U.S. Presidential Cabinet Secretary, U.S. Senator, Rhode Island Governor. He served at the 60th United States Attorney General during the Administration of President Harry S. Truman from 1949 until 1952. A member of the Democratic Party, he served the State of Rhode Island in the United States Senate from 1947 until 1949. He served as the 60th Governor of the State of Rhode Island from 1941 until 1945. His father was an important figure in the insurance industry, his mother was a bookkeeper, James became interested in politics while he was attending Providence College, as he became active in causes for the Democratic Party. Following graduation, he acquired experience as an aide to Rhode Island Senator Peter Gerry, while attaining his Law degree from Boston University Law School. After graduation, he commenced practicing Law in Providence. He served as a United States Attorney for Rhode Island (1934 until 1940) and was elected Governor of Rhode Island in 1940. During his governorship tenure, he reorganized the juvenile court system, created a labor relations board and founded a workers' compensation fund. In addition, he changed the state tax return structure. After Harry Truman became president, he appointed McGarth to serve as the United States Solicitor General (1945 until 1946). A position he held until he was elected to the United States Senate from Rhode Island in 1946. While serving in the Senate, McGrath pursued legislation towards Civil Rights of which divided him from his Southern counterparts. Truman appointed McGrath to succeed Tom C. Clark as United States Attorney General, when Clark was appointed to Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. McGrath continued to push for an agenda on Civil Rights and during his tenure the landmark Henderson vs. the United States was heard before the Supreme Court. The result was the High Court outlawing discrimination of dining arrangements in railroad cars. When an investigation into the practices of the Internal Revenue came to being in 1952, McGrath who initially agreed to cooperate had second thoughts when he believed the investigation infringed on individual rights. The result was President Truman being forced to ask for McGrath's resignation of which McGrath complied. After leaving Washington, D.C., McGrath remained active in politics and ran an unsuccessful bid to regain his former Senatorial seat. He resumed practicing law until his death in 1966.