J. Reuben Clark

Family Background

1871. September 1: Born Joshua Reuben Clark, Jr., the eldest of ten children, in Grantsville, Utah. In 1898 he married Luacine Annette Savage, daughter of prominent photographer C.R. Savage; they had four children.

Intense Student

His father, a school teacher, remarked that Reuben "would rather miss his meals than miss a day from school." After completing the eighth grade, the extent of educational opportunity in Grantsville, he returned to repeat the grade twice more:"I was not quite that dull, but there was nothing to do, so I went to school in the winter time and went over the same ground."

1890. Enrolled in the Latter-day Saint College in Salt Lake City. Principal James E. Talmage, recognizing Reuben's potential, as well as his poverty, offered him a job at the new Deseret Museum. When Talmage became president of the University of Utah in 1894, he named Clark as his assistant.

1898. In addition to working for Talmage, Clark edited the University Chronicle, served as student body president, and completed six years of study in four, graduating first in his class. His valedictory address was filled with enthusiasm for the Spanish-American War.

Teacher

Served as principal of the Heber, Utah, school system for one year. In 1899 he taught at the Salt Lake City Business College for a year, and then served as principal of the University of Utah's Southern Normal School in Cedar City. Differences of opinion with the board of trustees over granting four-year recognition for the school led to his replacement and return to Salt Lake City.

Law Student

1902. Clark's dream of going to law school was fulfilled when his Salt Lake Business School mentor Joseph Nelson picked up the tab as a "loan … without interest, terms, or penalties." When Clark left for Columbia University, Talmage remarked, "He possesses the brightest mind ever to leave Utah."

1906. Received his L.L.B. from Columbia University, where he was editor of the law review.

State Department Solicitor

1906. Shortly after graduation, Clark was appointed assistant solicitor with the State Department under Secretary of State Elihu Root. Dominating the State Department legal bureau, he was appointed solicitor in 1910 and was responsible for settling the legal difficulties encountered during the Mexican Revolution.

Lawyer

1913. When Democrat Woodrow Wilson swept into power, Clark left the State Department for private law practice, but his international clientele and service on the American-British Pecuniary Claims Commission kept him abreast of American foreign policy.

1917. At the outbreak of World War I, he joined both the office of the United States attorney general and the headquarters of the army provost marshal. For his military service he was awarded three silver chevrons and the Distinguished Service medal.

1921. With Staynor Richards and Albert Bowen, he established a prestigious law firm in Salt Lake City.

Ambassador to Mexico

1927. Having served on the United States-Mexico Mixed Claims Commission, Clark was appointed legal counsel to the ambassador to Mexico by Herbert Hoover. After a temporary assignment as undersecretary of state, he was named ambasador to Mexico in 1930.

"I am an American because this nation has no scheme or plan of conquest," he said, "because it has a respect for the rights of other peoples and of other nations, because it promotes justice and honor in the relationships of nations, because it loves the ways of peace as against war."

During his government career, he at one time or another opposed virtually every major political figure he worked with, including Theodore Roosevelt, Elihu Root, William H. Taft, Henry Cabot Lodge, Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Reed Smoot. He described himself as "anti-internationalist, anti-interventionist, anti-meddlesome busybodiness, in our international affairs. In the domestic field, I am anti-socialist, anti-communist, anti-Welfare State."

Of his fierce opposition to the League of Nations, he declared: "I am a confirmed isolationist, a political isolationist, first I am sure, by political instinct, next from experience, observation, and patriotism, and lastly, because while isolated, we built the most powerful nation in the world, a nation that provided most of prosperity to all its citizens, with the full measure of resulting comfort, most of popular education, most of freedom, most of peace, most of blessing by example to other nations."

General Authority

1923. Concerned with her husband's passivity toward the Church, Luacine Clark commented, "I don't see why you can't do a little church work. … Everyone loves to hear you talk, you would be such a big help if you would take hold. You have been nearly twenty years out of it. … I have hired you, I remember, more than once to go to church with me, but now you are of age."

1925. Appointed to the general board of the YMMIA. The following year he became a member of the advisory editorial committee of the Improvement Era.

1931. At the funeral of Second Counselor Charles W. Nibley, President Grant whispered to First Counselor Anthony W. Ivins that he knew who could fill the vacancy in the Presidency: "This man Clark, the ambassador to Mexico." "You can't get him, Heber," Ivins advised, "he is a $100,000-a-year man." Replied the president, "We can ask him."

1933. Called as Second Counselor to President Grant. Ordained an apostle and called as first counselor on the death of President Anthony W. Ivins in 1934. He also served in the First Presidency during the administrations of Presidents George Albert Smith and David O. McKay—a total of twenty-eight years.

Conservative Philosopher

"We are of the view that the so-called inefficiency of democracies … is evidence of their highest virtue, which is a regulation of the civic, social, and economic life of the nation by the experience of all the people, crystallized into their mass wisdom. We know that this must mean a slow development, but we know also that it means a sure one."

"On more than one occasion our Church members have gone to other places for special training in particular lines; they have had the training which was supposedly the last word, the most modern view. … Before trying on the newest fangled ideas in any line of thought, education, activity, or what not, experts should just stop and consider that however backward we may actually be in some things, in other things we are far out in the lead, and therefore these new methods may be old, if not worn out, with us."

Death

1961. October 6: Died at the age of ninety in Salt Lake City; buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Sources
Clark, J. Reuben, Jr. "Address of J. Reuben Clark, Jr." American Bar Association Journal 26 (1940):901-902.
Clark, J. Reuben, Jr. Stand Fast by Our Constitution. Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1959.
Conference Reports, April 1940.
Congressional Record, 11 June 1940.
Deseret News, 13 August 1938, 6 October 1961.
Flake, Lawrence. Mighty Men of Zion. Salt Lake City: Karl D· Butler, 1974.
Fox, Frank W. J. Reuben Clark: The Public Years. Provo, Utah: BYU Press/Deseret Book Company, 1980.

	A Book of Mormons Richard S. Van Wagoner and Steven C. Walker Copyright 1982, Signature Books Salt Lake City, Utah Contents


	J. Reuben Clark (1871-1961)

		J. Reuben Clark was U. S. Ambassador to Mexico, a member of the LDS First Presidency, and a statesman. Photograph courtesy LDS Church Archives.


	Family Background 1871. September 1: Born Joshua Reuben Clark, Jr., the eldest of ten children, in Grantsville, Utah. In 1898 he married Luacine Annette Savage, daughter of prominent photographer C.R. Savage; they had four children. Intense Student His father, a school teacher, remarked that Reuben "would rather miss his meals than miss a day from school." After completing the eighth grade, the extent of educational opportunity in Grantsville, he returned to repeat the grade twice more:"I was not quite that dull, but there was nothing to do, so I went to school in the winter time and went over the same ground." 1890. Enrolled in the Latter-day Saint College in Salt Lake City. Principal James E. Talmage, recognizing Reuben's potential, as well as his poverty, offered him a job at the new Deseret Museum. When Talmage became president of the University of Utah in 1894, he named Clark as his assistant. 1898. In addition to working for Talmage, Clark edited the University Chronicle, served as student body president, and completed six years of study in four, graduating first in his class. His valedictory address was filled with enthusiasm for the Spanish-American War. Teacher Served as principal of the Heber, Utah, school system for one year. In 1899 he taught at the Salt Lake City Business College for a year, and then served as principal of the University of Utah's Southern Normal School in Cedar City. Differences of opinion with the board of trustees over granting four-year recognition for the school led to his replacement and return to Salt Lake City. Law Student 1902. Clark's dream of going to law school was fulfilled when his Salt Lake Business School mentor Joseph Nelson picked up the tab as a "loan … without interest, terms, or penalties." When Clark left for Columbia University, Talmage remarked, "He possesses the brightest mind ever to leave Utah." 1906. Received his L.L.B. from Columbia University, where he was editor of the law review. State Department Solicitor 1906. Shortly after graduation, Clark was appointed assistant solicitor with the State Department under Secretary of State Elihu Root. Dominating the State Department legal bureau, he was appointed solicitor in 1910 and was responsible for settling the legal difficulties encountered during the Mexican Revolution. Lawyer 1913. When Democrat Woodrow Wilson swept into power, Clark left the State Department for private law practice, but his international clientele and service on the American-British Pecuniary Claims Commission kept him abreast of American foreign policy. 1917. At the outbreak of World War I, he joined both the office of the United States attorney general and the headquarters of the army provost marshal. For his military service he was awarded three silver chevrons and the Distinguished Service medal. 1921. With Staynor Richards and Albert Bowen, he established a prestigious law firm in Salt Lake City. Ambassador to Mexico 1927. Having served on the United States-Mexico Mixed Claims Commission, Clark was appointed legal counsel to the ambassador to Mexico by Herbert Hoover. After a temporary assignment as undersecretary of state, he was named ambasador to Mexico in 1930. "I am an American because this nation has no scheme or plan of conquest," he said, "because it has a respect for the rights of other peoples and of other nations, because it promotes justice and honor in the relationships of nations, because it loves the ways of peace as against war." During his government career, he at one time or another opposed virtually every major political figure he worked with, including Theodore Roosevelt, Elihu Root, William H. Taft, Henry Cabot Lodge, Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Reed Smoot. He described himself as "anti-internationalist, anti-interventionist, anti-meddlesome busybodiness, in our international affairs. In the domestic field, I am anti-socialist, anti-communist, anti-Welfare State." Of his fierce opposition to the League of Nations, he declared: "I am a confirmed isolationist, a political isolationist, first I am sure, by political instinct, next from experience, observation, and patriotism, and lastly, because while isolated, we built the most powerful nation in the world, a nation that provided most of prosperity to all its citizens, with the full measure of resulting comfort, most of popular education, most of freedom, most of peace, most of blessing by example to other nations." General Authority 1923. Concerned with her husband's passivity toward the Church, Luacine Clark commented, "I don't see why you can't do a little church work. … Everyone loves to hear you talk, you would be such a big help if you would take hold. You have been nearly twenty years out of it. … I have hired you, I remember, more than once to go to church with me, but now you are of age." 1925. Appointed to the general board of the YMMIA. The following year he became a member of the advisory editorial committee of the Improvement Era. 1931. At the funeral of Second Counselor Charles W. Nibley, President Grant whispered to First Counselor Anthony W. Ivins that he knew who could fill the vacancy in the Presidency: "This man Clark, the ambassador to Mexico." "You can't get him, Heber," Ivins advised, "he is a $100,000-a-year man." Replied the president, "We can ask him." 1933. Called as Second Counselor to President Grant. Ordained an apostle and called as first counselor on the death of President Anthony W. Ivins in 1934. He also served in the First Presidency during the administrations of Presidents George Albert Smith and David O. McKay—a total of twenty-eight years. Conservative Philosopher "We are of the view that the so-called inefficiency of democracies … is evidence of their highest virtue, which is a regulation of the civic, social, and economic life of the nation by the experience of all the people, crystallized into their mass wisdom. We know that this must mean a slow development, but we know also that it means a sure one." "On more than one occasion our Church members have gone to other places for special training in particular lines; they have had the training which was supposedly the last word, the most modern view. … Before trying on the newest fangled ideas in any line of thought, education, activity, or what not, experts should just stop and consider that however backward we may actually be in some things, in other things we are far out in the lead, and therefore these new methods may be old, if not worn out, with us." Death 1961. October 6: Died at the age of ninety in Salt Lake City; buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery. Sources Clark, J. Reuben, Jr. "Address of J. Reuben Clark, Jr." American Bar Association Journal 26 (1940):901-902. Clark, J. Reuben, Jr. Stand Fast by Our Constitution. Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1959. Conference Reports, April 1940. Congressional Record, 11 June 1940. Deseret News, 13 August 1938, 6 October 1961. Flake, Lawrence. Mighty Men of Zion. Salt Lake City: Karl D· Butler, 1974. Fox, Frank W. J. Reuben Clark: The Public Years. Provo, Utah: BYU Press/Deseret Book Company, 1980.