J. Roderick MacArthur: Difference between revisions

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'''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 interested insupporting civil libertiesrights in the United States, and the MacArthur Justice Center at the Northwestern University School of Law<ref>http://www.law.northwestern.edu/macarthur</ref> are named after him. He is the son of [[John D. MacArthur]] whowas established thein [[Johnhis Dname. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation]].

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>[http://www.law.northwestern.edu/macarthur]</ref> In addition, MacArthur Justice centers have been opened in [[New Orleans]] (2013), [[Oxford, Mississippi]], in an association with the law school at [[University of Mississippi]] (2014); and [[Saint Louis, Missouri]] (2016).

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 Ingals and John D. MacArthur. The couple also had a daughter, Virginia MacArthur. In 1926 John D. MacArthur traveled to [[Mexico]] to divorceobtain anda twodivorce. Two years later he married [[Catherine T. MacArthur|Catherine T. Hyland]].

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 collectable plates, MacArthur noticed that the collectible ceramic market was chaotic. He started the [[Bradford Exchange]]. which byBy the time of his death, it sold about 90% of all the collectable plates in the world. Often credited with becoming "a self-made millionaire," in actuality MacArthur haddid have some financial backing from his father,. although theThe ideaconcept, business plan and effort were indeed Rod MacArthur's own.

In 1975, once the exchange washad become successful, his eccentric father claimed that Bradford Exchange was his business, and John D. MacArthur seizedseizing the Bradford Exchange's customer lists and putputting the on-hand inventory under lock and key. J. Roderick MacArthur then organized a group of employees to enter his father's warehouse in Northbrook, ILIllinois, and hustled the inventory into a waiting fleet of trucks. He re-established his business away from his father.

== Personal life ==

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

== Death ==

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==Philanthropic endeavors==

FatherMacArthur andreconciled sonwith reconciledhis father before John D. MacArthur died on January 6, 1978 (also of pancreatic cancer, the disease that would kill his son six years later), and. heHe named Rod 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.
{{sources}}
John D. MacArthur leftbequeathed 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 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 Radioradio Commentatorcommentator [[Paul Harvey]]. John D. MacArthur's grandson, and

Rod MacArthur's son, [[John R. MacArthur|John R.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>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20040523/ai_n12547635/pg_1]</ref>

In any event, J. RoderickRod MacarthurMacArthur 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.

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 foughtargued 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.

"''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>http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20040523/ai_n12547635/pg_1</ref>

Rod MacArthur continuedfiled totwo belawsuits unhappyin withan effort to redirect the foundationboard and its managementfoundation. He launched two lawsuits, the first inIn February 1984 againsthe hissued fellow board members, charging in essence that board membersthey were acting as executives of Bankers Life and were looking out for their own best interest and not the needs of the foundation. His suit alsoHe alleged that the foundation was not managing its assets properly. MacArthur further claimedsaid that high fees were being paid to board members for their foundation work, and he feltbelieved 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.

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.

After Rod MacArthur blocked the sale of theBankers companyLife forat $116268 million less, the board found a buyer for Bankers Life that was willing to pay $384 million for the company.<ref>[http://www.learningtogive.org/papers/index.asp?bpid=152&print=yes]</ref> AlthoughThis thissale 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 were still open.

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.

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>[http://www.macfound.org/site/c.lkLXJ8MQKrH/b.959481/k.7895/Frequently_Asked_Questions.htm]</ref>

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 Life and 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 either the foundation be dissolved or that the court appoint a receiver to manage and sell Bankers Life.

Rod MacArthur made two further 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 MacArthur fellowships, also called "Genius Grants".<ref>http://www.macfound.org/site/c.lkLXJ8MQKrH/b.959481/k.7895/Frequently_Asked_Questions.htm</ref> Second, in 1980 at the urging of his son John R. "Rick" MacArthur, then 23, Rodthe senior MacArthur persuaded the Board to partner in creating and funding a Harper's Magazine Foundation, in order to acquire and operate the''[[Harper's magazineMagazine]]'', ofwhich thehad been samestruggling namefinancially. 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''.

After Rod MacArthur blocked the sale of the company for $116 million less, the board found a buyer for Bankers Life that was willing to pay $384 million for the company.<ref>http://www.learningtogive.org/papers/index.asp?bpid=152&print=yes</ref> 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.

TwoIn years1976 before John D.Rod MacArthur died and set up his foundation, Rod MacArthurhad 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>{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040224050642/http://macarthur.uchicago.edu/about/roderick.html |date=February 24, 2004 |title="J. Roderick MacArthur" }}, ''The MacArthur Justice Center'', Northwestern University School of Law (archived 2004)</ref> andIt supportshas liberalsupported causes of civil rights and civil liberties, including the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, D.C., and the Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center, ata thepublic [[Northwesterninterest Universitylaw Schoolfirm in Chicago that is named and managed by two of Law]]his children.

Rod MacArthur made two further 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 MacArthur fellowships, also called "Genius Grants".<ref>http://www.macfound.org/site/c.lkLXJ8MQKrH/b.959481/k.7895/Frequently_Asked_Questions.htm</ref> 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. Rick MacArthur eventually took over the foundation that owned ''Harper's''.

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.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).

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<ref>{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040224050642/http://macarthur.uchicago.edu/about/roderick.html |date=February 24, 2004 |title="J. Roderick MacArthur" }}, ''The MacArthur Justice Center'', Northwestern University School of Law (archived 2004)</ref> and supports liberal causes, including the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, D.C., and the Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center at the [[Northwestern University School of Law]].

==References==

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==External links==

* [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], 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/ 2004The ChicagoJohn SunD. Articleand onCatherine theMacArthur Foundation and J. Roderick MacArthur's early role.], ''Chicago Sun'', 2004

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