Business Executive and Diplomat. He graduated from Harvard University in 1905 and joined Western Electric, American Telephone & Telegraph's manufacturing subsidiary, where he quickly rose to Assistant Secretary and Treasurer. In 1909 he became Chief Statistician for AT&T, and soon moved into the executive ranks. During World War I Gifford was Supervising Director of the National Consulting Board's Committee on Industrial Preparedness, Director of the Council of National Defense, and Secretary for the US Representatives on the Inter-Allied Munitions Council. After the war he returned to AT&T, and in 1925 he became its President. In 1927 became the first person to host a video teleconference, using new AT&T technology to converse with Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover. At the start of the Great Depression Gifford accepted President Hoover's request to assist in the government's response, serving as Director of the Organization on Unemployment Relief from 1931 to 1932. In 1948 he became AT&T's Chairman of the Board, where he served until his 1950. Though he was a Republican who had opposed aid to Britain during World War II, in 1950 President Truman named him Ambassador to the United Kingdom, where he served until 1953 and was credited with continuing the US policy of working with allies to contain communism. Gifford was a Trustee of numerous colleges, including Johns Hopkins University, as well as a board member of civic institutions including the National Geographic Society, the American Red Cross, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Business Executive and Diplomat. He graduated from Harvard University in 1905 and joined Western Electric, American Telephone & Telegraph's manufacturing subsidiary, where he quickly rose to Assistant Secretary and Treasurer. In 1909 he became Chief Statistician for AT&T, and soon moved into the executive ranks. During World War I Gifford was Supervising Director of the National Consulting Board's Committee on Industrial Preparedness, Director of the Council of National Defense, and Secretary for the US Representatives on the Inter-Allied Munitions Council. After the war he returned to AT&T, and in 1925 he became its President. In 1927 became the first person to host a video teleconference, using new AT&T technology to converse with Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover. At the start of the Great Depression Gifford accepted President Hoover's request to assist in the government's response, serving as Director of the Organization on Unemployment Relief from 1931 to 1932. In 1948 he became AT&T's Chairman of the Board, where he served until his 1950. Though he was a Republican who had opposed aid to Britain during World War II, in 1950 President Truman named him Ambassador to the United Kingdom, where he served until 1953 and was credited with continuing the US policy of working with allies to contain communism. Gifford was a Trustee of numerous colleges, including Johns Hopkins University, as well as a board member of civic institutions including the National Geographic Society, the American Red Cross, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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