On September 13 at 7:00 pm, the Talbot County Bird Club will host a talk by George M. Radcliffe, Jr., titled “Call Me Cousin George: A Personal Look at the Life of Sen. George L. Radcliffe” based on his recently published book. The author will share highlights and stories from the life of his grandfather.
Senator Radcliffe, a Dorchester native born in 1877, was a 2-term United States senator, an officer of the Maryland Historical Society for 60 years, a close friend of Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, a key figure in the March of Dimes, and an accomplished genealogist. He was a lifetime historic preservationist involved in many projects including saving the Baltimore Shot Tower, bringing the Constellation to Baltimore, and locally, helping restore Old Trinity Church and Grace Church on Taylor’s Island.
During World War 1, he befriended Franklin Roosevelt, and the two would remain close friends through Roosevelt’s life. Through his association with Roosevelt, he would become connected with the campaign to bring attention to infantile paralysis (polio) and would go on to be Maryland Chairman of the March of Dimes for almost 40 years. He would manage Roosevelt’s presidential campaign in Maryland in 1932 and 1936, and it was largely Roosevelt’s urging which convinced him to run for the senate in 1934.
George Radcliffe’s most notable achievement during his 12 years in the senate was chairing the Merchant Marine Committee, which oversaw the build-up of the United States Merchant Marine before World War II. In the Senate, he formed a close friendship with Harry Truman, and they would stay close until Truman’s death in 1972.
George was also a noted historian and was an officer of the Maryland Historical Society for over sixty years, and its president for 25 of those years. He was involved in countless historical preservation projects including saving the Baltimore Shot Tower in 1924 and bringing the USS Constellation to Baltimore.
The talk is free and open to the public. It will be held at the YMCA, 202 Peachblossom Road in Easton. Copies of the book will be available for purchase ($35 cash or check).
In addition to being the grandson to Senator Radcliffe, the speaker is a retired science teacher, family historian, Maryland Ornithological Society Youth Coordinator, member of the Talbot County Bird Club, and president of the Spocott Windmill Foundation. He resides with his wife in Dorchester County.
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