John E. Swift

For other people named John Swift, see John Swift (disambiguation).

John E. Swift (1879 – August 19, 1967[1]) was an American judge and the ninth Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus from October 24, 1945 to August 31, 1953.

Swift was born in Milford, Massachusetts in 1879 and served as judge in Boston for many years. After being elected the ninth Supreme Knight in 1945 Swift began a nationwide crusade against a perceived Communist threat to the United States. President Harry Truman reportedly endorsed the effort and mentioned in a letter to Swift, that he hoped the entire membership "will join the crusade with zeal and enthusiasm".[2]

President Truman further stated that "[O]ur goal must be to drive out of our American life every movement which aims to promote within our borders any form of totalitarianism or any subversive movement.".[3]

A Manual for Discussion Groups was prepared by the Knights. Boston Auxiliary Bishop John J. Wright lauded that the manual was "an amazing production, profoundly thought-provoking and admirably condensed".

Personal life

Swift was named a Massachusetts Superior Court Justice in 1947. His wife Emily died at the age of fifty-nine at their home in Milford on November 9, 1947 from a coronary thrombosis following a long illness. It is not clear if they had any children.

In 1950, after a Special Audience with Pope Pius XII, Swift instituted a fund for the purchase and construction of the last playground in Rome. Primavalle, a newly populated district, was chosen for the site. This playground was named Pius XII and dedicated and blessed by Cardinal Francis Spellman, Archbishop of New York, on June 7, 1952.

Judge Swift died at his Summer home in Osterville, Massachusetts on August 19, 1967.[4]

References

  1. ↑ John E. Swift of Milford, Superior Court Justice Boston Globe (1960-1981); Aug 21, 1967, page 20.
  2. ↑ Faith and fraternalism: the history of the Knights of Columbus, 1882-1982, Christopher J. Kauffman, Harper & Row, 1982, page 363.
  3. ↑ Faith and fraternalism: the history of the Knights of Columbus, 1882-1982, Christopher J. Kauffman, Harper & Row, 1982, page 363.
  4. ↑ John E. Swift of Milford, Superior Court Justice Boston Globe (1960-1981); Aug 21, 1967, page 20.
Religious titles
Preceded by
Francis P. Matthews		 Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus
1945 – 1953 		Succeeded by
Luke E. Hart


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