Frank Licht
Encyclopedia
Frank R. Licht was 67th Governor of Rhode Island from 1969 to 1973.
Licht was born in Providence, Rhode Island
to Jacob Licht and Rose Kassed Licht. He graduated from Brown University
in 1938 and Harvard Law School
in 1941. In 1946, he married Dorothy Shirley Krauss; they had three daughters, and eight grandchildren.
He was a partner with the Providence firm of Letts & Quinn from 1943 to 1956 and was an active member of the Freemasons.http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/RI/masons.html
Licht was elected to the Rhode Island Senate
in 1949 and served there until 1956. He sat on the Superior Court of Rhode Island from 1956 to 1968. That year, he fought and won an underdog campaign to oust Republican governor John Chafee
, later a US Senator. He was elected Governor of Rhode Island and served as the first Jewish holder of that office from 1969 to 1973.
As governor, he reversed campaign promises made in 1968 and 1970, pushing through Rhode Island's first income tax
in order to resolve a worsening fiscal crisis. He signed the tax bill minutes after the Senate
had passed it on a 26-24 vote, against the backdrop of some 500 angry demonstrators in the State House
.
He was the uncle of Richard A. Licht, who was Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island from 1985 to 1989 and unsuccessfully challenged John Chafee for the U.S. Senate seat he held in 1988
.
Frank Licht died of cancer at Roger Williams Hospital. Michael Dukakis
spoke at his funeral in 1987. (http://www.uri.edu/library/special_collections/registers/political_papers/richardlicht/seriesII.html)
Licht was born in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
to Jacob Licht and Rose Kassed Licht. He graduated from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in 1938 and Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1941. In 1946, he married Dorothy Shirley Krauss; they had three daughters, and eight grandchildren.
He was a partner with the Providence firm of Letts & Quinn from 1943 to 1956 and was an active member of the Freemasons.http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/RI/masons.html
Licht was elected to the Rhode Island Senate
Rhode Island Senate
The Rhode Island Senate is the upper house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Rhode Island. It is composed of 38 Senators, each of whom is elected to a two-year term. Rhode Island is one of the 14 states where its upper house serves at a two-year...
in 1949 and served there until 1956. He sat on the Superior Court of Rhode Island from 1956 to 1968. That year, he fought and won an underdog campaign to oust Republican governor John Chafee
John Chafee
John Lester Hubbard Chafee was an American politician. He served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, as the 66th Governor of Rhode Island, as the Secretary of the Navy, and as a United States Senator.-Early life and family:...
, later a US Senator. He was elected Governor of Rhode Island and served as the first Jewish holder of that office from 1969 to 1973.
As governor, he reversed campaign promises made in 1968 and 1970, pushing through Rhode Island's first income tax
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
in order to resolve a worsening fiscal crisis. He signed the tax bill minutes after the Senate
Rhode Island Senate
The Rhode Island Senate is the upper house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Rhode Island. It is composed of 38 Senators, each of whom is elected to a two-year term. Rhode Island is one of the 14 states where its upper house serves at a two-year...
had passed it on a 26-24 vote, against the backdrop of some 500 angry demonstrators in the State House
Rhode Island State House
The Rhode Island State House is the capitol of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It is located on the border of the Downtown and Smith Hill sections of the state capital city of Providence...
.
He was the uncle of Richard A. Licht, who was Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island from 1985 to 1989 and unsuccessfully challenged John Chafee for the U.S. Senate seat he held in 1988
United States Senate election in Rhode Island, 1988
The 1988 United States Senate election in Rhode Island was held on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John Chafee won re-election to a third term.-Democrat:*Richard Licht, Lieutenant Governor and former State Senator-Results:...
.
Frank Licht died of cancer at Roger Williams Hospital. Michael Dukakis
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
spoke at his funeral in 1987. (http://www.uri.edu/library/special_collections/registers/political_papers/richardlicht/seriesII.html)