(1917–90), U.S. government official and sports executive, born in Springfield, Mass.; campaign manager for President Kennedy; White House assistant for congressional relations 1961–65; postmaster general under President Lyndon Johnson 1965–69; twice chairman of the Democratic National Committee 1968–69, 1970–73; it was his office that men working for the reelection of President Nixon broke into in 1972, the ensuing Watergate scandal forcing Nixon's resignation; commissioner of National Basketball Association 1975–84, initiating merger with American Basketball Association, NBA championship trophy named after him; board of trustees, National Basketball Hall of Fame 1975–87, elected to Hall 1991.