George M. Fay

George M. Fay (1909–1957) was a 20th-century American lawyer who twice served as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, first in 1946, then 1947–1951.[1]

George M. Fay
United States Attorney for the District of Columbia
In office
1946–1946
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byEdward Matthew Curran
Succeeded byGeorge E. McNeil
In office
1946–1951
Preceded byGeorge E. McNeil
Succeeded byCharles M. Irelan
Personal details
Born
George Morris Fay

(1909-05-22)22 May 1909
Died17 November 1957(1957-11-17) (aged 48)
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDorothy M. Donovan
Children5

Background

George Morris Fay was born on May 22, 1909, in Pittston, Pennsylvania. His parents were William Michael Fay and Caroline Runner. In 1931, he received a BA from Georgetown University and in 1935 a Bachelors of Law.[1]

Career
E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse, where Fay presided during his time as United States Attorney for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Early years

Fay started his career in the law firm of Fay & Anderson.

In 1935, Fay joined the Bureau of War Risk Litigation at the U.S. Department of Justice. In 1940, he joined its criminal division.

In 1944, he joined the United States Naval Reserves as a lieutenant through 1946.

U.S. Attorney General
Richard Nixon started his political rise off of the Hiss case, which Fay considered for perjury charges at the end of August 1948

In 1946, he became special assistant to the U.S. Attorney General. Later that year, he received an interim appointment as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia In 1947, he was reappointed and confirmed by the United States Senate and served until 1951.

Starting in 1946, Fay cracked down on sex crimes in the area. "We saw a parade of sex offenses coming in–and nothing could be done. There was no law." Instead, sex crimes–molestation, solicitation, homosexuality–all resulted in disorderly conduct.[2][3]

On August 26, 1948, shortly after "Confrontation Day" when Alger Hiss and Whittaker Chambers met publicly for the first time during testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee, Fay expressed interest in pursuing a perjury charge against one of the two men.[4][5]

In 1949, Fay had eight restaurants in Washington, DC, raided for illegal gambling.[6]

Personal and death

In 1936, Fay married Dorothy M. Donovan. They had five children, Dorothy, Lynn, Joan, William and Gerard.[7]

Fay was a Democrat and member of the American Federal and District of Columbia Bar associations, the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, and the Metropolitan Club.

Fay died age 48 on November 17, 1957.[1]

See also

References
  1. "George Morris Fay". Washington Post. 16 November 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  2. Johnson, David K. (13 February 2009). The Lavender Scare: The Cold War Persecution of Gays and Lesbians in the Federal Government. University of Chicago Press. p. 56. ISBN 9780226401966. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  3. Stewart, Chuck (16 December 2014). Proud Heritage: People, Issues, and Documents of the LGBT Experience [3 volumes]: People, Issues, and Documents of the LGBT Experience. ABC-CLIO. p. 914. ISBN 9781610693998. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  4. Morris, John D. (28 August 1948). "Hiss-Chambers Farm Tie Studied; Accuser Accepts Challenge on Suit". New York Times. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  5. Hearings of the United States Congress, House Committee on Un-American Activities. US GPO. 1948. p. 817. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  6. DeFerrari, John (11 August 2011). "Lost Washington: Hammel's Restaurant". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  7. "Dorothy Donovan Fay". Washington Post. 3 August 1993. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
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