Joe R. Hanley

Joseph Rhodes Hanley (May 30, 1876 – September 4, 1961) was an American lawyer, preacher, and politician who served as lieutenant governor of New York from 1943 to 1950.

Joe Hanley
Lieutenant Governor of New York
In office Acting December 3, 1942 – December 31, 1942
Governor	Charles Poletti
Preceded by	Charles Poletti
Succeeded by	Thomas W. Wallace
In office Acting July 17, 1943 – November 2, 1943
Governor	Thomas E. Dewey
Preceded by	Thomas W. Wallace
Succeeded by	Himself
In office November 2, 1943 – December 31, 1950
Governor	Thomas E. Dewey
Preceded by	Himself (acting)
Succeeded by	Frank C. Moore
Member of the New York Senate from the 44th district
In office January 1, 1932 – December 31, 1943
Preceded by	John Knight
Succeeded by	Austin W. Erwin
Member of the New York State Assembly from the Wyoming district
In office January 1, 1927 – December 31, 1931
Preceded by	Webb A. Joiner
Succeeded by	Harold C. Ostertag
Personal details
Born	Joseph Rhodes Hanley May 30, 1876 Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
Died	September 4, 1961 (aged 85) Warsaw, New York, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	State University of Iowa (LLB) Iowa Wesleyan University (MDiv)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army
Battles/wars	Spanish–American War

Early life and education

Hanley was born in Davenport, Iowa and raised in Muscatine, Iowa. He earned a law degree from the State University of Iowa. He later earned a Master of Divinity from Iowa Wesleyan University.

Military service

Hanley was a member of the Iowa National Guard and served in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War. In 1941 and 1942, he was Commander-in-Chief of the United Spanish War Veterans.

Career

After the Spanish–American War, Hanley left Iowa and became a Presbyterian preacher. He moved to Perry, New York, to become the pastor of a local church. While living in Perry, Hanley became involved in local Republican politics.

He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Wyoming County) in 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930 and 1931, and a member of the New York State Senate (44th District) from 1932 to 1943, sitting in the 155th, 156th, 157th, 158th, 159th, 160th, 161st, 162nd, 163rd and 164th New York State Legislatures. After the death of Perley A. Pitcher, Hanley was elected Temporary President of the State Senate on February 27, 1939. When Charles Poletti succeeded to the governor's office upon Herbert H. Lehman's resignation in December 1942, Hanley became acting lieutenant governor of New York for four weeks.

When Lieutenant Governor Thomas W. Wallace died on July 17, 1943, Hanley again became acting lieutenant governor. In the 1943 New York state election, he defeated Democrat William N. Haskell in a special election for lieutenant governor. He was reelected in 1946 and remained in office until the end of 1950. He was a delegate to the 1944 and 1948 Republican National Conventions.

Early in 1950, Governor Thomas E. Dewey announced he would not seek another term as governor. Hanley was the leading candidate to succeed him. Then Dewey decided to run after all and was reelected. For the record, Hanley claimed he had bowed out of the campaign voluntarily to clear the way for Dewey. But, in a "Dear King" letter to W. Kingsland Macy, Hanley said Dewey had persuaded him to run for United States Senate instead, and had promised him a state job if he lost the race. He lost the senate race and was appointed special counsel to the State Division of Veterans' Affairs.