Meldrim Thomson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 73rd Governor of New Hampshire | |
| In office January 4, 1973 – January 4, 1979 | |
| Preceded by | Walter R. Peterson Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Hugh J. Gallen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Meldrim Thomson Jr. March 8, 1912 (1912-03-08) |
| Died | April 19, 2001(2001-04-19) (aged 89) Orford, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Other political affiliations | American Independent (1970) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 6 |
| Profession | Politician |
Meldrim Thomson Jr. (March 8, 1912 – April 19, 2001) was an American politician who served three terms as the 73rdgovernor of New Hampshire from 1973 to 1979. ARepublican, he was known as a strong supporter of conservative political values.
Thomson was born in 1912 inWilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, the son of Meldrim and Marion (Booth) Thomson, and was raised inGeorgia andFlorida.[1] He was anEagle Scout.[2] Thomson attendedMercer University,Washington and Jefferson College, and theUniversity of Georgia School of Law and was admitted to the practice of law in Florida in 1936.[3]
In 1938, he married his secretary,Anne Gale Kelly. They had six children.[4]
Thomson made his fortune publishing law books, founding the Equity Publishing Corporation in 1952. In both English and Spanish, it published the laws of New Hampshire,Vermont, the U.S. Virgin Islands, andPuerto Rico. In 1955, he moved his family to New Hampshire and began advocating for education and tax policy.[4]
In 1966, as chairman of the Orford School Board, Thomson refused to accept federal education aid because he said there were too many strings attached. He lost races for governor in Republican primaries in 1968 and 1970, running again in the 1970 general election on the third-partyAmerican Independent party. Receiving 10% of the vote[5]
In1972, Thomson ran for governor again as a Republican. He defeated governor Walter R. Peterson Jr. In the Republican primary and faced Democrat Robert J. Crowley. In the general election he pledged to veto any new sales or income tax that was put on his desk, and he further promised not to raise existing taxes.[1] Thomson was elected governor defeating Crowley 41% to 39%.[6]
In1974, Thomson ran for a second term against Democrat Richard W. Leonard. Thomson was narrowly reelected, defeating Leonard 51% to 49%. In1976, Thomson ran for a third term against Democrat Harry V. Spanos. He was re-elected in a landslide 58% to 42%. In1978, Thomson ran for a fourth term, defeating former governorWesley Powell in the Republican primary and faced DemocratHugh Gallen. In the general election, Powell ran as an independent, splitting the Republican vote. Thomson lost re-election to Gallen 49% to 45%.[7] In1980, Thomson initially ran for president as a third party candidate but dropped out and ran for governor again as a Republican, defeatingLou D'Allesandro for Republican nomination. Facing Gallen in a rematch, Thomson was defeated in a landslide 59% to 41%. In1982, he ran for governor as an independent, getting just 2% of the vote.[8]
Thomson coined the slogans "Low taxes are the result of low spending" and "Ax the Tax" to represent his fiscal philosophy. He was also a strong proponent of statesovereignty. When Thomson learned thatMassachusetts tax agents were at New Hampshire liquor stores taking down the numbers on cars with Massachusetts license plates, he had them arrested.[9] When he learned thatMaine had arrested aPortsmouth, New Hampshire lobsterman, in Maine waters, he began what was known as the "Lobster war."[10] The conflict ended in the U.S. Supreme Court with the drawing of an ocean boundary between the two states at the mouth of thePiscataqua River.[11]
In 1978, Thomson appointedDavid Souter to the Superior Court bench. Souter would later become aJustice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Thomson also appointedIvorey Cobb, the firstAfrican-American judge in New Hampshire state history, to the New Hampshire Commission for Civil Rights.[12]
During his governorship, and thereafter, Thomson took the following actions:
Thomson was one of Ronald Reagan's staunchest supporters in 1976, as the former California governor challenged President Gerald Ford for the Republican presidential nomination. Thomson was dismayed by Reagan's announcement that he would select moderate Republican SenatorRichard Schweiker of Pennsylvania as his running mate should he win the nomination.[18]
After he was defeated in1978, Thomson left the Republican party to form his own Constitution Party. However, after getting on the presidential general-election ballot in Alabama, Kansas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Maine, his campaign contributions dried up when it was evident that Ronald Reagan was going to win the Republican nomination for president. Thomson then ended his campaign for president and returned to the Republican Party.[19]
After retiring from politics, Thomson wrote a column forThe Union Leader and worked on his maple sugar farm.[20]Thomson died in 2001 aged 89 fromParkinson's disease and heart problems inOrford, New Hampshire.[1][20]
In 2002, the state named both a state building and state road in honor of Thomson. The state office complex on Hazen Drive inConcord was named "Meldrim Thomson Jr. State Office Complex." A 16-mile stretch ofRoute 25A, where his Mt. Cube Farm lined both sides of the road, was named the "Governor Meldrim Thomson Scenic Highway."
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)| Party political offices | ||
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| First | American Party nominee forGovernor of New Hampshire 1970 | Succeeded by None |
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of New Hampshire 1972,1974,1976,1978,1980 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of New Hampshire 1973–1979 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
