Gruening, Ernest, 1887-1974

GRUENING, Ernest Henry, a Senator from Alaska; born in New York City, February 6, 1887; attended Drisler School and Sachs School; graduated from Hotchkiss School in 1903, Harvard College in 1907, and Harvard Medical School in 1912; gave up practice of medicine to enter journalism; reporter for Boston American in 1912 and, after a variety of jobs with several newspapers, became managing editor of the New York Tribune in 1917; served in the Field Artillery Corps in 1918; editor of The Nation 1920-1923; editor, New York Post 1932-1933; adviser to the United States delegation to the Seventh Inter-American Conference, Montevideo, Chile, in 1933; director of the Division of Territories and Island Possessions of the Department of the Interior 1934-1939; administrator of the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration 1935-1937; member of Alaska International Highway Commission 1938-1942; appointed Governor of Alaska by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1939 and twice reappointed, serving until 1953; elected to the United States Senate October 6, 1955, from the Territory of Alaska as an advocate of Alaska statehood but did not take the oath of office and was not accorded senatorial privileges; known as "the father of Alaska statehood"'; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate on November 25, 1958, and upon admission of Alaska as a State into the Union on January 3, 1959, in the classification of Senators from that State, drew the four-year term beginning on that day and ending January 3, 1963; reelected in 1962 and served from January 3, 1959, to January 3, 1969; unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1968; president of investment firm; legislative consultant; died in Washington, D.C., June 26, 1974; cremated; ashes scattered over Mount Ernest Gruening, north of Juneau, Alaska.

<p>Ernest Henry Gruening (/ˈɡriːnɪŋ/ GREEN-ing; February 6, 1887 – June 26, 1974) was an American journalist and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, Gruening was the Governor of the Alaska Territory from 1939 until 1953, and a United States Senator from Alaska from 1959 until 1969.</p>

<p>Born in New York City, Gruening pursued a career in journalism after graduating from Harvard Medical School. After working for various newspapers in New York and Boston, he served in various roles during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was appointed as Governor of Alaska in 1939 and became a prominent advocate of Alaska statehood.</p>

<p>Gruening became one of Alaska's inaugural pair of senators after Alaska gained statehood in 1959. Gruening was a prominent opponent of the Vietnam War, and with Oregon's Wayne Morse, was one of just two senators to vote against the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which allowed the bombing of North Vietnam. In 1968, Mike Gravel defeated Gruening in the Democratic Senate primary, and Gruening's attempt to win re-election as an independent was unsuccessful.</p>

<p>Ernest Gruening (pronounced "Greening") was a man who wore many hats in his lifetime: from WWI soldier to physician to journalist. He next worked his way into politics, eventually gaining the presidential appointment as territorial governor of Alaska, and onward to a prestigious seat in the U.S. Senate. Gruening fought hard for Alaska to become the 49th state, and eventually became known as the "Father of Alaska Statehood."</p>

<p>Gruening was born in New York City on February 6, 1887. His father, Emil Gruening, was a famous physician, and hoped that his only son would follow in his footsteps. The young Gruening graduated from Harvard University in 1907, and five years later from Harvard Medical School. However, his passion was in social and political development and he longed to become a journalist. Shortly after his graduation from medical school, Gruening took a job as a reporter for the Boston American, then the Boston Evening Herald as an editorial writer from 1912 to 1913.</p>

<p>He continued to develop his journalism career and went on to become an editor, working simultaneously for both the Boston Evening Traveler and the New York Tribune during a four-year period. After serving in World War I, Gruening returned to New York, and from 1920 to 1923 served as editor of The Nation. He edited the New York Post from 1932 to 1933. Throughout his journalism career, Gruening fought for the cause of labor and for minorities. Eventually, his crusade began to include fighting for rights for territories and possessions of the United States.</p>

<p>Born on February 6, 1887, in New York City, Gruening graduated from Harvard University in 1907 and from Harvard Medical School in 1912. Although Ernest Gruening graduated from Harvard Medical School with an M.D. degree, he soon decided to direct his energies to bettering the lives of those in the United States and its territories who did not enjoy the full rights of citizenship. Initially, as a crusading reporter for the Boston American in 1912 and editor for the New York Tribune in 1917 and The Nation from 1920-1923, he championed the cause of the laboring man and minorities. Later his interests expanded to include neighbors, territories and possessions of the United States.</p>

<p>With his appointment in 1934 as director of the Division of Territories and Island Possessions within the Depatment of the Interior under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Gruening worked to improve conditions for United States citizens outside the continental boundaries. Almost immediately he began working toward statehood for Alaska and Hawaii.</p>

<p>Roosevelt appointed Gruening as governor of the Territory of Alaska in 1939 and twice reappointed until 1953. Gruening, known as "the father of Alaska statehood" was elected to the United States Senate on November 25, 1958, and on January 3, 1959, Alaska was admitted as a State into the Union.</p>