J. Roderick MacArthur: Difference between revisions

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

{{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 = December 21, 1920 <!-- = {{Birth date and age|YYYY1920|MM12|DD21}} or {{Birth-date and age|Month DD, YYYY}} -->

| 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]]

| nationality = American

| other_names =

| known_for = [[Bradford Exchange]]

| occupation = businessmanBusinessman 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 [[New OrleansLouisiana]] (2013), [[Oxford, Mississippi]], in an association with the law school at [[University of Mississippi]] (2014); [[Missouri]] (2016); and [[Saint LouisWashington, MissouriD.C.]] (20162017).

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.

==Biography==

J. Roderick MacArthur, known as Rod MacArthur, was born December 21, 1920, to the former Louise IngalsIngalls and John D. MacArthur. The couple also had a daughter, Virginia MacArthur. In 19261937 John D. MacArthur traveled to [[Mexico]] to obtain a divorce. TwoOne yearsyear 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]].

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

In 1975, once the exchangebusiness had become successful, hisMacArthur's father claimed that the Bradford Exchange was ''his'' business, seizing the Bradford Exchange'sits customer lists and putting the on-hand inventory under lock and key. J. RoderickRod MacArthur then organized a group of employees to enter his father's warehouse in Northbrook, Illinois, and hustledhustle the inventory into a waiting fleet of trucks. He re-establishedreestablished histhe business away from his father.

== Personal life ==

[[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]]''.

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]]''.

== Death ==

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 φαιριελανδ'' ("[[Eleanor Farjeon|one foot in fairieland]]").

== Death ==

==Philanthropic endeavors==

Rod MacarthurMacArthur died December 15, 1984 at age 63, 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==

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}}

{{sources}}

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:

"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.

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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.

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.

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>

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''.

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>{{webarchivecite 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 |datearchivedate=February 24, 2004 |title="J. Roderick MacArthur" }}, ''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.

In 2006 the MacArthur Justice Center formed an association with the [[Northwestern University School of Law]] and has a clinic there.<ref>[http://www.law. name="northwestern.edu"/macarthur]</ref> 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).

==References==

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==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’sMacArthur'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}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Macarthur, J. Roderick}}

[[Category:American philanthropists]]

[[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:Deaths from pancreatic cancer]]

[[Category:Businesspeople from Chicago]]

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

[[Category:Rollins College alumni]]

[[Category:20th-centuryPhilanthropists Americanfrom businesspeopleIllinois]]