Albert S. Burleson
| Albert Sidney Burleson | |
|---|---|
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| 45th United States Postmaster General | |
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In office March 5, 1913 – March 4, 1921 |
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| President | Woodrow Wilson |
| Preceded by | Frank H. Hitchcock |
| Succeeded by | Will H. Hays |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 10th district |
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In office March 4, 1903 – March 6, 1913 |
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| Preceded by | George F. Burgess |
| Succeeded by | James P. Buchanan |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 9th district |
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In office March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1903 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph D. Sayers |
| Succeeded by | George F. Burgess |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
June 7, 1863 San Marcos, Texas, United States of America |
| Died | November 24, 1937 (aged 74) San Marcos, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Politician |
Albert Sidney Burleson (June 7, 1863 – November 24, 1937) was a conservative Democrat and United States Postmaster General and Congressman. He is known for gaining cabinet support for instituting racial segregation in the US Post Office, which President Woodrow Wilson applied to other federal agencies.
Born in San Marcos, Texas, Burleson came from a wealthy Southern planter family. His father, Edward Burleson, Jr., was a Confederate officer. His grandfather, Edward Burleson, was a soldier and statesman in the Republic of Texas and early statehood Texas. In his early political career, Burleson represented Texas in the House, where he was active in promoting the development of agriculture.
In 1913 Albert S. Burleson was appointed Postmaster General by Woodrow Wilson. To his credit, he initiated the parcel post and air mail services, increasing mail service to rural areas. However, Burleson was one of the most reactionary politicians to have served as Postmaster General, which he demonstrated in ways that adversely affected national mail service and the government's civil service system based on merit. His term is often seen as one of the worst in the history of the post.
At a cabinet meeting on April 11, 1913, just over one month into Wilson's first term his, Burleson "suggested that the new administration segregate the railway mail service," a suggestion Wilson adopted. He and other cabinet members also recommended segregated federal workplaces, which Wilson instituted, requiring separate lunchrooms and restrooms, and, in some cases, screened working areas. Since the Reconstruction era, the workplaces had been integrated and African Americans served in numerous positions in the merit civil service, as well as in some political appointee positions. Wilson instituted racial discrimination in hiring, subverting the civil service merit system by requiring photos of applicants; many blacks were pushed down to the lowest grades and hiring declined.
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