Frank Joseph Kelley, was the 50th Attorney General of the U.S. state of Michigan. His 37-year term of office, from 1961 to 1999, made him both the youngest and oldest Attorney General in the state's history, and led to his nickname as the "Eternal General." He was the longest serving state attorney general in United States history, until Tom Miller of Iowa surpassed his longevity record in 2019.
Early life and education
After receiving undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Detroit, Kelley became a lawyer in private practice in Alpena, Michigan, and later received an appointment as Alpena city attorney.
Michigan Attorney General
Kelley was appointed as Attorney General in 1961 by Governor John Swainson to fill a vacancy left when Paul L. Adams became a Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. Kelley was elected in his own right as the Democratic nominee ten times before his retirement from the position in 1999, when he was succeeded by the future Governor of MichiganJennifer Granholm. Governor Granholm has publicly acknowledged Kelley to be one of her mentors and closest advisors. Kelley was the first state attorney general to establish both a consumer protection and environmental protection division. He became nationally recognized in the area of consumer protection appearing annually on the NBC show "Dateline" to discuss issues such as item pricing. He also gained statewide acclaim for battling utilities and insurance companies on rate increases. President Bill Clinton acknowledged Kelley as a leading force in the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, which resulted in most states receiving large multi-year payments to compensate them for the costs of tobacco-related illnesses. While Attorney General, Kelley ran for election to the U.S. Senate in 1972, but lost to incumbent Robert P. Griffin. He later credited the controversy over school busing and the weakness of Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern as major contributing factors in his 47-53 percent loss. He was elected president of the National Association of Attorneys General, becoming the only Michigan attorney general so honored.. He was the first attorney general in the United States to establish Consumer Protection, Criminal Fraud and Environmental Protection Divisions. His guidance led to the passage of Michigan’s Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act. He was cited by all 50 states' attorneys general as being the attorney general who most furthered the cause of justice in the United States. His electoral prowess was unequaled both in terms of duration and the magnitude of his victories.
Later Career
After his departure from the Attorney General's office, Kelley founded Kelley Cawthorne, a prominent lobbying and law firm in Lansing, Michigan. In private practice he has represented the late Marge Schott during the sale of her majority interest in the Cincinnati RedsMajor League Baseball franchise. He also represented a host of major companies such as DTE Energy, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Michigan, and Palace Sports & Entertainment/Detroit Pistons organization. He has since sold the firm, but remains a consultant for it till the end of 2014. In 1999, then Republican Governor John Engler named him to a seat on the Mackinac Island State Park Commission which controls 80% of the island. In 2007, Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm named him Chair of the Commission. As Chair he replaced his business partner, Dennis O. Cawthorne, a former Republican Leader of the Michigan Legislature. Granholm also appointed Kelley to the State Ethics Board. On October 24, 2013, the walkway in Lansing between the Michigan State Capitol and the Hall of Justice was named the Frank J. Kelley Walkway. In 2015, Wayne State University Press published his autobiography, titled The People's Lawyer: The Life and Times of Frank J. Kelley, the Nation's Longest Serving Attorney General. Kelley's co-author was syndicated political columnist Jack Lessenberry. His wife, Nancy, died due to complications from a brain aneurism. Kelley has three children from his first marriage. He winters in Naples, Florida, and lives the rest of the year at his home in Haslett, Michigan.
Term limits
In 1993, the Michigan Constitution was amended to place term limits on many elected offices, including Attorney General. Kelley's successors are limited to two four-year terms in office. During the debate over term limits, some proponents of term limits pointed to Kelley and Michigan's then-Secretary of State Richard H. Austin, who served from 1971 to 1994, as examples of elected officials who had stayed in office too long. However, they did not explain why, if that was true, voters kept re-electing Kelley, or why Austin was in fact finally defeated. Upon his retirement, Kelley was still eligible for one more term. But he said that while he was certain he could have won a final term, he wanted to leave on his terms, "while he was still young and vital." He then started the Kelley Cawthorne firm.
