George Edward Akerson while a young man.

George Edward Akerson (September 5, 1889 – December 21, 1937) was a U.S. journalist, and the first official White House Press Secretary.

[edit] Early life

Akerson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota, taking classes in Science, Literature and Art. After leaving there, he received a job at the Minneapolis Tribune. In 1910 Akerson started at Harvard University, later receiving a BA in Political Science in 1912. Akerson married Harriet Blake, a Wellesley College graduate, on June 28, 1915.

Akerson while in office.

[edit] White House Press Secretary

He served as White House Press Secretary in the Hoover Administration from 1929 to 1931. His appointment was the first official one to that post.

During Akerson's tenure of office the White House experienced increasing difficulties in its relations with the press corps. In 1931 Hoover decided to replace Akerson with Theodore Goldsmith Joslin.

[edit] Death

Still aged in his 40s, Akerson developed kidney disease and died in 1937.

[edit] References

• http://www.whitehousehistory.org/03/subs_press/02.swf

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