Burton M. Cross
Encyclopedia
Burton Melvin Cross was a Maine Republican
politician. Cross was Maine
's 61st and 63rd Governor.
In 1933 Cross won a seat on the Augusta Common Council and four years later in 1937 moved up to the Board of Aldermen, presiding over both bodies. Elected to the Maine House of Representatives
in 1941 he served two terms before moving up to the Maine Senate
in 1945. He became majority floor leader in 1947 and President of the Senate
in 1949 until 1952.
In 1952 Cross won the Republican nomination for Governor and went on to defeat Democrat James Oliver
in the general election by a substantial margin. Cross actually became Governor about two weeks prior to the start of his elected term of office. The outgoing Governor, Frederick G. Payne
resigned on December 25, 1952 to prepare for his term in the United States Senate
; Cross, as President of the Senate became Governor through constitutional succession. Cross himself resigned as Senate President (and Governor) at 10:00am January 6, 1953 and was replaced for the next 25 hours by Nathaniel Haskell
. At 11:00am on January 7, 1953, Cross' official elected term of office began.
Although exonerated in a liquor scandal, a politically wounded Cross was defeated in his reelection bid in 1954 by Democratic challenger, Edmund S. Muskie, by over 20,000 votes.
Cross never sought public office again but returned to private life engaging in the insurance and stock brokerage business until his retirement
in 1971.
In 2001, after major renovations, the Maine State Office Building was dedicated to Cross. A plaque in his honor is located in the second floor lobby.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician. Cross was Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
's 61st and 63rd Governor.
In 1933 Cross won a seat on the Augusta Common Council and four years later in 1937 moved up to the Board of Aldermen, presiding over both bodies. Elected to the Maine House of Representatives
Maine House of Representatives
The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...
in 1941 he served two terms before moving up to the Maine Senate
Maine Senate
The Maine Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. The Senate currently consists of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, though the Maine Constitution allows for "an odd number of Senators, not less than...
in 1945. He became majority floor leader in 1947 and President of the Senate
President of the Senate
The President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate, and is the speaker of other assemblies.The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's succession for its top executive office: for example, the President of the Senate of Nigeria is second in line...
in 1949 until 1952.
In 1952 Cross won the Republican nomination for Governor and went on to defeat Democrat James Oliver
James Oliver
James Oliver may refer to:*Jamie Oliver , English chef*Jamie Oliver keyboards player of Welsh band Lostprophets*James C...
in the general election by a substantial margin. Cross actually became Governor about two weeks prior to the start of his elected term of office. The outgoing Governor, Frederick G. Payne
Frederick G. Payne
Frederick George Payne was a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Maine. He was born in Lewiston, Maine....
resigned on December 25, 1952 to prepare for his term in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
; Cross, as President of the Senate became Governor through constitutional succession. Cross himself resigned as Senate President (and Governor) at 10:00am January 6, 1953 and was replaced for the next 25 hours by Nathaniel Haskell
Nathaniel M. Haskell
Nathaniel Mervin Haskell was a Maine Republican politician. Haskell served as the 62nd Governor of Maine for 25 hours: from 10:00am January 6, 1953 to 11:00am January 7, 1953.-Biography:...
. At 11:00am on January 7, 1953, Cross' official elected term of office began.
Although exonerated in a liquor scandal, a politically wounded Cross was defeated in his reelection bid in 1954 by Democratic challenger, Edmund S. Muskie, by over 20,000 votes.
Cross never sought public office again but returned to private life engaging in the insurance and stock brokerage business until his retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
in 1971.
In 2001, after major renovations, the Maine State Office Building was dedicated to Cross. A plaque in his honor is located in the second floor lobby.