# Frederick Ayer Jr. > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Frederick_Ayer_Jr. > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Frederick_Ayer_Jr..md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Ayer_Jr. > Source revision: 1336344991 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American government official, attorney, and author (1915–1974)}} {{Infobox person | name = Frederick Ayer Jr. | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1915|12|28}} | birth_place = [Topsfield, Massachusetts](/source/Topsfield%2C_Massachusetts), U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1974|01|04|1915|12|28}} | death_place = | spouse = | children = | other_names = | known_for = | education = | occupation = government official, attorney, and author | relatives = {{Plainlist| * [George S. Patton IV](/source/George_S._Patton_IV) (cousin) * [Frederick Ayer](/source/Frederick_Ayer) (grandfather) }} }} '''Frederick Ayer Jr.''' (December 28, 1915 – January 4, 1974) was an American government official, attorney, and author who worked for the [Federal Bureau of Investigation](/source/Federal_Bureau_of_Investigation), the United States Mission in [Greece](/source/Greece), and the [United States Air Force](/source/United_States_Air_Force). ==Early life== Ayer was born on December 28, 1915, in [Topsfield, Massachusetts](/source/Topsfield%2C_Massachusetts), to Frederick Ayer Sr. and Hilda Proctor Rice Ayer.{{cite book |title=Harvard College Class of 1911 Decennial Report |date=1921 |pages=14 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q8onAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA14 }} His uncle was General [George S. Patton](/source/George_S._Patton) and his grandfather was [Frederick Ayer](/source/Frederick_Ayer). Ayer grew up in [Wenham, Massachusetts](/source/Wenham%2C_Massachusetts). He graduated from [The Hill School](/source/The_Hill_School) in 1933, [Harvard College](/source/Harvard_College) in 1937, and [Harvard Law School](/source/Harvard_Law_School) in 1941.{{cite news|title=Frederick Ayer Jr. to Head Children's Center Campaign|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=July 7, 1959}} While an undergraduate, Ayer was a member of Harvard's varsity polo and track and junior varsity football and rifle teams. On November 16, 1941, he married Anne Proctor Moody of [San Francisco](/source/San_Francisco) in [Hamilton, Massachusetts](/source/Hamilton%2C_Massachusetts).{{cite news|title=Frederick Ayer Jr, Weds Miss Anne Moody in Hamilton Today|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=November 16, 1941}} They had two sons and one daughter. ==Government service== From 1941 to 1946, Ayer was an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He was sworn in on August 25, 1941, placed in an accelerated training program, and assigned to the [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington_D.C.), field office. One of his first targets was [Inga Arvad](/source/Inga_Arvad), whom FBI Director [J. Edgar Hoover](/source/J._Edgar_Hoover) believed could be a German spy. On his first ever technical surveillance operation, Ayer discovered that Arvad was romantically involved with one of his Harvard classmates, [John F. Kennedy](/source/John_F._Kennedy), then an [ensign](/source/Ensign_(rank)) in the [US Navy](/source/United_States_Navy)'s [Office of Naval Intelligence](/source/Office_of_Naval_Intelligence). The discovery of Kennedy's involvement with a married woman led to him being transferred to [Charleston, South Carolina](/source/Charleston%2C_South_Carolina), where he had little access to classified materials and increased surveillance on Arvad.{{cite book |author=Gentry, Curt |title= J. Edgar Hoover: The Man and the Secrets |url=https://archive.org/details/jedgarhoovermans00gent |url-access=registration |year=1991 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/jedgarhoovermans00gent/page/467 467–469] |publisher=W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. |location=New York |isbn=0-393-32128-2}} Ayer was later assigned to the [Boston](/source/Boston) and [Cincinnati](/source/Cincinnati) field offices and during [World War II](/source/World_War_II) was loaned to the [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army) for a special assignment in Europe. He was eventually appointed chief of the FBI Liaison Units in the [European Theater of Operations](/source/European_Theater_of_Operations%2C_United_States_Army). From 1947 to 1948, Ayer worked at the American Mission in Greece as deputy legal advisor. He later as the chief of the mission's Intelligence and Security Division, where he was tasked with stopping Communist activities in relation to the American aid program. In 1948, United States Secretary of State [George C. Marshall](/source/George_C._Marshall) assigned Ayer to assist Maj. Gen. [William J. Donovan](/source/William_J._Donovan) in the investigation of CBS reporter [George Polk](/source/George_Polk)'s murder. According to the ''[New York Times](/source/New_York_Times)'' Ayer was "credited with laying the groundwork for the inquiry that led to the solution of the case". In April 1950, Ayer was named assistant counsel to the [Tydings Committee](/source/Tydings_Committee), a [United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations](/source/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Foreign_Relations) subcommittee investigating alleged communism in the [State Department](/source/United_States_Department_of_State) on the recommendation of Senators [Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.](/source/Henry_Cabot_Lodge_Jr.) and [Bourke B. Hickenlooper](/source/Bourke_B._Hickenlooper).{{cite news|title=Ayer Named to Aid Probe of Alleged State Dept. Reds|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=April 12, 1950}} His appointment was held up by Chairman [Millard E. Tydings](/source/Millard_E._Tydings), after Tydings, who did not believe candidates for office should serve as members of the committee's staff, found out Ayer was running for Attorney General of Massachusetts.{{cite news|author=White, William S.|title=Red Inquiry Clash Flares as Tydings Bars a G.O.P. Aide|work=The New York Times|date=April 13, 1950}} Tydings soon withdrew his objection, but Ayer declined the post, stating that he did feel he the "full confidence of the committee" due to the chairman's objections.{{cite news|title=Ayer Declines Inquiry Post|work=The New York Times|date=April 19, 1950}} ==Fundraising== In 1948, Ayer accepted an unpaid position as vice-chairman of the [Boston Children's Hospital](/source/Boston_Children's_Hospital)'s Children's Medical Center Fund. The following year he was named chairman of the fund. At the age of 33 he was believed to be the youngest chairman of a major charitable campaign in Massachusetts history. In 1951 he served as general chairman of the [YMCA](/source/YMCA)'s World Service Campaign.{{cite news|title=YMCA Needs Aid for Work Abroad, Ayer Says Here|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=March 13, 1951}} ==Political career== Ayer was encouraged to enter politics by his uncle, George S. Patton, who told him that too many qualified people avoided politics because they thought it was a "dirty business".{{cite news|author=Cutler, Samuel B.|title=Meet the Candidates: Ayer Took Blunt Advice of Patton, Entered Politics|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=October 26, 1950}} He was active in [Leverett Saltonstall](/source/Leverett_Saltonstall)'s 1936 campaign for [Governor of Massachusetts](/source/Governor_of_Massachusetts) and took two months off from law school to assist [Wendell Willkie](/source/Wendell_Willkie)'s presidential campaign. In 1948, Ayer served as vice chairman and later as acting chairman of the [Massachusetts Republican Party](/source/Massachusetts_Republican_Party)'s Finance Committee. On March 15, 1950, Ayer announced his candidacy for [Attorney General of Massachusetts](/source/Attorney_General_of_Massachusetts). He ran on a platform of fighting crime and combating "Communist infiltration and agitation". He supported the creation of a state school for police officers similar to the [FBI National Academy](/source/FBI_National_Academy) in Washington, D.C., stricter enforcement of fire codes, higher pay for police officers, higher standards for doctors, and an anti-pollution program.{{cite news|title=Ayer Enters G.O.P Race for Attorney General: Nephew of Gen Patton, Former FBI Agent Warns of Communists|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=March 16, 1950}} Ayer defeated 4 other candidates, including future Attorney General [George Fingold](/source/George_Fingold), to win the Republican primary.{{cite book |title=Massachusetts Election Statistics 1950 |pages=169 | url=https://archive.org/stream/electionstatisti19501951mass#page/168/mode/2up}} During the campaign, Ayer criticized Democratic incumbent [Francis E. Kelly](/source/Francis_E._Kelly) for his handling of the [Brinks robbery](/source/Great_Brink's_Robbery) while Kelly described Ayer as a "10 month lawyer who has never tried a law case".{{cite news|title=Kelly Quotes Police to Deny Ayer Charges|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=October 14, 1950}}{{cite news|title=Kelly Bungled Brink's Probe, Ayer Charges|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=October 13, 1950}}{{cite news|title=Ayer Declares Kelly Attempts Smear Campaign|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=October 7, 1950}} Ayer lost to Kelly 52% to 47%, but received more votes than any other Republican candidate, including gubernatorial nominee [Arthur W. Coolidge](/source/Arthur_W._Coolidge).{{cite book |title=Massachusetts Election Statistics 1950 |pages=5 | url=https://archive.org/stream/electionstatisti19501951mass#page/n9/mode/2up }}{{cite news|title=Ayer to Run Again in 1952|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=November 14, 1950}} In 1952, Ayer again ran for attorney general, but lost the Republican nomination to George Fingold. Following his defeat, Ayer served as vice president of the Massachusetts Citizens for Eisenhower committee. ==Later life== In 1953 Ayer was named special assistant to [United States Secretary of the Air Force](/source/United_States_Secretary_of_the_Air_Force) [Harold E. Talbott](/source/Harold_E._Talbott). On April 22, 1955, Ayer suffered a heart attack in Washington, D.C.{{cite news|title=Frederick Ayer Jr. in Hospital After Heart Attack at 39|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=April 23, 1955}} He eventually recovered and returned to work. After leaving government service in 1960, Ayer practiced law in Washington, D.C., with the firm of Ford, Ayer, Horan, and Lester. He also dedicated much of his time to writing. His books included "Before the Color Fades: Portrait of a Soldier" about his uncle George S. Patton, "The Man in the Mirror: A Novel of Espionage", "Yankee G-Men", and "Walter, the Improbable Hound." In 1965 he appeared as a guest on [The Merv Griffin Show](/source/The_Merv_Griffin_Show).{{Cite web |title=The Merv Griffin Show |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055691/ |access-date=1 December 2022 |website=imdb.com}} He also wrote articles for Massachusetts newspapers, including ''[The Boston Globe](/source/The_Boston_Globe)'' on a number of subjects, chiefly European affairs.{{cite news|title= Frederick Ayer, 58; attorney, FBI official|work=The Boston Globe|date=January 5, 1974}} Ayer died of a heart attack on January 4, 1974, while on vacation in [Tucker's Town, Bermuda](/source/Tucker's_Town%2C_Bermuda).{{cite news|title=Frederick Ayer, U.S. Aide Abroad|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/01/05/archives/frederick-ayer-us-aide-abroad-author-and-exfbi-agent-in-europe-is.html|date=January 5, 1974}} ==References== {{reflist}} {{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=[Clarence A. Barnes](/source/Clarence_A._Barnes)}} {{s-ttl|title=[Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) nominee for [Attorney General of Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts_Attorney_General)|years=1950}} {{s-aft|after=[George Fingold](/source/George_Fingold)}} {{s-end}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ayer, Frederick Jr.}} Category:United States Army personnel of World War II Category:Federal Bureau of Investigation agents Category:Harvard College alumni Category:Harvard Law School alumni Category:The Hill School alumni Category:Law enforcement officials from South Carolina Category:Law enforcement officials from Washington, D.C. Category:Lawyers from Washington, D.C. Category:Massachusetts lawyers Category:Massachusetts Republicans Category:People from Wenham, Massachusetts Category:20th-century American lawyers Category:20th-century American politicians Category:1915 births Category:1974 deaths Category:Harvard Crimson men's track and field athletes --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Frederick Ayer Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Ayer_Jr.) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Ayer_Jr.?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.