James E. Connor

James E. Connor (October 4, 1939 - October 30, 1994) was an American political aide who served as White House Cabinet Secretary and Staff Secretary to the President under Gerald Ford.

Biography Connor was born on October 4, 1939, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received his B.A. degree in 1961, M.A. in 1963, and Ph.D. from Columbia University.

From 1968 to 1969, he was an assistant professor at Columbia University. He was named a White House fellow in September 1968 and served a year in the Bureau of the Budget as Staff Assistant to the Director.

During 1969 and 1970, he was a Senior Associate with Cresap, McCormick and Paget Inc., a New York-based management consulting firm.

Between 1970 and 1971 he was Director of Planning and Program Analysis in the Office of Equal Opportunity, serving under Donald Rumsfeld. He served as Special Assistant for Policy Development to the Secretary of Commerce Maurice Stans from 1971 to 1972.

He returned to the private sector by serving as assistant to the Chairman of First Boston Corporation and later became a managing director of the company.

Personal life Connor was married to the former Judith M. Turner of Toronto. He died on October 30 at a hospital in Dallas after surgery for a brain tumor.