Bernard Michael Shanley (August 4, 1903 – February 25, 1992) was an American lawyer and politician best known for his work with U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He served under President Eisenhower as Deputy White House Chief of Staff, Appointments Secretary (1955–1957) and Special Counsel (1953–1955).

Bernard Shanley
White House Appointments Secretary
In office
February 19, 1955 – November 6, 1957
PresidentDwight Eisenhower
Preceded byTom Stephens
Succeeded byBob Gray
White House Counsel
In office
January 20, 1953 – February 19, 1955
Acting: January 20, 1953 – April 14, 1953*
PresidentDwight Eisenhower
Preceded byTom Stephens
Succeeded byGerald Morgan
Personal details
Born(1903-08-04)August 4, 1903
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedFebruary 25, 1992(1992-02-25) (aged 88)
Bernardsville, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationColumbia University (BA)
Fordham University (LLB)
*Stephens was appointed as White House Counsel, but was serving as acting appointments secretary in Arthur H. Vandenberg Jr.'s stead.

Biography

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Shanley was born in Newark, New Jersey on August 4, 1903 and began his career in law in 1929. A Fordham University School of Law graduate, he was a member of the New Jersey Bar and the United States Supreme Court Bar. His law career was quite extensive, and his professional memberships included Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, the American Bar Association, the Essex County and Somerset County Bar Associations, and the American Judicature Society. Shanley was a founder of the prominent New Jersey law firm, Shanley & Fisher, P.C., which grew into one of New Jersey's largest and most distinguished law firms before merging with Drinker Biddle & Reath in November 1999.

Shanley's work in politics extended throughout state and national political arenas. As an integral contributor to and supporter of the Republican Party, he served as the Chairman of the New Jersey Republican Finance Committee and Council of Legal Advisors, as well as the Republican National Committeeman for New Jersey from 1960 through 1964, and again from 1968 until his death in February 1992. Shanley was the Republican candidate for United States Senate from New Jersey in 1964, losing to Democratic incumbent Harrison A. Williams.

During World War II, Shanley served in the United States Army from 1942 through 1945.

Shanley was a college roommate, fraternity brother, and baseball teammate of Lou Gehrig at Columbia University during the early 1920s.

He died on February 25, 1992.

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Legal offices
Preceded by White House Counsel
1953–1955
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by White House Appointments Secretary
1955–1957
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from New Jersey
(Class 1)

1964
Succeeded by