James A. Finnegan

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James A. Finnegan (20 Dec 1906 to 26 Mar 1958) was a Democratic politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1931. Mr. Finnegan served the United States Air Force as Lieutenant Colonel in the Troop Carrier Command in the United States, England, and France from 1942-46.

Finnegan served as Secretary of the Delaware River Navigation Commission under then Governor George H. Earle III, as administrative assistant to then Senator Francis J. Myers, as administrative assistant to former Congressman Michael Bradley, and as chair of the Philadelphia County Democratic Executive Committee. A member of Philadelphia City Council, he was elected its president in 1951, serving until January 1955.

Taking the oath of office on 18 January 1955, Council President Finnegan became Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor George M. Leader. He resigned this position that same December to assume the duties of campaign manager for Illinois Governor Adlai E. Stevenson’s pre-convention and later presidential campaign in 1956. Governor Leader reappointed Mr. Finnegan Secretary of the Commonwealth on December 28, 1956. He served in this capacity until his untimely death, at age 52, on 26 March 1958.

He is credited with the phrase “Good Government is Good Politics.”

Pennsylvania political leaders at the time of Finnegan's demise created the Finnegan Foundation. The foundation's purpose is to provide educational fellowships to undergraduates.