Harry J. Anslinger

Harry J. Anslinger
Anslinger in 1962
1st Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics
In office August 12, 1930 – August 17, 1962
President	Herbert Hoover Franklin D. Roosevelt Harry S. Truman Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy
Succeeded by	Henry Giordano
Personal details
Born	Harry Jacob Anslinger (1892-05-20)May 20, 1892 Altoona, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	November 14, 1975(1975-11-14) (aged 83) Altoona, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Martha Kind Denniston
Signature

Harry Jacob Anslinger (May 20, 1892 – November 14, 1975) was an American government official who served as the first commissioner of the U.S. Treasury Department's Federal Bureau of Narcotics during the presidencies of Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy. He was a supporter of Prohibition, and of the criminalization of all drugs except for alcohol, and spearheaded anti-drug policy campaigns.^[1][2]

Anslinger has been characterized as an early proponent of the war on drugs, as he zealously advocated for and pursued harsh drug penalties, in particular regarding cannabis.^[3] As a propagandist for the war on drugs, he focused on demonizing racial and immigrant groups.^[3] He targeted jazz musicians, including singer Billie Holiday.^[4][5]

Anslinger held office as commissioner for an unprecedented 32 years, until 1962. He then held office for two years as U.S. Representative to the United Nations Narcotics Commission. The responsibilities once held by Anslinger are now largely under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy and the agency he ran was a predecessor of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).