Paul A. Porter - FCC Service

FCC Service

Porter was nominated by President Roosevelt on November 16, 1944, to fill out the remaining term of departing FCC chairman James Lawrence Fly, and took office on December 21 of that year under a recess appointment after the Senate failed to take up the nomination before the end of the Congressional session. Roosevelt designated Porter as FCC chairman at the same time, succeeding interim chairman Ewell K. Jett. When the next Congress assembled in January, 1945, Porter was renominated and was unanimously confirmed on January 18, 1945. Porter did not serve out his full term, which would have expired on June 30, 1949, instead leaving the FCC in February, 1946. He was succeeded as chairman by sitting commissioner Charles R. Denny.

President Harry Truman appointed Porter to head the American Economic Mission to Greece, with the rank of ambassador, in 1946. Two years later, he represented the United States at the Middle East peace talks in Geneva. On November 21, 1975, Porter was eating dinner at a restaurant with his wife and friends when he choked on a piece of lobster. He went into a coma, and died five days later at George Washington University Hospital. Porter's personal papers are in the Truman Library.