Missouri/Texas Career
Reily was born in Sedalia, Missouri, but moved to Fort Worth, Texas as a teenager where he worked both in the newspaper and real estate businesses. During this time, he first became active in local politics and was appointed as the chairman of the Republican City Committee (which he served on for eight years) and the Republican County Committee, as well as being twice nominated for County Clerk. (However, he never won that office.)
In 1892, Reily went to Kansas City and was appointed as the Secretary to the Mayor for two terms. Following that, he returned to private life, but was subsequently appointed as Chief Deputy to the County Assessor. In 1902, he was appointed as the Assistant Postmaster for Kansas City.
In 1901, Reily founded the Roosevelt Club, which had a stated goal of nominating Vice President Theodore Roosevelt for President in the 1904 elections. The group was disbanded when Roosevelt became President after the assassination of William McKinley in September of that year.
As a newspaper editor in Kansas City, Reily was said to be the first prominent figure to endorse Warren G. Harding for the office of President of the United States. When Harding was elected President in 1920, he is said to have sought an appointive office to which he could nominate Reily as a reward for his loyalty, without giving him too much power or presence in Washington.
Read more about this topic: Emmet Montgomery Reily
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