Phelps Phelps

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Phelps Phelps (born Phelps von Rottenburg; May 4, 1897 – June 10, 1981) was an American lawyer, soldier, and politician who held several jobs in New York before becoming the first civilian governor of American Samoa and later the U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic.

Early life and education
- Born in Bonn, Germany, to Franz and Marian von Rottenburg. After his parents’ divorce in 1899, he used his mother’s surname, Phelps.
- Grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey. He briefly attended Yale but was dismissed for cheating, then finished at Williams College (1922) and earned a law degree from Fordham University (1925).

Career highlights
- Started as Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs in New York City.
- Elected to the New York State Assembly (1924–28) as a Republican. After 1932 he switched to the Democratic Party and remained active in national politics, attending several Democratic National Conventions.
- Served again in the New York State Assembly (1937–38) and then in the New York State Senate (1939–42). He also took part in the New Jersey Constitutional Convention and hosted a long-running radio commentary show, while writing many letters to editors.

Military and postwar service
- Served in the U.S. Army during World War II (1942–1948), reaching the rank of Captain.
- After the war, he was on Douglas MacArthur’s staff for the Japanese War Crimes Tribunal.

Governor of American Samoa
- Appointed in 1951 as the territory’s first civilian governor, after the Navy had mostly left the island.
- Tried to fix the economy by selling stored oil to ships, attracting airlines to Pago Pago, and boosting copra production. He also dealt with local political issues and tensions between island groups.
- Served as governor until 1952.

U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic
- Served from 1952 to 1953 under Rafael Trujillo.
- Handled land-sale negotiations and responded to anger about U.S. involvement in events on American soil.
- Resigned in May 1953 and was succeeded by William T. Pheiffer.

Later life and legacy
- Later worked as Commissioner for the Palisades Interstate Park Commission and remained active in New Jersey politics, including a 1966 State Constitutional Convention delegation.
- Hosted a radio program and wrote letters advocating various issues. Politically, he moved between parties, eventually returning to the Republican side.
- Personal life: never married and lived in hotels, with no real estate ownership. He enjoyed baseball and had strong ties to friends in the sporting world.
- Died in Wildwood, New Jersey, in 1981 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.