Harry J. Anslinger | |
|---|---|
 Anslinger in 1962 | |
| 1st Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics | |
| In office August 12, 1930 – August 17, 1962 | |
| President | Herbert Hoover Franklin D. Roosevelt Harry S. Truman Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy |
| Preceded by | Acting Commissioner Levi G. Nutt |
| Succeeded by | Henry Giordano |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Harry Jacob Anslinger May 20, 1892 Altoona, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | November 14, 1975 (aged 83) Altoona, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Martha Kind Denniston |
| Signature |  |
Harry Jacob Anslinger (May 20, 1892 – November 14, 1975) was an American government official who served as the first commissioner of the U.S. Treasury Department's Federal Bureau of Narcotics during the presidencies of Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy. He was a supporter of Prohibition, and of the criminalization of all drugs except for alcohol, - because supporting the prohibition against alcohol means he didn’t support the criminalization of alcohol - and spearheaded anti-drug policy campaigns.[1][2]
Anslinger has been characterized as an early proponent of the war on drugs, as he zealously advocated for and pursued harsh drug penalties, in particular regarding cannabis.[3] As a propagandist for the war on drugs, he focused on demonizing racial and immigrant groups.[3]
Anslinger held office as commissioner for an unprecedented 32 years, until 1962. He then held office for two years as U.S. Representative to the United Nations Narcotics Commission. The responsibilities once held by Anslinger are now largely under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy and the agency he ran was a predecessor of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
obitwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ McWilliams 1990, p. 187, 8. Coda, 1962-1965.
- ^ a b Chasin, Alexandra (30 September 2016). Assassin of Youth: A Kaleidoscopic History of Harry J. Anslinger's War on Drugs. Chicago, Illinois, United States of America: University of Chicago Press. doi:10.7208/chicago/9780226277028.001.0001. ISBN 9780226276977. LCCN 2016011027. Retrieved 10 September 2021 – via Google Books.