Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-09-23
Capital Sidelights
BIZ Will p. Kennedu.

ASperslonS OF nepotlsm intermittent
ly cast at Congress have provoked some
New England members to search out
records and do a bit of Dragging in
the Speakers lobby about how ability
tage of the public administration There
are many amazing records Of family
service in Congress and other high
public Offices. Probably the champion
family for earning their way into promi-
nent and honorable posts was sired by
an Irish-born school master, John Sui
Ivan, from Limerick, who taught at
Dover. N. H., and Berwick, Me, for
upward Of so years. The record of his
progeny was conspicuously brought to
public attention more than 80 years ago
by Michael j. O'Brien, historiographer
OF the American Irish Historical So
ciety. John Sullivan himself is de-
scribed as lone of the grandest char
acters in the colony of Massachusetts
Bay" and "one of the most honored
In early New Hampshire history" This
Irish immigrant not only educated thou
sands throughout New England who
journeyed many miles for instruction
under him, but he was the father of
Governor of New Hampshire and of
a Governor Of Massachusetts,, of an
attorney general of New Hampshire and
of an attorney general of Massachusetts,,
OF New Hampshire's only major gen.
eral In the Continental Army, of the
first Judge appointed by Washington
in New Hampshire, of four sons who
were officers in the Continental Army.
He was grandfather of an attorney
general of New Hampshire, Gov
ernor of Maine. and United States
Senator from New Hampshire. He
was at-grandfather of an attorney
general of New Hampshire and great
great-grandfather of an officer In the
18th New Hampshire Regiment in the
Civil War
But in that summary the entire
story is not told Two of John Sulli-
vans sons-John, jr. born in l74O, and
James, born in 1744 served in the Con-
tinental Congress-and his grandson,
George Sullivan, son of John, jr., born
in It'll, served in the 18th Congress
Q8ll-lSl3. John. jr., was member
of the Continental Congress G774 and
l775), serving with Washington. He
was appointed brigadier general, pro-
NOTED to major general, served from
ITS until 1880, was an active partici-
pant in many major engagements, re-
ceived the thanks of Washington and
appreciation of Congress. He was at
torney general of New Hampshire, presi-
dent Of New Hampshire in 1885 and
1887, a member of the convention that
ratified the Constitution, Speaker OF
the State House of Representatives,
and judge of the United States District
Court.
James Sullivan was also active in
pre- Revolution movements, a member
of the Provincial Congress of Massa-
chusetts, a member of the General
Court, a justice of the Supreme Court,
a member of the Continental Congress
in 1882, a member of the executive
council in 1887, judge of Probate Court.
attorney general of Massachusetts and
Governor until his death.
George Sullivan served in the New
Hampshire State Legislature, was at
torney general of the State, served in
the 18th Congress, later was elected to
both branches of the State Legislature
and again attorney general from 1915
to 1885.
+
Many persons have been inquiring as
to the identity of the alert young man
In the front row in the colored picture
printed in the rotogravure section of The
Sunday Star. July %, showing Gen.
Eisenhower addressing the House and
the Senate. That happened to be
Charles H. Parkman, who assemblies all
the members speeches for the Con-
eressional Record. He probably Is the
only man in history who was secretary
to two Speakers-Frederick H. Gillett
Of Massachusetts, and Nicholas Long
worth Of Ohio. He also was secretary to
both Of them at the same time before
either became Speaker. There Is prob
ably only one other man at the Capitol
who recalls. as Mr.. Parkman does, that
historic day when Speaker Thomas B.
Reed, for the first time in history,
counted a quorum"