Robert F. Bradford | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bradford in 1947 | |
| 57th Governor of Massachusetts | |
| In office January 2, 1947 – January 6, 1949 | |
| Lieutenant | Arthur W. Coolidge |
| Preceded by | Maurice J. Tobin |
| Succeeded by | Paul A. Dever |
| 55thLieutenant Governor of Massachusetts | |
| In office January 3, 1945 – January 2, 1947 | |
| Governor | Maurice J. Tobin |
| Preceded by | Horace T. Cahill |
| Succeeded by | Arthur W. Coolidge |
| District Attorney ofMiddlesex County, Massachusetts | |
| In office 1939–1945 | |
| Preceded by | William G. Andrew |
| Succeeded by | George E. Thompson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Fiske Bradford (1902-12-15)December 15, 1902 Boston,Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | March 18, 1983(1983-03-18) (aged 80) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Resting place | Mount Auburn Cemetery,Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Harvard College Harvard Law School |
| Profession | Politician, lawyer |
Robert Fiske Bradford (December 15, 1902 – March 18, 1983) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as the 57thgovernor of Massachusetts, from 1947 to 1949.
Robert Fiske Bradford was born inBoston, Massachusetts to Edward and Edith (Fiske) Bradford. His father was from an old traditionalNew England YankeeBrahmin family, a successful physician, and dean ofHarvard Medical School, and his mother was the founder of the private Fiske School in Boston.[1] Through an entirely paternal line he was a descendant ofMayflower passengerWilliam Bradford, Governor of thePlymouth Colony in the 17th century.[2][3] Bradford attended theBrowne and Nichols School, and graduated fromHarvard College in 1923. While at Harvard, Bradford was on the varsitycrew team, and served as editor ofThe Harvard Crimson. In 1926 he received his law degree fromHarvard Law School, was admitted to the bar, and began to practice law in Boston[2] atRopes & Gray. That same year he married RebeccaCrowninshield Browne; the couple had four children.[1][4]
ARepublican, Bradford entered politics by serving as executive secretary to GovernorJoseph Ely, a conservativeDemocrat with whom he served as an associate at Ropes & Gray. After Ely left office in 1935, the two founded a law firm.[1] He later worked on the gubernatorial and senatorial campaigns ofLeverett Saltonstall, with whom he formed a close friendship. In 1938, he made his first bid for elective office by challenging Republican incumbentWarren L. Bishop in the race forDistrict Attorney ofMiddlesex County.[5] He defeated Bishop and served in that position from 1939 to 1945. In this post he gained a reputation for cracking down on corruption; his convictions included mayors ofLowell and Cambridge, and a state public works commissioner.[1]
In1944 he won election aslieutenant governor, serving underDemocratic governorMaurice J. Tobin.[1] In1946, Bradford challenged and defeated Tobin, and served one term as governor, from 1947 to 1949. In the contest, Bradford was supported by DemocratJames Michael Curley, who was contesting with Tobin for control of the state Democratic party apparatus. As governor, Bradford governed in the fashion of his mentor, Leverett Saltonstall, with an emphasis on fiscalconservatism and socialliberalism. During his administration, he advanced balanced budgets and intervened to prevent protractedstrikes, which would be deleterious to the interests of business and the broader public. His administration worked to promotepublic housing forveterans and preventalcoholism through treatment and prevention programs. In 1947, he chaired the "Silent Guest" program in which Americans were encouraged to donate the cash equivalent of one setting ofThanksgiving dinner to the starving poor in post-warEurope. He also introduced a master plan for improving the state's roadways, and enacted legislation to greatly expand the state's agricultural school inAmherst, which was renamedUniversity of Massachusetts, Amherst. The funding plan for the highway plan involved the floating of bond, and was rejected by the Democratic-controlled legislature but approved under his successor, DemocratPaul A. Dever. Bradford was defeated in his bid for re-election in1948 by Dever, a formerMassachusetts Attorney General, in a Democratic landslide.
After leaving office, Bradford returned to the private practice of law. He was also involved in charitable, philanthropic, and educational organizations, serving as President ofPlanned Parenthood of Massachusetts, on the boards of Harvard andSimmons Colleges, and on the board ofMassachusetts Eye and Ear.[1][4] He served as senior warden for the congregation at Boston'sKing's Chapel. He suffered for many years fromParkinson's disease, but maintained a busy schedule despite its limitations.[1]
ComposerLeroy Anderson, who wrote such classics as "Sleigh Ride" and "Blue Tango", wrote a piece entitled "Governor Bradford March". It was premiered on July 6, 1948, in a concert by theBoston Pops Orchestra under the direction ofArthur Fiedler, at which Governor Bradford made a special appearance.
He died on March 18, 1983, inBoston, Massachusetts, and was buried atMount Auburn Cemetery inCambridge, Magnolia Avenue, Lot 3112.[6]
Bradford's daughter, Ann, was the wife ofU.S. senatorCharles Mathias ofMaryland.[7]
In 1996, theJohn F. Kennedy School of Government began offering the Governor Robert F. Bradford Fellowship, a scholarship to qualified state employees that covers both tuition and salary while the recipient attends the school.[8] Bradford's papers are archived at theMassachusetts Historical Society.[4]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forLieutenant Governor of Massachusetts 1944 | Succeeded by |
| Republican nominee forGovernor of Massachusetts 1946,1948 | ||
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts 1945–1947 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Massachusetts 1947–1949 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
