Will H. Hays
| Will H. Hays | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America | |
|
In office 1922–1945 |
|
| Preceded by | Association formed |
| Succeeded by | Eric Johnston |
| 46th United States Postmaster General | |
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In office March 5, 1921 – March 3, 1922 |
|
| President | Warren G. Harding |
| Preceded by | Albert S. Burleson |
| Succeeded by | Hubert Work |
| Chairman of the Republican National Committee | |
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In office 1918–1921 |
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| Preceded by | William Russell Willcox |
| Succeeded by | John T. Adams |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Harrison Hays November 5, 1879 Sullivan, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | March 7, 1954 (aged 74) Sullivan, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Jessie Herron Hays (1879-1960) |
| Profession | Politician, President of the MPAA |
| Known for | Hays Code |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
William "Will" Harrison Hays, Sr. (/heɪz/; November 5, 1879 – March 7, 1954), was a United States politician, chairman of the Republican National Committee (1918–21), U.S. Postmaster General (1921–22), and, from 1922–1945, the first chairman of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA). He became the namesake of the 1930 Motion Picture Production Code, informally (and inaccurately) referred to as the Hays Code, which spelled out a set of moral guidelines for the self-censorship of content in Hollywood cinema.
Hays was born in Sullivan, Indiana, on November 5, 1879, and attended Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He was the manager of Warren G. Harding's successful campaign for the Presidency of the United States in the 1920 election and was subsequently appointed Postmaster General. While serving in the Harding Administration, he became peripherally involved in the Teapot Dome scandal.
Oilman Harry Ford Sinclair devised a scheme in which twenty five cents was diverted from the sale of every barrel of oil sold from the oil field leases that were the focus of the Teapot Dome scandal. Sinclair testified that he "loaned" Will H. Hays, then-chairman of the Republican National Committee, $185,000 worth of Liberty Bonds, later getting back $100,000. Sinclair also gave Hays $75,000 as an outright gift to the Committee. At the time, Hays was attempting to pay off the 1920 Republican campaign debt. Hays later approached a number of wealthy men and told them that if they would contribute to pay down the Committee's debt, he would reimburse them for their contributions with Liberty Bonds.
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