Charles C. Gossett | |
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| United States Senator fromIdaho | |
| In office November 17, 1945 (1945-11-17) – November 6, 1946 (1946-11-06) | |
| Appointed by | Arnold Williams |
| Preceded by | John Thomas |
| Succeeded by | Henry Dworshak |
| 20th Governor of Idaho | |
| In office January 1, 1945 (1945-01-01) – November 17, 1945 (1945-11-17) | |
| Lieutenant | Arnold Williams |
| Preceded by | C. A. Bottolfsen |
| Succeeded by | Arnold Williams |
| 22nd and 24thLieutenant Governor of Idaho | |
| In office January 6, 1941 – January 4, 1943 | |
| Governor | Chase Clark |
| Preceded by | Donald Whitehead |
| Succeeded by | Edwin Nelson |
| In office January 4, 1937 – January 2, 1939 | |
| Governor | Barzilla Clark |
| Preceded by | G. P. Mix |
| Succeeded by | Donald Whitehead |
| Member of the Idaho House of Representatives | |
| In office 1933–1937 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Clinton Gossett (1888-09-02)September 2, 1888 |
| Died | September 20, 1974(1974-09-20) (aged 86) Boise, Idaho, U.S. |
| Resting place | Kohlerlawn Cemetery,Nampa, Idaho |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Clara Louise Fleming (1892–1967) |
| Children | 3 |
| Profession | Agriculture |
Charles Clinton Gossett (September 2, 1888 – September 20, 1974) was an American politician who served as the 20thgovernor of Idaho and aUnited States Senator fromIdaho, but was in both offices less than a year in the 1940s. He was a member of theDemocratic Party.[1]
Born inPricetown, Ohio, Gossett attended public schools in Ohio. He moved west toCunningham, Washington, in 1907, toOntario, Oregon, in 1910, and finally toNampa, Idaho, in 1922. He engaged in the agriculture, livestock, feed and shipping businesses.
In 1932, Gossett was elected toIdaho House of Representatives. In 1936, he was elected the22nd Idaho lieutenant governor, serving for two years alongside GovernorBarzilla Clark. Gossett returned as the 24th Idaho lieutenant governor under GovernorChase Clark, Barzilla Clark's younger brother, both elected in 1940.
Gossett was elected to the governorship in his own right in1944, winning the June primary over Idaho State AuditorCalvin Wright andIdaho Secretary of State George Curtis,[2] as well as the November general election over William Detweiler, the Republican nominee fromHazelton.[3] This was the last election for a two-year term, but Gossett served less than a year; he resigned in November 1945 to let his successor, Lieutenant GovernorArnold Williams, appoint him to theUnited States Senate to succeed the lateJohn Thomas.[4][5][6]
In the special election for the seat in 1946, Gossett was defeated in the Democratic primary in June by State SenatorGeorge Donart,[7] who in turn was defeated byRepublican U.S. RepresentativeHenry Dworshak in the general election in November. After the loss, Gossett returned to his former business pursuits.
Gossett attempted a political comeback in 1954 in a run for the governorship. At the time, self-succession (reelection) was not allowed;Len Jordan's term was ending. Gossett was defeated in the Democratic gubernatorial primary in August by State SenatorClark Hamilton,[8] who in turn lost to Republicanattorney generalRobert Smylie in the general election. Gossett was appointed to the Idaho Tax Commission by Smylie in 1956 and served until 1967.[9][10]
Gossett married Clara Louise Fleming on November 28, 1916,[1] and they had three children.[9]
Following an extended illness, Gossett died at age 86 in Boise on September 20, 1974,[11] and is interred at Kohlerlawn Cemetery in Nampa.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Idaho January 3, 1937 – January 2, 1939 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Idaho January 3, 1941 – January 2, 1943 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Idaho January 1, 1945 – November 17, 1945 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Democratic Party nominee,Governor of Idaho 1944 (won) | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 2) from Idaho November 17, 1945 – November 6, 1946 Served alongside:Glen H. Taylor | Succeeded by |
| Class 2 |  | |
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| Class 3 | ||
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| International | |
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| People | |
