William Scranton
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| William Scranton | |
|---|---|
 Bettmann Archive · Public domain · source | |
| Name | William Scranton |
| Caption | Scranton in 1964 |
| Order | 38th |
| Office | Governor of Pennsylvania |
| Lieutenant | Raymond P. Shafer |
| Term start | January 15, 1963 |
| Term end | January 17, 1967 |
| Predecessor | David L. Lawrence |
| Successor | Raymond P. Shafer |
| Office2 | United States Ambassador to the United Nations |
| President2 | Gerald Ford |
| Term start2 | March 15, 1976 |
| Term end2 | January 19, 1977 |
| Predecessor2 | John A. Scali |
| Successor2 | Andrew Young |
| State3 | Pennsylvania |
| District3 | PA, 10, 10th |
| Term start3 | January 3, 1961 |
| Term end3 | January 3, 1963 |
| Predecessor3 | Stanley A. Prokop |
| Successor3 | Joseph M. McDade |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mary Lowe Chamberlin, 1942, 2008 |
| Children | 4, including William Scranton III |
| Alma mater | Yale University (BA), Yale Law School (LLB) |
| Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
| Serviceyears | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles | World War II |
William Scranton was an American politician and diplomat who served as the 38th Governor of Pennsylvania and later as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. A member of the Republican Party, he was known as a leader of its moderate Rockefeller Republican wing. His political career was marked by a pragmatic, progressive approach to governance and a brief, influential campaign for the 1964 Republican presidential nomination.
Early life and education
Born on July 19, 1917, in Madison, Connecticut, he was a descendant of the prominent Scranton family, founders of the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He attended the Hotchkiss School before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in 1939. He subsequently graduated from Yale Law School in 1946, following service in World War II as a captain in the United States Army Air Forces. He practiced law in Scranton and served as a special assistant to United States Secretary of State Christian Herter in 1959 and 1960.
Political career
His political career began with election to the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district in 1960, serving one term from 1961 to 1963. In Congress, he established a reputation as a thoughtful moderate, often aligning with the policies of President John F. Kennedy on international affairs. He gained national attention in 1962 when he successfully challenged the Democratic incumbent, David L. Lawrence, to become the Governor of Pennsylvania.
Governorship of Pennsylvania
As governor from 1963 to 1967, he pursued a progressive agenda that included significant increases in funding for public education and the creation of a community college system. He signed Pennsylvania's first minimum wage law, expanded mental health services, and championed major infrastructure projects. His administration was also noted for its fiscal responsibility, leaving the state with a budget surplus. His moderate record made him a leading figure in the Republican Party, and he was drafted as a late entrant to challenge Barry Goldwater for the 1964 Republican presidential nomination, ultimately losing at the 1964 Republican National Convention.
Diplomatic service
After leaving the governor's office, he continued to serve in public roles. President Richard Nixon appointed him to the President's Commission on Campus Unrest in 1970. His most significant diplomatic appointment came from President Gerald Ford, who named him the United States Ambassador to the United Nations in 1976. In this role, he advocated for human rights and worked to manage complex international issues during the final year of the Ford administration, including tensions in Southern Africa and the Middle East.
Later life and legacy
Following his diplomatic service, he returned to private life in Pennsylvania, serving on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards, including those of the International Paper Company and the National Geographic Society. He remained an elder statesman of the Republican Party, often cautioning against its shift to the right. He died on July 28, 2013, at his home in Monte Sereno. He is remembered as a principled moderate whose governorship modernized Pennsylvania and whose career exemplified a brand of pragmatic, internationally-minded Republicanism that has since diminished in influence.
Category:1917 births Category:2013 deaths Category:Governors of Pennsylvania Category:United States ambassadors to the United Nations Category:Republican Party governors of Pennsylvania