Winthrop Rockefeller

Winthrop Rockefeller ( born May 1, 1912 in New York City; † February 22, 1973 in Arkansas ) was an American politician. He was from 1955 to 1964 Chairman of the Commission for the industrial development of Arkansas and in 1961 chairman of the Republicans in Arkansas. From 1967 to 1970 he was governor of Arkansas. In 1968 his wealth was estimated by Fortune to $ 300 million. The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation to support projects in Arkansas in 2001 possessed an asset of $ 143 million.

Early years

Winthrop Rockefeller was born into one of the richest families of his time. He was the son of John D. Rockefeller II and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, and a grandson of the legendary oil magnate John D. Rockefeller. His brother Nelson Rockefeller was governor of New York and under President Gerald Ford Vice President of the United States ( 1974 to 1977 ). His nephew Jay Rockefeller was 1977-1985 Governor of West Virginia and then moved as a Democrat in the U.S. Senate.

Rockefeller attended 1931-1934 Yale University. During the Second World War he served as a soldier in the U.S. Army in the Pacific. He brought it up to the Colonel. In 1953 he moved to Arkansas, where he established the Winrock Farms on. There purebred cattle breeding and cultivated rice and soybeans.

Political rise

In 1955 he became chairman of the Commission for the industrial development of Arkansas. He succeeded to make it successful for the industrial site Arkansas advertising. Like all the Rockefellers, with the exception of his nephew in West Virginia, he was a member of the Republican Party. In 1964 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention. In the same year he wrote his first application to the Office of the Governor of Arkansas. But he lost to Orval Faubus. In 1966, only about 11 % of voters considered themselves as Republicans in Arkansas. Nevertheless, Rockefeller joined with a reform program again at the gubernatorial election. Many supporters of the Democrats preferred a reform of this kind a further term of office of its own candidate and as Winthrop Rockefeller became the first Republican elected governor of Arkansas since 1874.

Governor of Arkansas

Rockefeller took up his new post on 10 January 1967. After a successful re-election in 1968, he could remain in office until January 12, 1971. In these four years, he campaigned for the civil rights movement. He initiated an administrative reform and supported cultural development. Also, education was promoted in his tenure. Another focus of his reign was to improve the conditions in the prisons of the state. During his tenure, only a few years previously took very controversial racial integration in Arkansas with minimal disruption. Rockefeller also appointed some African Americans in key government bodies. In his years, a reform of the banking sector was initiated. 1970, applied to the Governor for a third term. But this time he was defeated his Democratic challenger Dale Bumpers. Thus he had to resign from his post in January 1971.

Another Journey

Winthrop Rockefeller should not survive his term as governor long. In September 1972, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which he died on 22 February 1973.

His son Winthrop (1948-2006) was from 1996 until his death Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas under Governor Mike Huckabee.