The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-07-17
MOFFETT QUITS
LUCRATIVE POST
TO SERVE U. S.
New Housing Chief Makes
Sacrifice for Belief in
New Deal.
By srripp'-Hoeard Seg'PapeT ATliaHoe

BIZ F~rfprs-Hovqrd NcvspGper Alliance
WASHINGTON. July IA mar
who cacrfced one Of the top jobs
In the Standard oil Company Of
New Jersey because he believed in
the New Deal is directing the
destinies OF the new federal hous-
ing administration.
James A. ATofett is 48 and looks
ten years younger. The oil trade
knows him as a master salesman
and a genius at organization. In
the southwest. where he has spent
much Of the past twenty seven
years. they speak OF him as Square
Shooting Jimmy. a reputation
which he carried 10 Wall Street
when ne was named senior vice
president Of the Standard company
1Ir. MOdetts first close contact
with Franklin D. Roosevelt came
during the war. He was entrusted
with buying oil for the fleet and
distributing It 70 the hundreds Of
fighting craft and transports. Mr..
Roosevelt. then assistant navy secre-
tary. was impressed with the man.
ner in which Mr.. Moffett got things
done
Helped Write Oil Code
So it was that Mr.. Mofett was
called to Washington a year ago
when NRA was created. The Presi-
dent wanted him on the NRA in
dustrial advisory board. Walter F.
Teagle. president of the Standard
oil New Jersey, already was on
the board and opposed the MOffett
appointment. The result was that
Mr.. NTofett resigned his 500 900
position with Mr. Teagle's company
and offered his fun services to the
President.
AT that time Mr. Moffett said he
was a lifelong Democrat, and a
supporter of the President and his
program. He said he was resigning
because the Standard Oil manage
ment did not share his views.
Mr. Nofett helped write much
of the petroleum code, especially
the provisions for curbing unh-
censed production of outlaw or hot"
oil He was named a member of
the industry's planning and co-or-
dinatiOn committee by Harold L.
Ickes, petroleum administrator.
Gets Urgent Call
Last fall ne returned to New York
and 10 the Standard Oil fold. this
time as executive vice-president of
Standard of California
A few days ago Mr.. MOffett was
playing golf on Long Island when
he received a phone call from the
White House. It urged that he pre-
sent himself Immediately in Wash
ingtOn Six hours later he was named
administrator of the new national
housing act.
Mr.. MOffett will supply the hOus-
ing administration with one of its
major requirements. He knows
bankers and financial leaders in all
sections of the nation and. with his
reputation of craftsmanship. is ex-
pected by his chief to sell" them
the idea of IoOSening private purse
strings to finance home building
and rebuilding.
His Hobby Yachting
Quiet of speech and conservative
In action. the new administrator
promises speed in the development
of the nationwide program. He
fOreSeeS unemployment of at least
five million men when the wheels OF
his administration begin to turn.
Mr.. AIOffett is a native of West
Virginia. His home at present is in
New York City. He is married and
has five children. He is a Prince
ton graduate.
The new housing executive has
one prime hobby. yachting. A ruddy
complexion testified to his nautical