Donald Dawson

Donald Shelton Dawson (August 3, 1908 – December 25, 2005) was a 20th-century American lawyer, politician, and military officer, best remembered as the presidential aide who marshaled Harry S. Truman's crucial whistle-stop tour in the 1948 election campaign and so was perhaps the first modern American political advance man, able to gauge political climate and provide appropriate advice.

[1] Donald Shelton Dawson was born on August 3, 1908, in El Dorado Springs, Missouri.

Of how he organized Truman's famous whistle-stop tour, Dawson recounted in 1992: My job was to be a jump ahead, getting kids out of school early, finding free buses, whatever it took...

[1] In 1951, Dawson found himself caught up in congressional inquiries into the RFC and its board with regard to jobs and loans; he testified before a committee chaired by U.S.

In 1968, he continued in that role as the firm changed principals and became Dawson, Riddell, Holroyd, Taylor & Davis.

He married Ilona Massey (June 16, 1910 – August 20, 1974) a Hungarian film, stage and radio performer; who predeceased him.

[1] Dawson died age 97 on Sunday, December 25, 2005, Christmas Day, at his home in Bethesda, Maryland, and he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery near his wife.

Grave at Arlington National Cemetery