Donald E. Montgomery

Donald Ewan Montgomery (1896–1957) was an American economist who served in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) during the New Deal, and later was a labor activist for the United Automobile Workers (UAW).^[1]

Early life and education

Montgomery was born on October 16, 1896.^[1] In 1918, he earned a BA from the University of Pennsylvania. He pursued graduate study at the University of Wisconsin.^[1]

Career

The SEC in Washington, D.C., near Washington Union Station

The Jamie L. Whitten Building in Washington D.C., headquarters of the Department of Agriculture

Montgomery served as Director of the Registration Division of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).^[1]

In September 1935, he resigned from the SEC to become "Consumer Counsel" at USDA.^[1] During 1942, Montgomery appeared on Labor for Victory, a 15-minute weekly radio show on NBC, created by the AFL and CIO. The episode also included the CIO's director of publicity, Len De Caux.^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]} In December 1942, he left USDA.^[1]

Walter Reuther

In February 1943, he again became "Consumer Counsel," this time for the UAW. Walter Reuther was recruiting professionals for various UAW branch offices and included Montgomery, a liberal economist and professional in New Deal laws and regulations.^[7] He served as UAW representative on the Policy Committee of Price Administration.^[1] In 1947, when the UAW's Washington Office Policy Committee reorganized, Reuther appointed Montgomery as director. He served in that capacity until his death.^[1][7]

Historian Irving Richter calls Montgomery a "close advisor" of Reuther's, who even ghost-wrote matters for the UAW president.^[8]

Personal life

Montgomery served as an ensign in the U.S. Navy during World War I. In 1920, he married Sarah Victorine Adamson (1898–1987) of Cedartown, Georgia. They had three children, Donald Jr., Charles and Margaret, and were living in Washington, D.C., in 1940.^[9] The couple divorced in 1951.

Death

On October 11, 1957, Montgomery died from suicide.^[1] Newspapers reported the cause of death as suicide: "He killed himself at home yesterday after telephoning police."^[10]