Robert Finch
Encyclopedia
Robert Hutchison Finch was a Republican
politician
from La Canada Flintridge, California
. Born in Tempe, Arizona
, he was the son of Robert L. Finch, a member of the Arizona House of Representatives
.
Finch served in the Marine Corps
in World War II
. After the war, he served Congressman Norris Poulson
as an aide, and befriended Richard Nixon
. He returned to Southern California to study at the University of Southern California Law School
. He served as a Marine during the Korean War
. He practiced law before returning to Washington as Vice President Nixon's aide. He served as manager of Nixon's 1960 presidential campaign
against John F. Kennedy
.
In 1966, Finch was elected the 38th Lieutenant Governor of California
. He received more votes than Ronald Reagan
, who was elected Governor in the same election. In 1968, he was a senior adviser in Nixon's presidential campaign. When Nixon was elected, he was appointed Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. In 1970, Finch left HEW, becoming Counsellor to the President. After leaving the White House in 1973, Finch practiced law in Pasadena and stayed involved in Republican politics. He lost the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate
in 1976, losing to S.I. Hayakawa who went on to win the general election.
During the 1968 presidential election
, Finch was Nixon's first choice as his Vice Presidential
running matehttp://www.politickermd.com/wallyedgemd/1745/friday-political-trivia, but Finch declined and Nixon then chose Governor of Maryland
Spiro Agnew
. A Nixon-Finch ticket was possible because, although Nixon was born and represented California in Congress, during the 1968 election he was a resident of New York, and California's electors would be permitted to cast their vote on both (if they were both California's residents at time, California's electors would be unable to vote for both of them).
Following Nixon's election, Finch was given his choice in the new Cabinet, and he selected Secretary of HEW because of his long interest in health and education issues. Finch was more moderate than Nixon, especially in social issues, but political differences never affected their long and close relationship, with the two staying in contact until Nixon's death in 1994.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from La Canada Flintridge, California
La Cañada Flintridge, California
La Cañada Flintridge is a small and affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States whose population at the 2010 census was 20,246, down from 20,318 at the 2000 census. According to Forbes, as of 2010, La Cañada Flintridge ranks as the 143rd most expensive U.S...
. Born in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
, he was the son of Robert L. Finch, a member of the Arizona House of Representatives
Arizona House of Representatives
The Arizona House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arizona Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona. Its members are elected to two-year terms with a term limit of four consecutive terms...
.
Finch served in the Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war, he served Congressman Norris Poulson
Norris Poulson
C. Norris Poulson served as the 36th Mayor of Los Angeles, California from 1953 to 1961, after having been a California State Assemblyman and then a member of the United States Congress for eight years...
as an aide, and befriended Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. He returned to Southern California to study at the University of Southern California Law School
University of Southern California Law School
The University of Southern California Law School , located in Los Angeles, California, is a law school within the University of Southern California...
. He served as a Marine during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. He practiced law before returning to Washington as Vice President Nixon's aide. He served as manager of Nixon's 1960 presidential campaign
United States presidential election, 1960
The United States presidential election of 1960 was the 44th American presidential election, held on November 8, 1960, for the term beginning January 20, 1961, and ending January 20, 1965. The incumbent president, Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower, was not eligible to run again. The Republican Party...
against 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....
.
In 1966, Finch was elected the 38th Lieutenant Governor of California
Lieutenant Governor of California
The Lieutenant Governor of California is a statewide constitutional officer elected separately from the Governor who serves as the "vice-executive" of California. The Lieutenant Governor of California is elected to serve a four year term and can serve a maximum of two terms...
. He received more votes than Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, who was elected Governor in the same election. In 1968, he was a senior adviser in Nixon's presidential campaign. When Nixon was elected, he was appointed Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. In 1970, Finch left HEW, becoming Counsellor to the President. After leaving the White House in 1973, Finch practiced law in Pasadena and stayed involved in Republican politics. He lost the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. 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...
in 1976, losing to S.I. Hayakawa who went on to win the general election.
During the 1968 presidential election
United States presidential election, 1968
The United States presidential election of 1968 was the 46th quadrennial United States presidential election. Coming four years after Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson won in a historic landslide, it saw Johnson forced out of the race and Republican Richard Nixon elected...
, Finch was Nixon's first choice as his Vice Presidential
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
running matehttp://www.politickermd.com/wallyedgemd/1745/friday-political-trivia, but Finch declined and Nixon then chose Governor of Maryland
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
Spiro Agnew
Spiro Agnew
Spiro Theodore Agnew was the 39th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Richard Nixon, and the 55th Governor of Maryland...
. A Nixon-Finch ticket was possible because, although Nixon was born and represented California in Congress, during the 1968 election he was a resident of New York, and California's electors would be permitted to cast their vote on both (if they were both California's residents at time, California's electors would be unable to vote for both of them).
Following Nixon's election, Finch was given his choice in the new Cabinet, and he selected Secretary of HEW because of his long interest in health and education issues. Finch was more moderate than Nixon, especially in social issues, but political differences never affected their long and close relationship, with the two staying in contact until Nixon's death in 1994.