Evening star., 1953-10-03
George CreeI Dies;
Chief Of Information
During World War |
BY the Assoeio.ed Press

George Creel, II, the conndanC
of two Presidents, died here yes
terday from the combined effects
of lung cancer and a liver all
ment.
A hospital spokesman said the
former newspaper editor had
been in a coma since early
Thursday after an exploratory
operation Tuesday.
Funeral services will be held
here Monday afternoon.
Mr.. Creel was a close personal
friend Of Woodrow Wilson and
later of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
President Wilson appointed
him to direct the United States
Committee of Public Informa-
tion during World War I. Later
he was one of President RooSe-
velt's speech writer's.
Author of Several Books.
The one-time editor Of the
Kansas City Independent, the
Denver Post and the Rocky
Mountain News was the author
of several books. Most recent
was "Russia's Race for ASIA" in
1949.
Mr.. Creel held several Federal
posts during the 1930s.
An influential figure in ma
tional politics from the days of
World War 1, Mr.. Creel paid
allegiance to the Democratic
Party "of Jefferson and jack
son" throughout his life. In his
later days he became a stormy
petrol of politics, breaking away
from the democracy of Frank
lin D. Roosevelt and Harry Tru-
man to support the election of
Republicans Richard M. Nixon,
William F. Knowland and Dwight
D. Eisenhower.
Born in Missouri December
l, 1876, Mr.. Creel began his
career as a newspaperman and
editor in Kansas City, working
successfully in New York, Kan
sas City again and Denver be-
fore he gained national stature
during World War I.
"Uncle Sans Press Agent"
During his wartime services,
Mr.. Creel became known as
Uncle Sans press agent" for
his efforts in spreading Ameri-
can ideas and goals throughout
the world. He operated the
World War I censorship on the
basis that all possible news about
the Government should be dis
tributed.
A political writer and editor
for national magazines after his
retirement from the Wilson ad-
ministration, Mr.. Creel was
called back into Government
service when President Roose-
velt set up his New Deal ad-
miniStration. He served at the
same time as Western regional
director of the National Recovery
Administration. regional director
Of the National Labor Relations
Board and California chairman
of the National Emergency
Council.
Typical of Mr.. Creel's continual
battle for what he believed the
right, he announced his resigna-
tion as NRA regional director
late in 1888, because the regional
Office "had nothing to do" He
had been battling Gen. Hugh S
Johnson, NRA head, for months
for better consideration of West
ern industry.
Quit Under Hopkins.
So great was the furor when
Mr.. Creel resigned that his
wishes were granted in Washing
ton and he was prevailed on to
remain in the post. He similarly
resigned as adviser to Harry
Hopkins, WPA chief in 1885, be-
cause. he said, the post had be-
come imperative"
In 1888, he became one of the
first to point out the Importance
of Western labor on the national
scene in national magazine ar
ticle pin-pointing the struggle
between Harry Bridges, then of
the CIO, and Dave Beck, AFL
Teamster leader from Seattle.
Mr. Creels two personal ven-
lures in politics were not success
full. He ran for Governor of
California as a Democrat in 1884
and was defeated. In 1887, he
headed a committee which put
on a tremendous drive to bring
a rapid transit system and sub
way to San Francisco. That
project is still pending.
In 1910, Mr.. Creel added to his
list of presidential friends when
he went to Mexico City to help
President Lazaro Cardenas es-
tablish a Mexican Ministry of
Public Information and Propa-
ganda.
Backed Earl Warren.
When Earl Warren first ran
for Governor of California on
the Republican ticket in 1912,
Mr.. Creel supported him. He
supported Mr.. Nixon in his Cali
fornia senatorial race against
Democrat Helen Gahagan Doug
las of Los Angeles, the re-elec-
ton of Senator Knowland of
California in 1852 and the presi-
Dental ticket of Eisenhower and
Nixon.
Of the several books Mr.. Creel
wrote, probably the most signifi-
cant was "a Rebel at Large"
which dealt with his experiences
inside the New Deal.
Mr.. Creel was married to
Blanche Bates, New York actress,
in 1912. Thereafter they main
tanned their home in San Fran
cisco, spending their summers
there even during their busiest
years. They had two children,
George Bates Creel and Frances