Frank J. Kelley

Frank Joseph Kelley (born December 31, 1924), was the 50th Attorney General of the U.S. state of Michigan.[1] His 37-year term of office, from 1961 to 1999, made him both the youngest (36 years old) and oldest (74 years old) Attorney General in the state's history, and led to his nickname as the "Eternal General." He was the longest serving state attorney general in United States history, until Tom Miller of Iowa surpassed his longevity record in 2019.[2][3]

This article is about the politician. For the operatic tenor, see Frank Kelley (tenor).
Frank J. Kelley
50th Attorney General of Michigan
In office
December 28, 1961 – January 1, 1999
GovernorJohn Swainson
George W. Romney
William Milliken
James Blanchard
John Engler
Preceded byPaul L. Adams
Succeeded byJennifer Granholm
Personal details
Born
Frank Joseph Kelley

(1924-12-31) December 31, 1924
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
Children3
ResidenceAlpena, Michigan
Alma materUniversity of Detroit
OccupationLawyer

Early life and education

After receiving undergraduate and law degrees (1951) from the University of Detroit,[4] Kelley became a lawyer in private practice in Alpena, Michigan, and later received an appointment as Alpena city attorney.

Michigan Attorney General

Kelley was appointed as Attorney General in 1961 by Governor John Swainson to fill a vacancy left when Paul L. Adams became a Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. Kelley was elected in his own right as the Democratic nominee ten times before his retirement from the position in 1999, when he was succeeded by the future Governor of Michigan Jennifer Granholm. Governor Granholm has publicly acknowledged Kelley to be one of her mentors and closest advisors.

Kelley was the first state attorney general to establish both a consumer protection and environmental protection division. He became nationally recognized in the area of consumer protection appearing annually on the NBC show "Dateline" to discuss issues such as item pricing. He also gained statewide acclaim for battling utilities and insurance companies on rate increases. President Bill Clinton acknowledged Kelley as a leading force in the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, which resulted in most states receiving large multi-year payments to compensate them for the costs of tobacco-related illnesses.

While Attorney General, Kelley ran for election to the U.S. Senate in 1972, but lost to incumbent Robert P. Griffin. He later credited the controversy over school busing and the weakness of Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern as major contributing factors in his 47-53 percent loss.

He was elected president of the National Association of Attorneys General, becoming the only Michigan attorney general so honored.[5]. He was the first attorney general in the United States to establish Consumer Protection, Criminal Fraud and Environmental Protection Divisions.[3][5] His guidance led to the passage of Michigan’s Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act. He was cited by all 50 states' attorneys general as being the attorney general who most furthered the cause of justice in the United States.[5]

His electoral prowess was unequaled both in terms of duration and the magnitude of his victories.[upper-alpha 1]

Later Career

After his departure from the Attorney General's office, Kelley founded Kelley Cawthorne, a prominent lobbying and law firm in Lansing, Michigan. In private practice he has represented the late Marge Schott during the sale of her majority interest in the Cincinnati Reds Major League Baseball franchise. He also represented a host of major companies such as DTE Energy, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Michigan, and Palace Sports & Entertainment/Detroit Pistons organization. He has since sold the firm, but remains a consultant for it till the end of 2014.

In 1999, then Republican Governor John Engler named him to a seat on the Mackinac Island State Park Commission which controls 80% of the island. In 2007, Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm named him Chair of the Commission. As Chair he replaced his business partner, Dennis O. Cawthorne, a former Republican Leader of the Michigan Legislature. Granholm also appointed Kelley to the State Ethics Board.

On October 24, 2013, the walkway in Lansing between the Michigan State Capitol and the Hall of Justice was named the Frank J. Kelley Walkway.[6][7]

In 2015, Wayne State University Press published his autobiography, titled The People's Lawyer: The Life and Times of Frank J. Kelley, the Nation's Longest Serving Attorney General. Kelley's co-author was syndicated political columnist Jack Lessenberry. His wife, Nancy, died due to complications from a brain aneurism.

Kelley has three (3) children from his first marriage. He winters in Naples, Florida, and lives the rest of the year at his home in Haslett, Michigan.

Term limits

In 1993, the Michigan Constitution was amended to place term limits on many elected offices, including Attorney General. Kelley's successors are limited to two four-year terms in office. During the debate over term limits, some proponents of term limits pointed to Kelley and Michigan's then-Secretary of State Richard H. Austin, who served from 1971 to 1994, as examples of elected officials who had stayed in office too long. However, they did not explain why, if that was true, voters kept re-electing Kelley, or why Austin was in fact finally defeated. Upon his retirement, Kelley was still eligible for one more term. But he said that while he was certain he could have won a final term, he wanted to leave on his terms, "while he was still young and vital." He then started the Kelley Cawthorne firm.

Legacy

The Michigan State University College of Law has established the "Frank J. Kelley institute of ethics" in his name.[8]

In 1998, the State Bar of Michigan created the Frank J. Kelley Distinguished Public Service Award, and named him its first recipient.[9] "This award recognizes extraordinary governmental service by a member of the State Bar of Michigan."[9]

Published works
  • Kelley, Frank J.; Lessenberry, Jack (2015). The People's Lawyer: The Life and Times of Frank J. Kelley: the Nation's Longest-serving Attorney General. Painted turtle book. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0814341330.

References

Notes
  1. "One disadvantage of Michigan term limits is that the electoral success of Michigan Attorney General Frank J. Kelley will never be replicated. Over 10 elections, Michigan voters acknowledged the dedication to public service that Kelley embodied with more than 16 million votes—nearly 6 million more than his opponents."[3]

Citations
  1. Frank J. Kelley. Who's Who in American Law. Marquis Who's Who. 1971. p. 284. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  2. Bingham, Emily (February 2, 2016). "Memoir Tells Story of State Attorney General Frank Kelley". Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  3. Novak, Paul F. (July 2016). "Review: The People's Lawyer: The Life and Times of Frank J. Kelley: the Nation's Longest-serving Attorney General by Frank J. Kelley and Jack Lessenberry" (PDF). Michigan Bar Journal: 58–59. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  4. "Celebration of Donors: Fiscal years 2012-2017" (PDF). University of Detroit Mercy. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  5. "Frank J. Kelley". Michigan State University College of Law. Retrieved December 12, 2018. He was cited by all 50 states attorneys general as being the attorney general who most furthered the cause of justice in the United States.
  6. "Capitol walkway honoring former AG Kelley dedicated". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  7. Public Act 486 of 2012: Frank J. Kelley Walkway
  8. Standard, Alexa (Fall 2010). "A foundation of ethics" (PDF). Amicus. Michigan State University College of Law: cover, 18–25. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  9. "Frank J. Kelley Distinguished Public Service Award". Michigan Bar Journal. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
Party political offices
Preceded by
G. Mennen Williams		 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Michigan
(Class 2)
1972		 Succeeded by
Carl Levin
Legal offices
Preceded by
Paul L. Adams		 Michigan Attorney General
1961 – 1998		 Succeeded by
Jennifer M. Granholm
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