Lester H. Clee
Encyclopedia
Lester Harrison Clee was an American
clergyman and politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature
and was the Republican
nominee for Governor of New Jersey
in 1937.
to work in a steel mill. He started a boys' club among his fellow mill workers and in 1908 began working for the Young Men's Christian Association
in Quincy, Massachusetts
. Clee married Katherine Steele on August 9, 1911.
Clee educated himself for the ministry while serving as assistant to the pastor of West End Presbyterian Church in New York City
from 1918 to 1921. His first pastorate was at the Rutherford Baptist Church in Bergen County, New Jersey
from 1921 to 1926, after which time he became pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Newark, New Jersey
. He served as pastor at the Newark church for nearly 25 years before retiring in 1950.
Clee was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly
in 1934 on the Essex County
Clean Government ticket. The following year he briefly served as Speaker of the Assembly before being elected to the New Jersey Senate
.
In 1937 he became the Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey
against the Democratic
candidate A. Harry Moore
. Clee carried 15 of the state's 21 counties, but Moore won the election thanks to an overwhelming plurality of more than 45,000 votes in his home county of Hudson. The Hudson returns were widely suspected to be fraudulent, the result of political boss Frank Hague
's tight control on the county's electoral process.
Clee later served as chairman of the State Mediation Board under Governor Alfred E. Driscoll
, and was also president of the State Civil Service Commission and a member of the State Parole Board. He moved to Chester
in 1950 and served as Borough Councilman and later as Mayor of Chester, New Jersey. He moved to Princeton
in 1954. His wife died in January 1954, and the following year he married Madeleine Dreier.
Clee successfully petitioned for continuance of Bloomfield College and Seminary (now Bloomfield College
) before the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church
, with which it is affiliated. He served as a trustee and acting president of Bloomfield College
from 1959 to 1960. A dormitory, Clee Hall, was erected in his honor in 1961.
Clee died in 1962 in Princeton, New Jersey
at the age of 73.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
clergyman and politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
and was the 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...
nominee for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
in 1937.
Biography
Clee was born in 1888 in Thompsonville, Connecticut to Frederick and Margaret (Kelley) Clee. At a young age he was forced by his father's illness to go to Worcester, MassachusettsWorcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
to work in a steel mill. He started a boys' club among his fellow mill workers and in 1908 began working for the Young Men's Christian Association
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
in Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
. Clee married Katherine Steele on August 9, 1911.
Clee educated himself for the ministry while serving as assistant to the pastor of West End Presbyterian Church in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1918 to 1921. His first pastorate was at the Rutherford Baptist Church in Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
from 1921 to 1926, after which time he became pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. He served as pastor at the Newark church for nearly 25 years before retiring in 1950.
Clee was elected to the New Jersey General 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 on the Essex County
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
Clean Government ticket. The following year he briefly served as Speaker of the Assembly before being elected to the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
.
In 1937 he became the Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
against the Democratic
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...
candidate A. Harry Moore
A. Harry Moore
Arthur Harry Moore was a Democrat who was the 39th Governors of New Jersey, serving three terms between 1926 and 1941. He was the longest-serving New Jersey Governor in the 20th century and the only New Jersey Governor elected to serve three separate non-consecutive terms...
. Clee carried 15 of the state's 21 counties, but Moore won the election thanks to an overwhelming plurality of more than 45,000 votes in his home county of Hudson. The Hudson returns were widely suspected to be fraudulent, the result of political boss Frank Hague
Frank Hague
Frank Hague was an American Democratic Party politician who served as the mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey from 1917 to 1947, Democratic National Committeeman from New Jersey from 1922 until 1949, and Vice-Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1924 until 1949.Hague has a widely-known...
's tight control on the county's electoral process.
Clee later served as chairman of the State Mediation Board under Governor Alfred E. Driscoll
Alfred E. Driscoll
Alfred Eastlack Driscoll was an American Republican Party politician, who served in the New Jersey Senate representing Camden County, who served as the 43rd Governor of New Jersey, and as president of Warner-Lambert .-Biography:He was born on October 25, 1902 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, and was also president of the State Civil Service Commission and a member of the State Parole Board. He moved to Chester
Chester, New Jersey
Chester is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 1,649.Chester Township was established as a separate political entity on April 1, 1799, including the area of both the Township and the downtown Village area which came...
in 1950 and served as Borough Councilman and later as Mayor of Chester, New Jersey. He moved to Princeton
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
in 1954. His wife died in January 1954, and the following year he married Madeleine Dreier.
Clee successfully petitioned for continuance of Bloomfield College and Seminary (now Bloomfield College
Bloomfield College
Bloomfield College is a four-year private liberal arts college located in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Bloomfield College is chartered by the State of New Jersey and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools...
) before the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
, with which it is affiliated. He served as a trustee and acting president of Bloomfield College
Bloomfield College
Bloomfield College is a four-year private liberal arts college located in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Bloomfield College is chartered by the State of New Jersey and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools...
from 1959 to 1960. A dormitory, Clee Hall, was erected in his honor in 1961.
Clee died in 1962 in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
at the age of 73.
External links
- Biographical information for Lester H. Clee from 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:...