George Romney

George Romney
Name	George Romney
Caption	Official portrait, 1969
Order	3rd
Office	United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
President	Richard Nixon
Term start	January 22, 1969
Term end	January 20, 1973
Predecessor	Robert C. Weaver
Successor	James T. Lynn
Order2	43rd
Office2	Governor of Michigan
Lieutenant2	William G. Milliken
Term start2	January 1, 1963
Term end2	January 22, 1969
Predecessor2	John Swainson
Successor2	William G. Milliken
Birth date	8 July 1907
Birth place	Chihuahua, Mexico
Death date	26 July 1995
Death place	Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, U.S.
Party	Republican
Spouse	Lenore Romney, 1931
Children	4, including Mitt and Scott
Education	University of Utah, Latter-day Saints University

George Romney. An American industrialist and politician, he served as the 43rd Governor of Michigan and later as the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Richard Nixon. A prominent figure in the Republican Party, he was a leading candidate for the 1968 Republican presidential nomination before his campaign faltered. Known for his moderate progressive views and advocacy for civil rights, his career bridged the worlds of automotive industry leadership and public service.

Early life and education

Born in a Mormon colony in Chihuahua, Mexico, to American parents Gaskell Romney and Anna Amelia Pratt, his family fled the Mexican Revolution in 1912, settling first in El Paso, Texas, and later in Los Angeles. He spent two years as a Mormon missionary in Scotland and England before attending Latter-day Saints University and the University of Utah, though he did not earn a degree. His early work included stints in Washington, D.C., as an apprentice for Senator David I. Walsh and as a lobbyist for the Aluminum Company of America.

Business career

Romney moved to Detroit in 1939 to work for the Automobile Manufacturers Association. His career breakthrough came at the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation, where he became a key assistant to CEO George W. Mason. Following the 1954 merger that created the American Motors Corporation (AMC), Romney succeeded Mason as CEO. He famously championed the compact Rambler as a sensible alternative to the "gas-guzzling dinosaurs" of the Big Three, turning AMC into a profitable industry force. His high-profile leadership made him a nationally recognized business figure.

Political career

Entering politics, he served as chairman of the Michigan Constitutional Convention of 1961–62, which drafted a new state constitution. Elected Governor of Michigan in 1962, he served three two-year terms, working with a Michigan Legislature initially controlled by Democrats. His administration focused on fiscal reform, establishing a state income tax, and significant investment in higher education. A strong supporter of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, he also organized the Michigan Civil Rights Commission following the 1967 Detroit riot.

1968 presidential campaign

Initially considered a top contender for the Republican nomination, his campaign was built on his executive experience and moderate stance. A major setback occurred in September 1967 during a televised interview with WXYZ's Lou Gordon, where he stated he had been "brainwashed" by military officials during a 1965 trip to Vietnam. The remark was widely ridiculed in publications like The New York Times and eroded his credibility on foreign policy. He suspended his campaign in February 1968, shortly before the New Hampshire primary, eventually endorsing Nelson Rockefeller before Richard Nixon secured the nomination.

Later life and death

After leaving the presidential race, he was appointed United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development by President Nixon. His tenure was marked by advocacy for open housing and the "Model Cities Program," though he often clashed with the White House over budget cuts and policy direction. He resigned in 1973, later serving on various corporate and charitable boards, including the National Center for Voluntary Action. He remained active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and public affairs until suffering a stroke in 1992. He died at his home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan in 1995.

Legacy

Romney is remembered as a pragmatic, centrist Republican who championed civil rights and fiscal responsibility. His "brainwashing" comment remains a famous case study in political communication failures. His most enduring personal legacy is his family: his wife, Lenore Romney, was a Senate candidate, and his sons include former U.S. Senator Scott Romney and former Governor of Massachusetts and current Senator Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee in the 2012 presidential election. The George W. Romney Institute of Public Management at Brigham Young University bears his name.

Category:1907 births Category:1995 deaths Category:Governors of Michigan Category:United States Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development Category:American Motors executives Category:American Mormon missionaries