William Kettner
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Kettner was a former US
Democratic politician from San Diego, California
. He served four terms in Congress
from 1913 through 1921 and is credited with bringing many U.S. Navy facilities to San Diego.
to John F. and Frederika Kettner. His parents moved to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1873. His father died when he was 13, so he had to leave school to work, first as a bell boy, then he drove a dray horse. He came to San Diego when he was 21, in the middle of an economic boom in the late 1880s, and worked various odd jobs around the state.
In 1893 he married Ida B. Griffs in Visalia, California
and went into the real estate and insurance business there. The couple divorced in 1904.
Kettner married Marion Morgan in 1905, and they lived in Visalia until moving to San Diego in 1907. William Kettner set up an insurance business, and later became involved with real estate and banking. He was a member of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, and served as its Director.
Kettner was first elected to the House of Representatives
in 1912. Because of his popularity with the Chamber of Commerce, he was supported by Republicans, including the conservative San Diego Union
, and Democrats. Republicans used the slogan "Why not Kettner?"
During his four terms in Congress, 1913–1921, he spent much effort bringing Naval bases to San Diego. His first accomplishment, achieved even before he was sworn in as a member of Congress, was a federal appropriation to dredge San Diego Bay
to allow large ships to enter.
Kettner won friends easily with his warm personality and addressed colleagues as "brother", earning him the nickname of "Brother Bill" in San Diego and Washington
. He courted many congressmen and officials, and became friends with Franklin D. Roosevelt
, then Assistant Secretary of the Navy
. Roosevelt visited San Diego during the
1915 Panama-California Exposition
and came away impressed with the area. He helped Kettner's efforts to establish bases in San Diego as assistant Naval secretary and later as President
.
By the time Kettner retired from Congress in 1921, he had secured many Naval bases, including Camp Kearny
on the site which is now Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
, the Broadway Naval Supply Depot, the 32nd Street Naval Station
, San Diego Naval Hospital, Naval Training Center San Diego
, and Naval Air Station North Island
. The military later became for a time the largest employer in San Diego County. Kettner was nicknamed the "Million Dollar Congressman" for his ability to gain Naval bases in San Diego. He stepped down as congressman due to poor health and a financial downturn with his insurance business.
Kettner died in San Diego in 1930 and is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park
, beside his mother, who died in 1912. In 1914 the fireboat Bill Kettner, in use until 1961, was named in his honor. In 1921, Kettner Boulevard in San Diego was renamed to honor him.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic politician from San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. He served four terms in Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
from 1913 through 1921 and is credited with bringing many U.S. Navy facilities to San Diego.
Biography
Kettner was born in 1864 in Ann Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
to John F. and Frederika Kettner. His parents moved to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1873. His father died when he was 13, so he had to leave school to work, first as a bell boy, then he drove a dray horse. He came to San Diego when he was 21, in the middle of an economic boom in the late 1880s, and worked various odd jobs around the state.
In 1893 he married Ida B. Griffs in Visalia, California
Visalia, California
Visalia is a Central California city situated in the heart of California’s agricultural San Joaquin Valley, approximately southeast of San Francisco and north of Los Angeles...
and went into the real estate and insurance business there. The couple divorced in 1904.
Kettner married Marion Morgan in 1905, and they lived in Visalia until moving to San Diego in 1907. William Kettner set up an insurance business, and later became involved with real estate and banking. He was a member of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, and served as its Director.
Kettner was first elected to 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 1912. Because of his popularity with the Chamber of Commerce, he was supported by Republicans, including the conservative San Diego Union
The San Diego Union-Tribune
-Predecessors:The predecessor newspapers of the Union-Tribune were:* San Diego Sun, founded 1861 and merged with the Evening Tribune in 1939.* San Diego Union, founded October 10, 1868.* Evening Tribune, founded December 2, 1895.-Ownership:...
, and Democrats. Republicans used the slogan "Why not Kettner?"
During his four terms in Congress, 1913–1921, he spent much effort bringing Naval bases to San Diego. His first accomplishment, achieved even before he was sworn in as a member of Congress, was a federal appropriation to dredge San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay is a natural harbor and deepwater port adjacent to San Diego, California. It is 12 mi/19 km long, 1 mi/1.6 km–3 mi/4.8 km wide...
to allow large ships to enter.
Kettner won friends easily with his warm personality and addressed colleagues as "brother", earning him the nickname of "Brother Bill" in San Diego and Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. He courted many congressmen and officials, and became friends with Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, then Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy is the title given to certain civilian senior officials in the United States Department of the Navy....
. Roosevelt visited San Diego during the
1915 Panama-California Exposition
Panama-California Exposition (1915)
The Panama-California Exposition was an exposition held in San Diego, California between March 9, 1915 and January 1, 1917. The exposition celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal, and was meant to tout San Diego as the first U.S. port of call for ships traveling north after passing westward...
and came away impressed with the area. He helped Kettner's efforts to establish bases in San Diego as assistant Naval secretary and later as President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
.
By the time Kettner retired from Congress in 1921, he had secured many Naval bases, including Camp Kearny
Camp Kearny
Camp Kearny was a U.S. military base in San Diego, California, on the site of the current Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. It operated from 1917 to 1946.-Establishment and early years:...
on the site which is now Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , formerly Naval Air Station Miramar is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is the aviation element of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force...
, the Broadway Naval Supply Depot, the 32nd Street Naval Station
Naval Station San Diego
Naval Base San Diego is the largest base of the United States Navy on the west coast of the United States, in San Diego, California. Naval Base San Diego is the principal homeport of the Pacific Fleet, consisting of 54 ships and over 120 tenant commands. The base is composed of 13 piers stretched...
, San Diego Naval Hospital, Naval Training Center San Diego
Naval Training Center San Diego
Naval Training Center San Diego is a former United States Navy base located at the north end of San Diego Bay. The Naval Training Center site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and many of the individual structures are designated as historic by the city of San Diego.The base...
, and Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island is located at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay and is the home port of several aircraft carriers of the United States Navy...
. The military later became for a time the largest employer in San Diego County. Kettner was nicknamed the "Million Dollar Congressman" for his ability to gain Naval bases in San Diego. He stepped down as congressman due to poor health and a financial downturn with his insurance business.
Kettner died in San Diego in 1930 and is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park
Greenwood Memorial Park (San Diego)
Greenwood Memorial Park is a cemetery located on county-owned land at 4300 Imperial Avenue in San Diego County, California. The cemetery is adjacent to Mount Hope Cemetery.Opened in 1908, Greenwood covers approximately five miles east of Downtown San Diego...
, beside his mother, who died in 1912. In 1914 the fireboat Bill Kettner, in use until 1961, was named in his honor. In 1921, Kettner Boulevard in San Diego was renamed to honor him.