Hazel Whitaker

Norman Tweed Whitaker was an American International Master of chess, a lawyer, and a civil servant. Born in Philadelphia to a prominent family, he excelled academically and in chess from a young age. He represented the University of Pennsylvania in intercollegiate play and the United States in international matches, achieving master strength by his early twenties. His chess career included significant tournament victories and representation in prestigious events, though his aspirations for the U.S. Championship were cut short by legal troubles.

Whitaker's professional life as a lawyer and civil servant at the U.S. Patent Office was repeatedly interrupted by criminal activities. He was disbarred and served multiple prison terms. His most notorious crime involved a confidence scheme related to the 1932 Lindbergh kidnapping. These legal issues also impacted his chess career, leading to disputes with chess administrators and exclusion from national teams. He passed away in 1975.

Born in Philadelphia in 1890 to a well-regarded family, Norman Tweed Whitaker received a strong education, graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in German Literature and later earning a law degree from Georgetown University. His father, a mathematics teacher, introduced him to chess at age 14. Whitaker quickly developed his skills, observing top players like Harry Nelson Pillsbury and joining the esteemed Franklin Mercantile Chess Club. By his teenage years, he demonstrated remarkable talent, drawing against World Champion Emanuel Lasker and winning games against other strong masters during simultaneous exhibitions. He also represented the University of Pennsylvania in intercollegiate competitions and the United States in transatlantic university matches.

Whitaker reached master strength by 1913, demonstrating his capability in challenging tournaments like the New York National. He was a consistent performer in the Western Open, often securing top places, including a second-place finish in 1915 and tying for fourth in 1916. By 1918, he was recognized as one of the country's strongest players, defeating former U.S. champion Jackson Showalter in a match. His peak performance is often considered his second-place finish at the Eighth American Chess Congress in 1921, where he was the top American player, ahead of Frank Marshall and Dawid Janowski. He also won the first National Chess Federation Congress in 1927, ahead of a young Samuel Reshevsky, and represented the U.S. in the Amateur World Championship in 1928, tying for fourth place despite a severe train accident.

In addition to his chess pursuits, Whitaker practiced law and worked as a patent attorney for the United States Patent and Trademark Office. However, his legal career was marred by significant ethical and criminal issues. He was disbarred in 1924. His professional life was repeatedly interrupted by convictions for various crimes, leading to multiple prison sentences. His involvement in a confidence trick related to the 1932 Lindbergh kidnapping became his most infamous criminal act. These legal entanglements and convictions ultimately overshadowed his achievements in both law and chess.

Whitaker's criminal past led to friction with chess administrators, impacting his opportunities to represent the United States internationally. Despite winning the 1927 National Chess Federation Congress, he was not invited to subsequent events. He believed he was unfairly overlooked for the 1930 and 1931 U.S. teams for the Chess Olympiads, even contacting the FIDE President directly. While his arguments may have had merit based on his playing strength, his criminal record was likely a significant factor in these decisions. He was never selected for future national teams, and by 1939, the chess organizations had merged into the United States Chess Federation. The American teams without Whitaker achieved considerable success in the Olympiads during the 1930s.