Katharine Elkus White
Encyclopedia
Katharine Elkus White was an American
Democratic Party
politician and diplomat, who served as Mayor of Red Bank, New Jersey
from 1951 to 1956, chairwoman of the New Jersey Highway Authority (1955-1964), and United States Ambassador to Denmark
(1964-1968).
and Gertrude Rosalie Hess. Her father was appointed by Woodrow Wilson
to be the United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire
. She lived in Constantinople
while her father was ambassador there from 1916 to 1919. The family later settled in Red Bank, New Jersey
.
She graduated from Vassar College
in 1928, and on October 3, 1929 married Arthur J. White, a stockbroker who later became the executive secretary of the New York Clothing Manufacturers Exchange. They raised two children in Red Bank (Lawrence Elkus White, b. 1931, and Frances Elkus White, b. 1933).
for the State Assembly
in 1934, and for Monmouth County Board of Freeholders
in 1935.
She was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1936
, 1940
, 1944
, and 1948
. In 1940 she became a member of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee
and would later serve as vice-chair in 1954.
In 1950 she ran for Mayor of Red Bank, as the Democratic candidate in a predominantly Republican
town. She defeated her Republican opponent, Stanley O. Wilkins, and was sworn in on January 1, 1951 as Red Bank's first female mayor and the first Democrat to serve in more than twenty years. She was re-elected twice, remaining Mayor until 1956.
In 1954, Governor Robert B. Meyner
appointed her a commissioner of the New Jersey Highway Authority, which operated the Garden State Parkway
. In 1955 she became chairman of the Highway Authority, a position she held for ten years. She was the first woman in the United States to head a toll road body.
In 1960 she ran for the 3rd congressional district
in the House of Representatives
, in an unsuccessful bid to unseat incumbent James C. Auchincloss
. In 1961 she was named acting State Treasurer
.
. At the same time Johnson also named nine other women to federal posts, pledging an end to "stag Government."
White served as Ambassador until 1968. After her retirement, she returned to Red Bank, where she worked with local and national organizations, including the United Negro College Fund
. She also served on the Board of Governors of Rutgers University
from 1976 to 1980.
White died at the Riverview Medical Center
in Red Bank at the age of 78.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician and diplomat, who served as Mayor of Red Bank, New Jersey
Mayor of Red Bank, New Jersey
Mayor of Red Bank, New Jersey:*Pasquale Menna ? to 2014.*Edward J. McKenna, Jr. circa 2004.*Daniel Joseph O'Hern circa 1980.*Michael John Arnone 1978 to 1990.*Benedict R. Nicosia 1962 to 1966....
from 1951 to 1956, chairwoman of the New Jersey Highway Authority (1955-1964), and United States Ambassador to Denmark
United States Ambassador to Denmark
The first representative from the United States to Denmark was appointed in 1827 as a Chargé d'Affaires. There followed a series of chargés and ministers until 1890 when the first full ambassador was appointed...
(1964-1968).
Early life
White was born in 1906, the daughter of Abram Isaac ElkusAbram I. Elkus
-Biography:He was born in New York City on August 6, 1867, the son of Isaac and Julia Elkus. He was educated in the public schools of the city and in the College of the City of New York. He took his law degree at Columbia and was admitted to the bar in 1888....
and Gertrude Rosalie Hess. Her father was appointed by Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
to be the United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire
United States Ambassador to Turkey
The United States of America has maintained many high level contacts with Turkey since the nineteenth century.-Chargé d'Affaires:*George W. Erving *David Porter -Minister Resident:*David Porter *Dabney Smith Carr...
. She lived in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
while her father was ambassador there from 1916 to 1919. The family later settled in Red Bank, New Jersey
Red Bank, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,844 people, 5,201 households, and 2,501 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,639.1 people per square mile . There were 5,450 housing units at an average density of 3,055.0 per square mile...
.
She graduated from Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
in 1928, and on October 3, 1929 married Arthur J. White, a stockbroker who later became the executive secretary of the New York Clothing Manufacturers Exchange. They raised two children in Red Bank (Lawrence Elkus White, b. 1931, and Frances Elkus White, b. 1933).
Political career
White became involved in local Democratic politics and unsuccessfully ran for Red Bank Borough Council in 1933, losing by thirteen votes. She also ran unsuccessfully as a Democratic candidate from Monmouth CountyMonmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
for the State Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
in 1934, and for Monmouth County Board of Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
in 1935.
She was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1936
1936 Democratic National Convention
The 1936 Democratic National Convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from June 23 to 27, 1936. The convention resulted in the re-nomination of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Vice President John Nance Garner....
, 1940
1940 Democratic National Convention
The 1940 Democratic National Convention was held at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois from July 15–18, 1940. The convention resulted in the re-nomination of President Franklin Roosevelt as the Democratic Party candidate for an unprecedented third term. Secretary of Agriculture Henry A...
, 1944
1944 Democratic National Convention
The 1944 Democratic National Convention was held at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois from July 19 - July 21, 1944. The convention resulted in the re-nomination of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt for an unprecedented fourth term. Senator Harry S. Truman of Missouri was nominated for...
, and 1948
1948 Democratic National Convention
The 1948 Democratic National Convention was held at Convention Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from July 12 to July 14, and resulted in the nominations of incumbent Harry S Truman for President and U.S. Senator Alben W...
. In 1940 she became a member of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee
New Jersey Democratic State Committee
The New Jersey Democratic State Committee is the New Jersey state affiliate of the United States Democratic Party.New Jersey Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski is the Chairman and Camden Mayor Dana Redd is the Vice-Chairwoman. They were elected on January 27, 2010.-Party structure:The NJDSC is the...
and would later serve as vice-chair in 1954.
In 1950 she ran for Mayor of Red Bank, as the Democratic candidate in a predominantly Republican
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...
town. She defeated her Republican opponent, Stanley O. Wilkins, and was sworn in on January 1, 1951 as Red Bank's first female mayor and the first Democrat to serve in more than twenty years. She was re-elected twice, remaining Mayor until 1956.
In 1954, Governor Robert B. Meyner
Robert B. Meyner
Robert Baumle Meyner of Phillipsburg, New Jersey was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 44th Governor of New Jersey, from 1954 to 1962...
appointed her a commissioner of the New Jersey Highway Authority, which operated the Garden State Parkway
Garden State Parkway
The Garden State Parkway is a 172.4-mile limited-access toll parkway that stretches the length of New Jersey from the New York line at Montvale, New Jersey, to Cape May at New Jersey's southernmost tip. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State." Most New Jersey residents refer...
. In 1955 she became chairman of the Highway Authority, a position she held for ten years. She was the first woman in the United States to head a toll road body.
In 1960 she ran for the 3rd congressional district
New Jersey's 3rd congressional district
New Jersey's Third Congressional District is currently represented by Republican Jon Runyan. It is a swing district, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+1. Former NFL player Republican Jon Runyan defeated John Adler in the 2010 House elections...
in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, in an unsuccessful bid to unseat incumbent James C. Auchincloss
James C. Auchincloss
James Coats Auchincloss was an American businessman and Republican Party politician who represented in the United States House of Representatives from 1943–1965....
. In 1961 she was named acting State Treasurer
State Treasurer
In the state governments of the United States, 49 of the 50 states have the executive position of treasurer. Texas abolished the position of Texas State Treasurer in 1996....
.
Diplomatic career and later life
On March 4, 1964, at a Women's National Press Club dinner, President Lyndon Johnson announced White's appointment as United States Ambassador to DenmarkUnited States Ambassador to Denmark
The first representative from the United States to Denmark was appointed in 1827 as a Chargé d'Affaires. There followed a series of chargés and ministers until 1890 when the first full ambassador was appointed...
. At the same time Johnson also named nine other women to federal posts, pledging an end to "stag Government."
White served as Ambassador until 1968. After her retirement, she returned to Red Bank, where she worked with local and national organizations, including the United Negro College Fund
United Negro College Fund
The United Negro College Fund is an American philanthropic organization that fundraises college tuition money for black students and general scholarship funds for 39 private historically black colleges and universities. The UNCF was incorporated on April 25, 1944 by Frederick D. Patterson , Mary...
. She also served on the Board of Governors of Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
from 1976 to 1980.
White died at the Riverview Medical Center
Riverview Medical Center
Riverview Medical Center is a 476-bed acute care community hospital located in Red Bank, New Jersey, United States. It was incorporated in 1928 and began in a renovated boarding house on Union Street, with 29 beds, one operating room, a delivery suite, and facilities for six newborns...
in Red Bank at the age of 78.
External links
- Katharine Elkus White in The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...
- United States Department of State: Ambassadors to Denmark