J. Roderick MacArthur: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|American businessman (1920–1984)}}

'''J. Roderick MacArthur''' ([[1920]]-[[1984]]) was a U.S. businessman and philanthropist. The J. Roderick MacArthur Foundation, a philanthropic organization interested in Civil Liberties in the United States, and the MacArthur Justice Center at the University of Chicago School of Law[http://macarthur.uchicago.edu/about/roderick.html] are named after him. He is the son of billionaire [[John D. MacArthur]] who established the [[John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation]].

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}

{{Infobox person

| name = John Roderick MacArthur

| image = <!-- just the filename, without the File: or Image: prefix or enclosing [[brackets]] -->

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1920|12|21}}

| birth_place = [[San Francisco]], [[California]], U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1984|12|15|1920|12|21}}

| death_place = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], U.S.

| burial_place = [[Graceland Cemetery]]

| other_names =

| known_for = [[Bradford Exchange]]

| occupation = Businessman and philanthropist

| alma_mater = [[Rollins College]]

| spouse = Christiane L'Entendart (m. 1947)

| children = 3, including [[John R. MacArthur]]

| parents = [[John D. MacArthur]]<br/>Louise Ingalls

| relatives = [[Charles MacArthur]] (uncle)<br/>[[Helen Hayes]] (aunt)<br/>[[James MacArthur]] (cousin)

}}

'''John Roderick MacArthur''' (December 21, 1920 – December 15, 1984) was a U.S. businessman and philanthropist in Chicago. The J. Roderick MacArthur Foundation, a philanthropic organization supporting civil rights in the United States, was established in his name.

The foundation established the MacArthur Justice Center, a public interest law firm that formed an alliance in 2006 at the [[Northwestern University School of Law]], and litigates for civil rights.<ref name="northwestern.edu">{{cite web|url=http://www.law.northwestern.edu/macarthur|title=Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center: Bluhm Legal Clinic, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law|website=www.law.northwestern.edu|accessdate=26 May 2018}}</ref> In addition, MacArthur Justice centers have been opened in [[Louisiana]] (2013), [[Mississippi]], in an association with the law school at [[University of Mississippi]] (2014); [[Missouri]] (2016); and [[Washington, D.C.]] (2017).

==Biography==

J. Roderick MacArthur, known as Rod MacArthur, was born [[December 21]], [[1920]] to the former Louise Ingals and John D. MacArthur. The couple also had a daughter, Virginia MacArthur. In 1926 John D. MacArthur traveled to [[Mexico]] to divorce and two years later married [[Catherine T. MacArthur|Catherine T. Hyland]].

He is the son of [[John D. MacArthur]], who established the [[John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation]] in his will. It has funded the MacArthur fellowships, grants to authors, artists and scientists.

Rod MacArthur attended [[Rollins College]] in [[Florida]] and worked as a stringer for the [[Associated Press]] in [[Mexico]]. During [[World War II]] he joined the [[AFS Intercultural Programs|American Field Service]], serving with the [[French Army]] in the ambulance corp., and he participated in the campaign that liberated [[France]].

==Biography==

He worked for his father in the insurance industry before they became estranged. In 1973 while working with a company that sold ceramic collectable plates, MacArthur noticed that the collectible ceramic market was chaotic. He started the Bradford Exchange which by the time of his death sold about 90% of all the collectable plates in the world. Often credited with becoming “a self-made millionaire”, in actuality MacArthur he had some financial backing from his father, although the idea, business plan and effort were indeed Rod MacArthur’s own. In 1975, once the exchange was successful, his eccentric father claimed that Bradford Exchange was his business and John D. MacArthur seized the Bradford Exchange’s customer lists and put the on hand inventory under lock and key. J. Roderick MacArthur then organized a “private posse” that broke into his father’s corporate headquarters in [[Chicago]] and hustled the inventory into a waiting fleet of trucks. MacArthur inherited virtually no money from his father.

J. Roderick MacArthur, known as Rod MacArthur, was born December 21, 1920, to the former Louise Ingalls and John D. MacArthur. The couple also had a daughter, Virginia MacArthur. In 1937 John D. MacArthur traveled to [[Mexico]] to obtain a divorce. One year later he married [[Catherine T. MacArthur|Catherine T. Hyland]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/07/archives/new-jersey-pages-john-d-macarthur-billionaire-dies-john-d-marthur.html | title=John D.MacArthur, Billionaire, Dies | work=The New York Times | date=January 7, 1978 | last1=Kleiman | first1=Dena }}</ref>

Rod MacArthur attended [[Rollins College]] in [[Florida]] and worked as a [[stringer (journalism)|stringer]] for the [[Associated Press]] in Mexico. During [[World War II]], he joined the [[AFS Intercultural Programs|American Field Service]], serving with the [[French Army]] in the ambulance corps, and he participated in the campaign that liberated [[France]].

Rod MacArthur married Christiane L’Entendart in Paris in 1947 and had a daughter and two sons, one of them the publisher and president of ''[[Harper's Magazine]]'', [[John R. MacArthur|John R. “Rick” MacArthur]].

He worked for his father in the insurance industry before they became estranged. In 1973, while working with a company that sold ceramic collectible plates, MacArthur noticed that the ceramic-collectible market was chaotic. He started the [[Bradford Exchange]], and by the time of his death, it sold about 90 percent of all the collectible plates in the world. Often credited with becoming "a self-made millionaire," MacArthur did have some financial backing from his father, but the concept, business plan and effort behind the Bradford Exchange were Rod MacArthur's own.

Rod Macarthur died [[December 15]], [[1984]] at age 63 from [[pancreatic cancer]]. He is buried in [[Graceland Cemetery]] in Chicago. His epitaph, written in English using Greek letters, is ''ονε φοοτ ιν φαιριλανδ'' ("[[Eleanor Farjeon|one foot in fairyland]]").

In 1975, once the business had become successful, MacArthur's father claimed that the Bradford Exchange was ''his'' business, seizing its customer lists and putting the on-hand inventory under lock and key. Rod MacArthur then organized a group of employees to enter his father's warehouse in Northbrook, Illinois, and hustle the inventory into a waiting fleet of trucks. He reestablished the business away from his father.

==Philanthropic endeavors==

==Personal life==

Father and son reconciled before John D. MacArthur died on [[January 6]], [[1978]], (also of pancreatic cancer, the disease that would kill his son 6 years later) and he named Rod MacArthur to the board of his [[foundation (charity)|foundation]] . At that point, John D. MacArthur was worth in excess of $1 billion and was reportedly one of the three richest men in the United States. John D. MacArthur left ninety-two percent of his estate to begin the [[John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation]]. The composition of the Foundation’s first Board of Director’s, per John D. MacArthur’s will, included J. Roderick MacArthur, [[Catherine T. MacArthur]] (his second wife), three officers of [[Bankers Life and Casualty]], and Radio Commentator [[Paul Harvey]]. John D. MacArthur grandson, and Rod MacArthur’s son, [[John R. MacArthur|John R. “Rick” MacArthur]] has charged publicly:

[[File:Grave of John Roderick MacArthur (1920–1984) at Graceland Cemetery, Chicago.jpg|thumb|right|150px|MacArthur's grave at Graceland Cemetery]]

Rod MacArthur married Christiane L'Entendart in Paris in 1947. They had a daughter, Solange, and two sons. [[John R. MacArthur|John Roderick "Rick" MacArthur]] later became the publisher and president of ''[[Harper's Magazine]]''.

“''The idea behind the foundation was as a tax dodge that he thought would allow his business executives to run his company forever. He clearly didn't understand the tax laws''."[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20040523/ai_n12547635/pg_1]

==Death==

In any event, J. Roderick Macarthur quickly clashed with the Board of his father's foundation. The Bankers Life executives and Paul Harvey held conservative views regarding the structure and size of the board, its purpose and the sale of the business.

Rod MacArthur died December 15, 1984, from [[pancreatic cancer]] six days before his 64th birthday. He is buried in [[Graceland Cemetery]] in Chicago. His epitaph, written in English using Greek letters, is ''ονε φοοτ ιν φαιριελανδ'' ("[[Eleanor Farjeon|one foot in fairieland]]").

==Philanthropic endeavors==

Largely due to Rod MacArthur’s efforts, the board was expanded to thirteen members in 1979. The new members had backgrounds from academia, science, government, and business. This board now openly and publicly fought over the grants that were made to favorite board member causes, often trading votes among themselves. Even though there was support for each board member’s causes an extremely bitter and public argument erupted between Rod MacArthur and former U.S. Treasury Secretary [[William E. Simon]] over board grants to a number of conservative causes Simon supported. Eventually Simon resigned from the board.

MacArthur reconciled with his father before John D. MacArthur died on January 6, 1978 (of pancreatic cancer). He named MacArthur to the board of his [[foundation (charity)|foundation]], which was founded according to his will. At that point, John D. MacArthur was worth in excess of $1 billion and was reportedly one of the three richest men in the United States.

{{more citations needed|date=March 2017}}

John D. MacArthur bequeathed ninety-two percent of his estate to begin the [[John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation]]. The Foundation's first Board of Directors, per John D. MacArthur's will, included J. Roderick MacArthur, [[Catherine T. MacArthur]] (his second wife), his attorney [[William T. Kirby]], two officers of [[Bankers Life and Casualty]], and radio commentator [[Paul Harvey]].

Rod MacArthur's son, [[John R. MacArthur|John Roderick "Rick" MacArthur]], has charged publicly:

Rod MacArthur continued to be unhappy with the foundation and its management. He launched two lawsuits, the first in February 1984 against his fellow board members charging in essence that board members were acting as executives of Bankers Lifeand were looking out for their own best interest and not the needs of the foundation. His suit also alleged that the foundation was not managing its assets properly. MacArthur further claimed that high fees were being paid to board members for their foundation work and he felt that Bankers Life was not being managed well and had lost value. He requested that the foundation be either dissolved or that the court appoint a receiver to manage and sell Bankers Life.

"The idea behind the foundation was as a tax dodge that he thought would allow his business executives to run his company forever. He clearly didn't understand the tax laws."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20040523/ai_n12547635/pg_1|title=FindArticles.com - CBSi|website=www.findarticles.com|accessdate=26 May 2018}}</ref>

In any event, Rod MacArthur quickly clashed with the board of his father's foundation. The Bankers Life executives and Paul Harvey held conservative views regarding the structure and size of the board, its purpose, and issues related to the sale of the business.

After Rod MacArthur blocked the sale of a company for $116 less, the board found a buyer for Bankers Life that was willing to pay $384 million for the company.[http://www.learningtogive.org/papers/index.asp?bpid=152&print=yes] Although this removed the Bankers Life issue from the suit, there were still Rod MacArthur's allegations that board members and key foundation executives were profiting at the expense of the foundation.

Largely due to Rod MacArthur's efforts, the board was expanded to thirteen members in 1979. The new members had backgrounds from academia, science, government, and business. This board now argued over the grants that were made to favorite board member causes, often trading votes among themselves. Even though there was support for each board member's causes, an extremely bitter and public argument erupted between Rod MacArthur and former U.S. Treasury Secretary [[William E. Simon]] over board grants to a number of conservative causes. Eventually Simon resigned from the board.

Due to his terminal illness however, Rod MacArthur settled the suit shortly before his death.

Rod MacArthur filed two lawsuits in an effort to redirect the board and foundation. In February 1984 he sued fellow board members, charging that they were acting as executives of Bankers Life and were looking out for their own best interest and not the needs of the foundation. He alleged that the foundation was not managing its assets properly. MacArthur said that high fees were being paid to board members for their foundation work, and he believed that Bankers Life was not being managed well and had lost value. He requested that either the foundation be dissolved or that the court appoint a receiver to manage and sell Bankers Life.

Rod MacArthur made two further lasting and important contributions while on the board of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. First, he is the person who pushed the Board to offer the famous MacArthur fellowships, also called “Genius Grants”[http://www.macfound.org/site/c.lkLXJ8MQKrH/b.959481/k.7895/Frequently_Asked_Questions.htm]. Second, in 1980 at the urging of his son John R. “Rick” MacArthur, then 23, Rod persuaded the Board to partner in creating and funding a Harper's Magazine Foundation to acquire and operate the magazine of the same name. This new entity acquired ''[[Harper's Magazine]]'' (which was then losing nearly $2 million per year and was on the verge of ceasing publication) for $250,000. Eventually Rick MacArthur took over the foundation that owned Harper's.

After MacArthur blocked the sale of Bankers Life at $268 million, the board found a buyer that was willing to pay $384 million for the company.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.learningtogive.org/papers/index.asp?bpid=152&print=yes |title=John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (Informational Paper) |accessdate=2006-09-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312074758/http://www.learningtogive.org/papers/index.asp?bpid=152&print=yes |archivedate=2007-03-12 }}</ref> This sale removed the Bankers Life issue from the suit. MacArthur's allegations that board members and key foundation executives were profiting at the expense of the foundation were still open.

Two years before John D. MacArthur died and set up his foundation, Rod MacArthur used his substantial fortune from the Bradford Exchange, to form his own foundation. As of 2004, the J. Roderick MacArthur Foundation had $22 million in assets[http://macarthur.uchicago.edu/about/roderick.html] and supports liberal causes, including the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, D.C., and the J. Roderick MacArthur Justice Center at the [[University of Chicago Law School]][http://macarthur.uchicago.edu/about/roderick.html]. In the philanthropic world the J. Roderick MacArthur Foundation is known colloquially as "Little Mac" and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is known as “Big Mac”.

While still on the board of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, MacArthur pushed the Board to offer the MacArthur fellowships, also called "Genius Grants".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.macfound.org/site/c.lkLXJ8MQKrH/b.959481/k.7895/Frequently_Asked_Questions.htm |title=Fellows FAQ - MacArthur Foundation |accessdate=2013-10-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204053858/http://www.macfound.org/site/c.lkLXJ8MQKrH/b.959481/k.7895/Frequently_Asked_Questions.htm |archivedate=2012-02-04 }}</ref>

==External links==

Second, in 1980 at the urging of his son John R. "Rick" MacArthur, then 23, the senior MacArthur persuaded the Board to partner in creating and funding a Harper's Magazine Foundation, in order to acquire and operate ''[[Harper's Magazine]]'', which had been struggling financially. This new entity acquired ''[[Harper's Magazine]]'' (which was then losing nearly $2 million per year and was on the verge of ceasing publication) for $250,000. Rick (now called Roderick) MacArthur eventually took over the foundation that owned ''Harper's''.

* [http://www.macfound.org/site/c.lkLXJ8MQKrH/b.959481/k.7895/Frequently_Asked_Questions.htm/ John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Website noting J. Roderick’ MacArthur’s role in the Genius Grant’s]

*[http://www.winstonbrill.com/bril001/html/article_index/articles/1-50/article23_body.html/ Independent Article about the founding of the Genius Grants]

*[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE2D71638F937A35755C0A96F948260/ letter to the Editor of the New York Times by MacArthur’s Lawyer regarding the Law suits]

*[http://macarthur.uchicago.edu/about/roderick.html/ Website of the J. Roderick MacArthur Justice Center]

*[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20040523/ai_n12547635/pg_1/ 2004 Chicago Sun Article on the Foundation and J. Roderick MacArthur’s early role.]

In 1976 Rod MacArthur had used his substantial fortune from the Bradford Exchange to form his own foundation, the J. Roderick MacArthur Foundation. As of 2004, the J. Roderick MacArthur Foundation had $22 million in assets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://macarthur.uchicago.edu/about/roderick.html |title=J. Roderick MacArthur |accessdate=2006-09-22 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040224050642/http://macarthur.uchicago.edu/about/roderick.html |archivedate=February 24, 2004 }}, ''The MacArthur Justice Center'', Northwestern University School of Law (archived 2004)</ref> It has supported causes of civil rights and civil liberties, including the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, D.C., and the Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center, a public interest law firm in Chicago that is named and managed by two of his children.

[[Category:American philanthropists|Macarthur, J. Roderick.]]

[[Category:1920 births|Macarthur, J. Roderick]]

In 2006 the MacArthur Justice Center formed an association with the [[Northwestern University School of Law]] and has a clinic there.<ref name="northwestern.edu"/> It has opened additional centers since then: in [[New Orleans]] (2013), in [[Oxford, Mississippi]], in an association with the law school at [[University of Mississippi]] (2014); and in [[Saint Louis, Missouri]] (2016).

[[Category:1984 deaths|Macarthur, J. Roderick]]

[[Category:Pancreatic cancer deaths|Macarthur, J. Roderick]]

==References==

[[Category:Rollins College alumni|Macarthur, J. Roderick]]

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060928174115/http://www.macfound.org/site/c.lkLXJ8MQKrH/b.959481/k.7895/Frequently_Asked_Questions.htm John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Website noting J. Roderick' MacArthur's role in the Genius Grant's]

*[http://www.winstonbrill.com/bril001/html/article_index/articles/1-50/article23_body.html Independent Article about the founding of the Genius Grants] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061109061015/http://www.winstonbrill.com/bril001/html/article_index/articles/1-50/article23_body.html |date=November 9, 2006 }}, Winston Brill

*[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE2D71638F937A35755C0A96F948260/ letter to the Editor of the New York Times by MacArthur's Lawyer regarding the Law suits]

*[http://www.law.northwestern.edu/macarthur/ Website of the Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center]

*[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20040523/ai_n12547635/pg_1/ The John D. and Catherine MacArthur Foundation and J. Roderick MacArthur's early role.], ''Chicago Sun'', 2004

{{Charles MacArthur}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macarthur, J. Roderick}}

[[Category:1920 births]]

[[Category:1984 deaths]]

[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]

[[Category:20th-century American philanthropists]]

[[Category:American Field Service personnel of World War II]]

[[Category:Burials at Graceland Cemetery (Chicago)]]

[[Category:Deaths from pancreatic cancer in Illinois]]

[[Category:Businesspeople from Chicago]]

[[Category:MacArthur family (Chicago)|J. Roderick]]

[[Category:Rollins College alumni]]

[[Category:Philanthropists from Illinois]]