Jerry Persons | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 3rd White House Chief of Staff | |
| In office October 7, 1958 – January 20, 1961 | |
| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Sherman Adams |
| Succeeded by | Kenneth O'Donnell (Appointments Secretary) |
| White House Director of Legislative Affairs | |
| In office January 20, 1953 – October 7, 1958 | |
| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Bryce Harlow |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Wilton Burton Persons January 19, 1896 Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | September 5, 1977 (aged 81) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Relatives | Gordon Persons (brother) |
| Education | Auburn University (BS) Harvard University (MBA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917–1949 1951–1952 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Legion of Merit Army Distinguished Service Medal Grand Officer of the Cross of the Sun (Brazil) Medal of War (Brazil) Order of Abdon Calderón (Ecuador) |
Wilton Burton "Jerry" Persons (January 19, 1896 – September 5, 1977) was an American military officer who served as the White House Chief of Staff to President Dwight D. Eisenhower from October 7, 1958, until January 20, 1961.
A 1916 graduate Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Persons served in World War I and World War II. He was Chief of the legislative division in the Office of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1942 to 1948, and the office of legislative liaison for the Department of Defense from 1948 to 1949. In 1951 he was called back to active duty as a special assistant to General Dwight D. Eisenhower at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe. He became a deputy assistant to Eisenhower in 1953, assistant to the president in 1958, and chief of staff later that year.