Name John Doerfer | Died June 5, 1992 | |
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John C. Doerfer (November 30, 1904 – June 5, 1992) served as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission from July 1, 1957 to March 10, 1960 as a Republican.
Early life
Prior to his chairmanship of the FCC, Doerfer was the city attorney for West Allis, Wisconsin. He served on Milwaukee Mayor Frank P. Zeidler's Metropolitan Transportation Committee. In 1950, he became chairman of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, the state agency that oversees public utilities.
In 1957, Doerfer was appointed to head the Federal Communications Commission by President Dwight Eisenhower. A short time into his term he came under suspicion for accepting trips and other gifts from the broadcasters he was supposed to regulate. The eruption of the T.V. game show rigging scandal that same year brought widespread criticism for Doerfer and the F.C.C. for their failure to properly police these shows. In March 1960, investigation revealed that Doerfer had been the guest of Florida radio station owner George Storer on his luxury yacht. In the wake of these revelations he resigned on March 14, 1960.