New York Capitol – ‘War Room’

Governor’s Reception Room

New York Capitol, Albany (5 April 2013)

There is just too much to see inside the New York Capitol in Albany to limit a post to one ‘Inside’ presentation. We will show the Governor’s Reception Room today and the ‘Million Dollar Staircase’ next.

As with many aspects of the New York capitol, what is now the Governor’s Reception Room has transformed over the years. The space was originally conceived as a flag room to display the colors of the many state regiments that fought in our wars. By the end of World War One and the awarding of the artist’s commission, maybe the sense was, we just fought the ‘war to end all wars’ and the art work should display the many conflicts throughout New York history…as history…the past…a reminder of the cost and loss associated with such strife. Or, we can glorify war…because we always have. Regardless, the Governor’s Reception Room is commonly known as the War Room and the murals are impressive.

This centrally-located space was initially thought to be beneath a tower in the first architect’s plan for the capitol. When that idea faded and progress was complicated and delayed, the area was neglected and even served as a store room until it was restored during the Pataki administration in the1990’s.

The renowned American muralist, William de Leftwich Dodge had established himself with grand installations at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago and the Library of Congress. He worked for five years and completed twenty-one panels by 1929.

Indian vs French

By William de Leftwich Dodge,

New York Capitol, Albany (5 April 2013)

The French fight the Indians. The French fight the Dutch. The English fight the Dutch. The Americans fight the English. All are presented in overly stylized dramatic representations of the human form. Two hyper-masculine men fight to the death while their women charges cower in the corner, waiting for the victor to return and protect one as he enslaves the other.

English vs American

By William de Leftwich Dodge,

New York Capitol, Albany (5 April 2013)

The final battle before independence shows the bare-chested he-man freedom fighter taking down the wigged Tory oppressor. On the left, the dying British lion is comforted, while on the right, Columbia is about to turn loose the American eagle.

New York Division at Gettysburg

By William de Leftwich Dodge,

New York Capitol, Albany (5 April 2013)

This panel commemorates the state’s impressive participation at Gettysburg. Vultures circle awaiting the battle’s end. Over 23,000 New Yorkers fought at Gettysburg and the state recorded the greatest number of casualties on the Union side.

(Detail) New York Troops in World War 1917-1918

By William de Leftwich Dodge,

New York Capitol, Albany (5 April 2013)

The series of panels ends with a contemporary presentation. The Great War, WW I, had recently concluded and there was Victory (bare-chested, of course). She holds our flag in one arm while she thrusts a sword up Kaiser Bill’s gut. Not much subtlety there.

Another impressive space in this remarkable state house. The next post will show a staircase that cost more to build than many entire state houses at the time.

Vice Presidents - # 22 – Levi Morton

Grave of Levi Morton (21 June 2021)

Served under Benjamin Harrison

4 March 1889 – 4 March 1893

Preceded by # 21 – Thomas A. Hendricks

Succeeded by # 23 – Adlai Stevenson

Born – 16 May 1824

Died – 16 May 1920 (age 96)

Buried – Rhinebeck Cemetery, Rhinebeck, NY

Date Visited – 21 June 2021

As we dwell on the Empire State, let’s consider the outsized impact New York and its leaders have had on our nation’s history. From the colonial period on, New York State and City have stood as industrial-commercial-financial centers for the country. While California, Texas and Florida now have greater populations and federal representation, they will need much time to catch the New Yorkers who have served in the nation’s top government positions.

New York gave us seven presidents and ten vice presidents. Of the 56 men who have been governor, four became president and two became chief justice of the United States.

Rhinebeck Cemetery, Rhinebeck, NY (21 June 2021)

After paying my respects to VP # 4, George Clinton, it took less than thirty minutes to cross the Hudson River from Kingston to the town of Rhinebeck where VP # 22 currently resides.

Levi Parsons Morton was born in Vermont, the son of a minister. After his education in New England, he became a successful merchant and banker in New York. This led to a political career that included a brief stint in Congress and time as our ambassador to France. It was Ambassador Morton who ceremoniously installed the first rivet in the Statue of Liberty and formally accepted the iconic gift from France.

In 1880, he could have been VP # 20 with James Garfield but upon the advice of the villainous Republican Stalwart leader and Patron Saint of Patronage, Roscoe Conkling, Morton turned down the offer…thus also missing the chance to become president given Garfield’s unfortunately short tenure.

Levi P. Morton, early in his political career

(From Google Images)

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Indiana gave us four vice presidents. It was a time when the state’s electoral votes were too important to ignore if you wanted to be president. In the General Election of 1888, Morton was the running mate of Benjamin Harrison. Since the presidential candidate was from Indiana, he broadened his appeal by picking someone from the most populous state. Grover Cleveland was the incumbent and although he won the popular vote, the Harrison-Morton ticket had the electoral vote majority.

Inscriptions for Anna Livingston, Levi Morton’s Second Wife

Rhinebeck Cemetery, Rhinebeck, NY (21 June 2021)

Morton did not have much of a relationship with Harrison and failed as the Senate President to secure passage of legislation that mattered to the Republicans. By the time of the next election in 1892, he was replaced on the Harrison ticket. Cleveland won again and become our only two-time (vs. two-term) president.

Not done with politics, Morton returned to New York and was elected the state’s 31st governor in 1894. In his single term, he worked to reform civil service and the awful patronage spoils system that was so popular then. True to form, this ticked off the party bosses and they nominated someone else for the next election.

Inscriptions for Lucy Kimball, Levi Morton’s First Wife

Rhinebeck Cemetery, Rhinebeck, NY (21 June 2021)

Done with politics after that, he settled in New York City and upstate Rhinebeck. He was active in business and the high society philanthropic scene including being president of the New York Zoological Society for thirteen years. Pneumonia took him out on his 96th birthday. He was the longest-living VP until FDR’s John Nance Garner made it to 98 in 1964.

Levi Morton’s Grave, Rhinebeck Cemetery, Rhinebeck, NY (21 June 2021)

Vice Presidents - # 4 – George Clinton

Grave of George Clinton (21 June 2021)

Served under Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

4 March 1805 – 20 April 1812 (died in office)

Preceded by # 3 – Aaron Burr

Succeeded by # 5 – Elbridge Gerry

Born – 26 July 1739

Died – 20 April 1812 (age 72)

Buried – Old Dutch Churchyard, Kingston, NY

Date Visited – 21 June 2021

This will be the format for future Vice President posts. Links to the associated presidents will take you to my grave stories of the Chief Executive and other VP’s…if I have already presented them

I know.

I introduced our nation’s vice presidents’ graves in 2019 because the Supreme Court was deliberating a gerrymandering case and Elbridge Gerry (# 5) was nearby in Washington, D.C. I decided then that this was not going to be a serious quest.

But there I was in New York. The land of my birth. A powerhouse among the original thirteen states. A state that has given us seven presidents and ten vice presidents. So, if I’m in an area of the state that has a grave, I should stop and pay my respects. A recent drive up the Hudson River valley allowed me to visit two of our vice presidents.

George Clinton

Official portrait of the Governor of New York

Taken in the Albany capitol (5 April 2013)

George Clinton was more of a ‘Second Team’ Founding Father after Washington, Jefferson and the rest of the cast of ‘1776.’ Clinton was the first governor of the State of New York after the colonies declared independence from Britain. At the same time, he served as a general under Washington in the Revolution. He did his part by confiscating and selling Tory properties to fund the cause and keep taxes low for the rest of the citizens.

Old Dutch Church, Kingston, NY (21 June 2021)

Built in 1852, the Old Dutch Church in Kingston, NY is the fifth building to occupy the site that has been the home of the congregation since 1659. Kingston was the New York State capital when Clinton became the first governor in 1777. During his tenure, New York City briefly was the nation’s capital.

Graves of Revolutionary War Veterans

Old Dutch Church, Kingston, NY (21 June 2021)

During those early formative years of our nation, as the Founding Fathers hammered out the Constitution, a group of them objected that too much power was centralized in the federal government. Clinton was among the ‘Anti-federalist’ leaders who fought for the addition of the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments that guarantee more state and individual liberties.

After seven terms and over 21 years in office, he was the longest serving governor of any state until Iowa’s Terry Branstad surpassed him in 2015.

Clinton was one of two vice presidents who worked for two presidents. He served in Jefferson’s second term and Madison’s first. John C. Calhoun did the same with Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. I doubt we’ll ever see that again.

Clinton was the first vice president to die and he did so while in office. Originally buried in Washington, D.C., he was moved to Kingston in 1908.

Medallion on Grave of George Clinton,

Old Dutch Church, Kingston, NY (21 June 2021)

When he wasn’t governing, fighting for independence and nation-building, George Clinton formed Parliament Funkadelic and was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

Not That George Clinton

(From Google Images)

Across the Hudson River from Kingston is the town of Rhinebeck where you can find VP # 22, Levi Morton. We will showcase him soon.