Milton Shapp

Milton Jerrold Shapp ( born June 25, 1912 as Milton Shapiro in Cleveland, Ohio, † November 24, 1994 in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania ) was an American politician and from 1971 to 1979 the 42nd Governor of Pennsylvania.

Early years

Milton Shapp was born as Milton Shapiro. His father Aaron Shapiro was a Jewish businessman. Due to its origin Milton feared anti -Semitic incidents. So he dropped his surname in Shapp change. He attended until 1933, Case Institute of Technology and was trained as an electrical engineer. Due to the economic crisis at that time he found no work in this area and had to work in a coal mine as a truck driver. Later he got a job as a salesman of radio spare parts and electrical items. Then he started his own business and even such a shop. During the Second World War he was an officer in the U.S. Army in North Africa, Italy and Austria. After the war he founded the company Jerrolds Electronics Corporation. In 1946, he began with two employees; when he sold the company in 1966, several thousand people were employed there. The company introduced amongst others, on TV sets.

Political rise

Milton Shapp was a member of the Democratic Party and in 1960 a supporter of John F. Kennedy. After Kennedy's inauguration as U.S. president Shapp was a consultant to the Department of Commerce and the Peace Corps. In 1966 he applied unsuccessfully for the post of Governor of Pennsylvania. Four years later he was successful and was elected as the new governor.

Governor of Pennsylvania

Milton Shapp took up his new post on January 19, 1971. He was not only the first Jewish governor of Pennsylvania, but also the first governor who could officiate under the new constitution of 1968, which enabled him to re-election. After this re-election, he could remain in office until 16 January 1979. He was able to consolidate the budget. He introduced a state lottery to improve government revenues and reformed the highway administration of the country. Consumer protection was promoted under his government and the insurance industry and the welfare program of the country were reformed. At that time also the divorce law was reformed and prison reform carried out. In his time Pennsylvania was hit by Hurricane " Agnes " in which 48 people died. Even the governor and his wife had to be rescued by boat from the water masses from their headquarters in Harrisburg.

Shapps government also had its dark side. His administration was marred by several scandals, and it mostly went to allegations of corruption. Although Shapp was not personally involved in it, the scandals hurt his reputation. In 1976 he applied unsuccessfully for the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party.

Another Journey

After the end of his term Milton Shapp no longer politically joined in appearance. He devoted himself to his private interests and died in November 1994 at the age of 82 years. He was married to Muriel Matzkin, with whom he had three children.