Philip H. Hoff
Encyclopedia
Philip Henderson Hoff is an American politician from the U.S. state of Vermont
where he served as the 73rd Governor of Vermont
from 1963 to 1969. At the time of his election, he was the first Democrat elected Governor of Vermont
in 108 years.
. His father worked in the insurance industry and served two terms in the Massachusetts General Court
. Philip was a star high school football
player, scoring the winning touchdown in Turners Falls High School's 1942 annual game against rival Greenfield High School
.
Hoff attended Williams College
, where he studied English, but put off graduation for two years in order to serve in World War II. He saw combat action during World War II aboard the submarine, USS Sea Dog
, in the South Pacific. Hoff met his wife, Joan Brower, during his naval service. At the time, she was a student at Connecticut College
. Hoff returned to Williams after the war and graduated cum laude in 1948. He later attended Cornell Law School
, graduating in 1951. Philip and Joan moved to Burlington, Vermont
in 1951.
After being elected to the Vermont House of Representatives
in 1960, in 1962 Hoff was elected Vermont's first Democratic governor since 1854 by virtue of his energetic campaign and the popularity of President John F. Kennedy
. He was reelected in 1964 and 1966 and pioneered unprecedented environmental, development, and social welfare programs. Concerned about racial justice, he joined with New York Mayor John Lindsay
to co-found the Vermont-New York Youth Project, which brought minority students from the city together with Vermont students to work on joint summer projects at several Vermont colleges. According to the Boston Globe, the program, which temporarily doubled Vermont's black population, "uncovered some latent bigotry that had not been visible before."
Hoff was the first Democratic Governor in the nation to split with President Lyndon Johnson over the Vietnam War
and later campaigned across the country to promote Robert Kennedy's effort to obtain the 1968 Democratic presidential nomination. After Kennedy's assassination, Hoff endorsed Eugene McCarthy
. Democrats who opposed Johnson came close to nominating Hoff as a candidate for Vice President at the 1968 Democratic National Convention
, but after some initial enthusiasm, Hoff declined to put his name forward.
Hoff's endorsement of Kennedy and later McCarthy upset conservative Democrats and Hoff was also criticized for increases in state spending which some claimed led to hefty deficits. In 1970, Hoff challenged incumbent Senator Winston L. Prouty
for a Vermont seat in the United States Senate
, but he was handily defeated. During the campaign, Hoff announced that he had battled alcoholism in the past. Had he won, Hoff would have been the first Democratic Senator in Vermont history. Some attribute his defeat to his opposition to the Vietnam War and his efforts to promote racial justice.
In the 1980s he returned to elective politics, serving three terms in the Vermont State Senate. He has also served in various advisory and honorary positions and as President of the Board of Trustees at Vermont Law School
as well as continuing his work as a lawyer in private-practice. In 1989, he co-founded his current law firm, Hoff, Curtis.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
where he served as the 73rd Governor of Vermont
Governor of Vermont
The Governor of Vermont is the governor of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected in even numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years; Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every two years, instead of every four...
from 1963 to 1969. At the time of his election, he was the first Democrat elected Governor of Vermont
Governor of Vermont
The Governor of Vermont is the governor of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected in even numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years; Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every two years, instead of every four...
in 108 years.
Life and career
Hoff was born in Turners Falls, MassachusettsTurners Falls, Massachusetts
Turners Falls is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in the town of Montague in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,441 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. His father worked in the insurance industry and served two terms in the Massachusetts General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
. Philip was a star high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
player, scoring the winning touchdown in Turners Falls High School's 1942 annual game against rival Greenfield High School
Greenfield High School (Massachusetts)
Greenfield High School is located in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The mascot for Greenfield High School is the "Green Wave" represented by a green ocean wave.-External links:*...
.
Hoff attended Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, where he studied English, but put off graduation for two years in order to serve in World War II. He saw combat action during World War II aboard the submarine, USS Sea Dog
USS Sea Dog (SS-401)
USS Sea Dog was a Balao-class submarine in the United States Navy. She was the first ship to be named for the dogfish, a small shark of the North Atlantic, considered destructive by fishermen....
, in the South Pacific. Hoff met his wife, Joan Brower, during his naval service. At the time, she was a student at Connecticut College
Connecticut College
Connecticut College is a private liberal arts college located in New London, Connecticut.The college was founded in 1911, as Connecticut College for Women, in response to Wesleyan University closing its doors to women...
. Hoff returned to Williams after the war and graduated cum laude in 1948. He later attended Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School, located in Ithaca, New York, is a graduate school of Cornell University and one of the five Ivy League law schools. The school confers three law degrees...
, graduating in 1951. Philip and Joan moved to Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
in 1951.
After being elected to the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
in 1960, in 1962 Hoff was elected Vermont's first Democratic governor since 1854 by virtue of his energetic campaign and the popularity of President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
. He was reelected in 1964 and 1966 and pioneered unprecedented environmental, development, and social welfare programs. Concerned about racial justice, he joined with New York Mayor John Lindsay
John Lindsay
John Vliet Lindsay was an American politician, lawyer and broadcaster who was a U.S. Congressman, Mayor of New York City, candidate for U.S...
to co-found the Vermont-New York Youth Project, which brought minority students from the city together with Vermont students to work on joint summer projects at several Vermont colleges. According to the Boston Globe, the program, which temporarily doubled Vermont's black population, "uncovered some latent bigotry that had not been visible before."
Hoff was the first Democratic Governor in the nation to split with President Lyndon Johnson over the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and later campaigned across the country to promote Robert Kennedy's effort to obtain the 1968 Democratic presidential nomination. After Kennedy's assassination, Hoff endorsed Eugene McCarthy
Eugene McCarthy
Eugene Joseph "Gene" McCarthy was an American politician, poet, and a long-time member of the United States Congress from Minnesota. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1949 to 1959 and the U.S. Senate from 1959 to 1971.In the 1968 presidential election, McCarthy was the first...
. Democrats who opposed Johnson came close to nominating Hoff as a candidate for Vice President at the 1968 Democratic National Convention
1968 Democratic National Convention
The 1968 Democratic National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois, from August 26 to August 29, 1968. Because Democratic President Lyndon Johnson had announced he would not seek a second term, the purpose of the convention was to...
, but after some initial enthusiasm, Hoff declined to put his name forward.
Hoff's endorsement of Kennedy and later McCarthy upset conservative Democrats and Hoff was also criticized for increases in state spending which some claimed led to hefty deficits. In 1970, Hoff challenged incumbent Senator Winston L. Prouty
Winston L. Prouty
Winston Lewis Prouty was a United States Representative and Senator from Vermont.Winston Lewis Prouty was born in Newport, Vermont, to Willard Robert Prouty and Margaret Prouty. The Prouty family owned and operated Prouty & Miller, a lumber and building materials company, with forests east of the...
for a Vermont seat 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...
, but he was handily defeated. During the campaign, Hoff announced that he had battled alcoholism in the past. Had he won, Hoff would have been the first Democratic Senator in Vermont history. Some attribute his defeat to his opposition to the Vietnam War and his efforts to promote racial justice.
In the 1980s he returned to elective politics, serving three terms in the Vermont State Senate. He has also served in various advisory and honorary positions and as President of the Board of Trustees at Vermont Law School
Vermont Law School
Vermont Law School is a private, American Bar Association accredited law school located in South Royalton, Vermont . The Law School has one of the United States' leading programs in environmental law, and the Law School is currently ranked #1 in Environmental Law by U.S...
as well as continuing his work as a lawyer in private-practice. In 1989, he co-founded his current law firm, Hoff, Curtis.