Phelps Phelps (May 4, 1897 – June 10, 1981) was a prominent American politician who held various offices in New York before serving as the governor of American Samoa and the United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic. Born Phelps von Rottenburg, he later adopted his mother's maiden name as his last name. Despite being dismissed from Yale University for cheating, he eventually graduated from Williams College and Fordham University Law School, becoming an attorney.Phelps' political career began as the Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs for New York City and later as a Republican member of the New York State Assembly. After the 1932 Republican National Convention, he switched to the Democratic Party. Phelps also served in the United States Army during World War II, achieving the rank of Captain. He then served on Douglas MacArthur's staff during the Japanese War Crimes Tribunal.As the first civilian governor of American Samoa, Phelps focused on restructuring the island's economy after the withdrawal of the United States Navy. He later served as the Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, where he faced challenges negotiating land sales and responding to citizen anger over possible assassinations ordered by the Dominican ruler.Phelps was known for his prolific letter writing to major newspapers and lived in various hotels, never marrying or owning property. He passed away in Wildwood, New Jersey, and is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery.

Howard Phelps Putnam (1894 – 1948) was an American poet known for his two published books, Trinc and The Five Seasons. Born in Massachusetts, Putnam attended Phillips Exeter Academy and later enrolled at Yale University, where he was a member of the secret society Skull and Bones. He belonged to the talented Yale-educated writers' generation, including notable alumni such as Stephen Vincent Benét, Henry R. Luce, Archibald MacLeish, Cole Porter, and Thornton Wilder. After graduation, he traveled to Europe, worked various odd jobs, and published his first book of poems, Trinc, in 1927. Subsequently, he began working on an epic titled The Earthly Comedy but was unable to complete it before his death in 1948. Putnam also wrote lyrics for a musical collaboration and had a notable love life, with affairs and marriages. His work was acknowledged by F.O. Matthiessen, who recognized the grand scope of Putnam's unfinished poem. Putnam's legacy also lives on through his relative, Rob Putnam, a TV writer in Los Angeles.