William Scranton

William Warren Scranton ( born July 19, 1917 in Madison, Connecticut, † July 28, 2013 in Santa Barbara, California ) was an American politician. He was from 1963 to 1967 the 40th Governor of the state of Pennsylvania.

Early years and political rise

William Scranton was the grandson of Congressman Joseph A. Scranton ( 1838-1908 ). He attended the Hotchkiss School after several Preschools and thereafter until 1939, the Yale University. His subsequent law studies were interrupted by the Second World War, in which he participated as a pilot of transport aircraft. But he was not involved in combat operations. After the war he stayed for 20 years of the Reserve of the U.S. Air Force. Then in 1946 he was able to complete his interrupted legal studies successfully, after which he was admitted to the bar. In the city of Scranton, he then began to work in his new profession.

Besides his work as a lawyer Scranton was also a successful businessman since 1946. He worked for various companies in the North East Pennsylvania in leading positions. Since the 1950s, he participated as a member of the Republican Party share in the political life of his time. In 1959 he obtained a leading position in the U.S. State Department. Between 1961 and 1963 Scranton was a deputy in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1962 he was elected Governor of Pennsylvania.

Governor of Pennsylvania

Scranton took up his new post on 15 January 1963. During his tenure, the education system was reformed and modernized. Scranton also tried to make Pennsylvania attractive for domestic and foreign investors. He also tried the American and to open up the international market for products from Pennsylvania. In 1964 he applied unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination. William Scranton was also a member of several associations governor. Due to a constitutional provision he could not stand directly for re-election in 1966. Therefore, he had to resign from his post on 17 January 1967.

Another Journey

Even after his governorship Scranton remained politically active. President Richard Nixon in 1969 offered him the post of Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Scranton but refused. Instead, he became an American special envoy for the Middle East. His policy proposals for Middle East policy came upon the rejection of the Jewish community in America and President Nixon distanced himself from Scrantons proposals. In 1970, Scranton was chairman of a commission to investigate unrest and violence in the country's universities. During this time he worked also in various other government commissions.

After Nixon's resignation in connection with the Watergate scandal in 1974, Scranton was a member of a committee who prepared the transfer of the government to Gerald Ford. President Ford appointed Scranton then the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. This office he held until January 1977. After that, Scranton dedicated his private affairs. Together with his wife Mary Lowe Chamberlain William Scranton has four children.