James Francis Thaddeus O'Connor

Who was James Francis Thaddeus O'Connor?

James Francis Thaddeus O'Connor was a United States federal judge.

Born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, O'Connor received an A.B. from the University of North Dakota in 1907, an LL.B. from the University of North Dakota in 1908, an LL.B. from Yale Law School in 1909, and an M.A. from Yale University in 1910. He was an Instructor of Rhetoric at Yale University from 1909 to 1912. He was in private practice in Grand Forks, North Dakota from 1912 to 1925, and in Los Angeles, California from 1925 to 1933.

O'Connor was appointed Comptroller of the Currency by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933, during the worst financial crisis in U.S. history, the Great Depression. To O'Connor fell the tremendous task of disposing of the assets of national banks that were not allowed to reopen after the banking holiday, and terminating receiverships of national banks. During his tenure, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation was established. Beginning in 1935, national bank notes were withdrawn from circulation. In 1936, O'Connor, as Comptroller, informed banks that they could not hold bonds that were below investment grade as determined by a handful of rating agencies.