David L. Lawrence

David Leo Lawrence ( born June 18, 1889 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, † November 21, 1966 ) was an American politician and from 1959 to 1963 the 39th Governor of the state of Pennsylvania.

Early years

David Lawrence was of Irish descent. He attended a trade school for two years. At the age of 14, he was hired as an office assistant at the Pittsburgh attorney William Brennan, who was the local chairman of the Democratic Party at the same time. Brennan became the mentor of the young Lawrence. At the Democratic National Convention in 1912, Lawrence supported the nomination of Woodrow Wilson 's presidential candidate. During World War II he was in the legal department of the U.S. Army in Washington DC active.

Political rise

After his return to civilian life, Lawrence was a democratic party chairman in Allegheny County. At that time this area was a stronghold of the Republican Party. Lawrence managed to break this supremacy. Through these achievements he won the party's reputation and influence, which rose steadily over the course of the 1920s. In 1933 he was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to head the Federal tax authorities in western Pennsylvania. He held until 1934 this office. This year, Lawrence supported the election campaign of George Howard Earle, who was about to be elected in the 20th century for the first Democratic governor of Pennsylvania. After his successful election, Earle returned the favor and appointed Lawrence to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This post he held 1935-1939. For even in 1934 was Lawrence chairman of his party in Pennsylvania. Between 1946 and 1959 he served as Mayor of Pittsburgh. In 1958 he was even elected as the new governor of his state, he said, 50.8 percent of the vote by sat quite close to Republican Arthur T. McGonigle ( 48.9 percent).

Governor of Pennsylvania

David Lawrence began his four-year term on 20 January 1959. In essence, he has continued the policies of his predecessor George Michael Leader. He took over most cabinet ministers in his government. Lawrence sat down against a discrimination, promoted environmental protection and extended the state libraries in the country. It was then that legislation to improve road safety in Pennsylvania has been adopted. On the other hand, he has expanded the bureaucracy in administration. The resulting additional costs incurred were offset by an increase in VAT. Due to a constitutional clause Lawrence was not allowed to run directly for re-election in 1962. Therefore, he resigned from his post on 15 January 1963.

Federal Political Influence and other CV

Since 1912, he was on all national conventions of the Democrats until his death. He was instrumental in the 1932 nomination of Franklin Roosevelt as a presidential candidate. In 1960 he supported John F. Kennedy. He advised Kennedy that time to nominate Lyndon B. Johnson as his vice presidential candidate. After the end of his governorship Lawrence dedicated his private interests. But he continued to follow the political development of his country. On November 4, 1966, he suffered a breakdown when he supported Milton Shapps governor's race. 17 days later, on November 21, died Lawrence to without regaining consciousness. He was married to Alice Golden, with whom he had five children.