Sumner Welles

In 1915, Sumner Welles began to work for the US State Department. His early successes in Japan later brought him to the attention of FDR who brought him into his administration as Under-Secretary of State. While Welles provided FDR with information about Europe and Japan, his main achievement was the development of US relations with Latin America. In 1940, FDR and his cabinet travelled to the funeral of William Bankhead, Speaker of the House. Welles travelled with them and, on the return journey, he propositioned a black Pullman car porter, allowing an aspect of his life that was heretofore hidden, to emerge. The scandal was made public and Welles resigned in 1942, thereby ending his career. This is an account of the life of Sumner Welles written by his son, Benjamin. The book is aimed at anyone interested in Welles, the history of his time, and the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt.