The high commissioner to the Philippines was the personal representative of the president of the United States to the Commonwealth of the Philippines during the period 1935–1946. The office was created by the Tydings–McDuffie Act of 1934, which provided for a period of transition from direct American rule to the complete independence of the islands on July 4, 1946. It replaced the office of governor-general of the Philippines, who had direct executive authority. Under the commonwealth, executive power was held by an elected Filipino president. The executive power of the high commissioner was largely ceremonial, and its office is similar to that of an ambassador. The office of high commissioner was held by: * Frank Murphy, November 15, 1935 – December 31, 1936 * Weldon Jones, December 31, 1936 – April 26, 1937 (Acting) * Paul V. McNutt, April 26, 1937 – July 12, 1939 * Weldon Jones, July 12, 1939 – October 28, 1939 (Acting) * Francis Bowes Sayre Sr., October 28, 1939 – October 12, 1942 * Harold L. Ickes, October 12, 1942 – September 14, 1945 (Secretary of the Interior, assuming functions during Japanese occupation) * Paul V. McNutt, September 14, 1945 – July 4, 1946 Murphy had previously served as governor-general. Sayre's tenure was interrupted by the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II. McNutt became the first United States ambassador to the Philippines after Philippine independence in 1946. (en)