on February 17, 1953, when Judge Bernard Botein upheld Christenberry's decision.[1] In 1955, Dewey's successor W. Averell Harriman replaced Christenberry as chairman, but Christenberry remained on the commission until March 12, 1956.[8][9]

Mayoral campaign

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On June 27, 1957, the Republican leaders of New York's five boroughs announced that after a two-month search they had selected Christenberry to be the party's nominee for Mayor.[10] Throughout the campaign, Christenberry attacked Wagner on the issue of crime and claimed that the administration had "miserably failed" on that issue.[11] He centered his campaign around a plan to hire 5,000 new police officers, the reduction of graft and corruption in city government, and halting New York City's population loss.[12][13] President Eisenhower and Vice President Nixon appeared with and endorsed Christenberry.[14][15] He also received the endorsement of former Governor Dewey and was praised by Eleanor Roosevelt for his energy and knowledge of the issues.[16] [17] Wagner, who was favored throughout the race, defeated Christenberry 69% to 27%.[18]

Postmaster of New York City

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On June 3, 1958, Christenberry was sworn in as acting Postmaster of New York.[19] He was recommended for the position by Senator Jacob Javits after his original choice, Samuel Roman, declined the position.[20] On July 6, 1959, he was nominated by President Eisenhower for permanent status as postmaster.[21] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 15, 1959.[22] He resigned as Postmaster due to ill health effective June 17, 1966.[23]

Later life

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Upon his retirement, Christenberry moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In February 1973 he suffered a stroke while visiting relatives in Tennessee. He never recovered and died on April 13, 1973, at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Bill Shannon Biographical Dictionary of New York Sports: Robert Christenberry". New-York Historical Society Museum & Library. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Robert K. Christenberry Dead: Ex-Postmaster Here Was 74". The New York Times. April 14, 1973.
  3. ^ a b c Suhosky, Bob (December 1951). "Boxing's New Boss". Leatherneck.
  4. ^ a b "Elected to Hotel Posts". The New York Times. June 17, 1944.
  5. ^ "Christenberry Praised". The New York Times. February 7, 1946.
  6. ^ "Fingerprint Drive to Start Monday". The New York Times. July 11, 1942.
  7. ^ a b "Eagan is Replaced as Head of Boxing; Clean-Up Ordered". The New York Times. September 26, 1951.
  8. ^ Conklin, William R. (January 1, 1955). "Helfand Named Chairman Of the State Athletic Board". The New York Times.
  9. ^ "Name Farley To Boxing Board Of N. Y.". Daily Defender. March 13, 1956.
  10. ^ Amper, Richard (28 June 1957). "Christenberry Named By G.O.P. In Mayoral Race". New York Times. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  11. ^ Egan, Leo (6 August 1957). "CITY CRIME SCORED BY G.O.P. NOMINEE". New York Times. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Christenberry's Views". New York Times. 28 June 1956. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Text of the Republican Party's City Campaign Principles and Platform". New York Times. 6 August 1957. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  14. ^ Egan, Leo (23 October 1957). "President, Here, Endorses Christenberry for Mayor". New York Times. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  15. ^ Illson, Murray (11 September 1957). "CITY SAFETY ISSUE BACKED BY NIXON". New York Times. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  16. ^ Kaplan, Morris (2 November 1957). "DEWEY ENDORSES G.O.P. CITY TICKET Ex-Governor Comes Out for Ch". New York Times. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  17. ^ Roosevelt, Eleanor. "My Day by Eleanor Roosevelt, July 6, 1957". George Washington University. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  18. ^ "New York City Mayoral Election 1957". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  19. ^ Dales, Douglas (June 4, 1958). "New Postmaster Takes Oath Here". The New York Times.
  20. ^ "Postal Job to go to Christenberry". The New York Times. June 2, 1958.
  21. ^ "Christenberry Gets Postal Job". The New York Times. July 7, 1959.
  22. ^ "Christenberry Gets Senate's Approval". The New York Times. September 16, 1959.
  23. ^ "Christenberry, City Postmaster, Resigns for Health Reasons". The New York Times. May 25, 1966.
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