I am by now well-established as a world authority on US state governors. I think it’s time to mention a couple of Kentucky’s finest.
Gabriel Slaughter
Lazarus W. Powell
Ruby Laffoon
Happy Chandler who defeated Republican nominee King Swope, and won a 2nd term in 1955 with the slogan “Be like your Pappy and vote for Happy”.
I'd also like to squeeze in a special mention for another Kentucky politician, Marvel Mills Logan.
Showing posts with label governors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label governors. Show all posts
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Governors of Michigan
As you will probably know I am one of the world's leading experts on the names of American state governors. However I have not until now turned my attention to the great mitten-shaped state of Michigan. I have checked two separate sources to confirm that these gentlemen are real. Click the links to read and memorise their life stories!
Alpheus Felch
Epaphroditus Ransom
Henry H. Crapo
Hazen S. Pingree
Luren Dickinson
Albert Sleeper
and a special mention for Lieutenant Governor Dick Posthumus
Alpheus Felch
Epaphroditus Ransom
Henry H. Crapo
Hazen S. Pingree
Luren Dickinson
Albert Sleeper
and a special mention for Lieutenant Governor Dick Posthumus
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Flat drinks with His Excellency
So just as I was falling sick on Tuesday evening, I was obliged to attend a reception at Government House in honour of the 50th birthday of Amnesty International. I changed into my suit at work, and went over to the taxi rank. The first vehicle was a van. I went and hopped into the normal cab behind, which wasn't easy as the metal railing along the rank seems designed to prevent this. I asked the cabbie if it was OK - I felt it would be weird to hire a van for just myself. I didn't even have a bag I could consider as "freight". He indicated that I should get in the van. So, I arrived at Government House looking like I had come to clean the pool.
Nevertheless, I joined a knot of shivering strangers outside the castellated clock tower, assuming they must be other Amnesty members. The word had gone around that at six o'clock we would be admitted to the tower, where a Braided Functionary would tell us what was required of us. On the Governor's turf, it's Governor's Rules. You queue up holding your invitation upside down so Braided Functionary 2 can read it and announce you, as you step in and shake hands with His Excellency and the Mrs.
A few years ago when we needed a new governor, the premier appointed Richard Butler, the international diplomat, who had spent hardly any time in Tasmania. He was an unmitigated disaster who offended everyone, and was essentially paid $650,000 to resign. He was replaced by the then Chief Justice, William Cox (shout out to his niece Anna!) When he retired the next Chief Justice, Peter Underwood, was bumped along to be Governor. You get the feeling that since the Butler Fiasco, only eminent local wiggy types are to be trusted with the keys to the big house.
So we filed in and shook hands with the gubernatorial couple, and filed into a large reception room. There were probably 100 Amnesty people there - lots of rank and file people like myself. The consensus was that they had just invited everybody. There were drinks - OJ, G&T or small glasses of flat-looking beer. For some reason I took the beer. The nibbles were just OK. His Excellency made a nice speech about human rights. At seven, a clock went 'bong', the fresh drinks were whisked away, and the food platters quietly disappeared. After a while functionaries began circulating, just quietly mentioning to selected influential groups that it was time to go, and let His Excellency and Mrs Underwood have dinner and watch Winners and Losers.
The rest of us got the message and joined the tide of human-rights-loving volunteers, who flowed out into the night, debating what to have for dinner and negotiating lifts home.
Nevertheless, I joined a knot of shivering strangers outside the castellated clock tower, assuming they must be other Amnesty members. The word had gone around that at six o'clock we would be admitted to the tower, where a Braided Functionary would tell us what was required of us. On the Governor's turf, it's Governor's Rules. You queue up holding your invitation upside down so Braided Functionary 2 can read it and announce you, as you step in and shake hands with His Excellency and the Mrs.
A few years ago when we needed a new governor, the premier appointed Richard Butler, the international diplomat, who had spent hardly any time in Tasmania. He was an unmitigated disaster who offended everyone, and was essentially paid $650,000 to resign. He was replaced by the then Chief Justice, William Cox (shout out to his niece Anna!) When he retired the next Chief Justice, Peter Underwood, was bumped along to be Governor. You get the feeling that since the Butler Fiasco, only eminent local wiggy types are to be trusted with the keys to the big house.
So we filed in and shook hands with the gubernatorial couple, and filed into a large reception room. There were probably 100 Amnesty people there - lots of rank and file people like myself. The consensus was that they had just invited everybody. There were drinks - OJ, G&T or small glasses of flat-looking beer. For some reason I took the beer. The nibbles were just OK. His Excellency made a nice speech about human rights. At seven, a clock went 'bong', the fresh drinks were whisked away, and the food platters quietly disappeared. After a while functionaries began circulating, just quietly mentioning to selected influential groups that it was time to go, and let His Excellency and Mrs Underwood have dinner and watch Winners and Losers.
The rest of us got the message and joined the tide of human-rights-loving volunteers, who flowed out into the night, debating what to have for dinner and negotiating lifts home.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
A person named Person
A selected list of New Hampshire Governors, featuring my favourite, Person Colby Cheney. As I have always said, you don't need money or family connections to run for Governor of a United State - just a really strange name.
Governor Person C. Cheney
Governor Person C. CheneyFriday, April 10, 2009
Important List! #04
It takes a certain sort of person to be elected Governor of one of the United States. You might think I mean persistence, wealth or possibly a big forehead. No, I just mean a good governory name. If your name is Michael D. Peterson or Andrew Walker, you have no chance.
From the list of Florida governors, here are five in a row.
Dave Sholtz
Fred P. Cone
Spessard L. Holland
Millard F. Caldwell
Fuller Warren
Somewhat earlier were Ossian B. Hart, Marcellus L. Stearns and Mr Park Trammel.
I have done a quick flick through Louisiana and some of the states that start with M, and would like to bolster my argument with the following:
P.B.S. Pinchback
Oramel H. Simpson
Lot M. Morrill
Sumner Sewall
John Eager Howard
William Pinkney White
Spiro T. Agnew
Increase Sumner
Leverett Saltonstall
Foster Furcolo
Endicott Peabody
Theodore G. Bilbo
Lilburn W. Boggs
Meredith M. Marmaduke
Trusten Polk
and possibly the best of all, Harry W. Nice (Republican, Maryland, 1935-39).
From the list of Florida governors, here are five in a row.
Dave Sholtz
Fred P. Cone
Spessard L. Holland
Millard F. Caldwell
Fuller Warren
Somewhat earlier were Ossian B. Hart, Marcellus L. Stearns and Mr Park Trammel.
I have done a quick flick through Louisiana and some of the states that start with M, and would like to bolster my argument with the following:
P.B.S. Pinchback
Oramel H. Simpson
Lot M. Morrill
Sumner Sewall
John Eager Howard
William Pinkney White
Spiro T. Agnew
Increase Sumner
Leverett Saltonstall
Foster Furcolo
Endicott Peabody
Theodore G. Bilbo
Lilburn W. Boggs
Meredith M. Marmaduke
Trusten Polk
and possibly the best of all, Harry W. Nice (Republican, Maryland, 1935-39).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)