Evening star., 1955-11-24
Robert |. O'Brien, 80,
Dies

"N
!. Robert Lincoln o'Brien. for
Imer chairman Of the United
Estates Tariff Commission and
former publisher Of the Boston
Herald, died yesterday at his
department in the Brandywine.
apartment in the Brandywine
apartments. 4545 Connecticut
lavenue NV. Mr.. O'Brien, so,
iIhad been seriously Ill for more
than a year.
/ He is survived by his widow
land two children, Mrs. Robert
Ill. M. Underhill Of Concord.
Mass, and Lincoln O'Brien, a
newspaper publisher in Farm
.Iington, N. Mex.
/ Mr.. O'Brien became secretary
Ito President Grover Cleveland in
1882. He has made his home
There in Washington since he re-
tired from the Tariff Commis-
sion.
/ Lifelong Republican
! Though he was a stanch. life
long Republican, Mr.. O'Brien
started and ended his political
career with Democratic admin
l listratiOnS.
l He was personal secretary to
President Cleveland from 1892
/ until 1895. AS one Of only nine
1 persons employed on the White
4 House star at that time he was
closely associated with the de-
1 velopment Of the Cleveland
policy. :
! In 1891 Mr.. O'Brien was ap-
pointed to the Tariff Commits
sion craftsmanship by President
Herbert Hoover. But he so i'm
pressed President Roosevelt that
1.-THE New Deal leader reappointed
him to Office. He served until
July /. 1897.
/ Despite his ventures into poll
/ tics, Mr.. O'Brien was primarily
| a neWspaperman. He was q cub
reporter in Boston before join
ling President Cleveland's staff
and when he quit the White
House Job he became Washing
lton correspondent for the old
Boston Transcript.
Was Transcript Editor
| A gifted writer and a shrewd
I observer, he was quickly recog-
/ nized as an outstanding corre-
spondent. In 1906 he returned
/ to Boston az editor Of the
Transcript and served for four
years.
In 1910 Mr.. o'Brien became
president and director OF the
Boston Publishing Co. and editor
| of the Boston Herald. He con-
ltinued as editor until his resig-
| nation in 1928. at the age Of So.
Then he went on a world tour.
| He was q renowned raconteur
and wit and was much in de-
mand as a speaker. His judg-
ment was highly regarded by
] Republican leaders, who sought
/ his advice on many subjects.
/ Mr.. OsBrien was the son OF
Patrick and Lydia H, Dunharn
/ iO'Brien. He was born Septem-
/ her IA. 1865, at Arlington, Mass.
| He graduated from Harvard COL
lege in 1891 with a bachelor of
arts degree. He held honorary
degrees from Dartmouth. Brown.
Colby and Boston Universities.
He married Emily A. Young Of
/ Lisbon, N. H.. IN 1895. She died
jin Washington in 1945 at the
lage Of 70.
/ In 1850. at the age Of "a, he
married Miss Helen Victoria
Brown, q California school,
teacher.
| President Roosevelt kept Mr..
lO,Brien as Tariff Commissioner
after the chairman indorsed the
reciprocal trade policy OF the
Democratic administration. Later
iMr. O'Brien soured on the Roose-
lyelt program generally and de-
snounced the New Deal in bitter
words.
!. He criticized the vast SPEND
!, ing and taxing habits of the
/ time, warning that the country
/ faced destruction If it did not
I make ends meet" on finances.
He charged the New Deal had
paralyzed and crushed many
/, private industries.
/ Mr.. O'Brien was a member of
/ the advisory board of the Pulit-
Izer School of Journalism at Co
Ilumbia University He was a
member of the Massachusetts,
| Historical Society and the Mer-
chants, Union and Middlesex
Clubs of Boston.
In Washington he belonged 10
the Gridiron Club, OF which he