Charles C. Gossett
Encyclopedia
Charles Clinton Gossett (September 2, 1888 September 20, 1974) was the 20th Governor of Idaho and United States Senator
from Idaho
.
, in 1910, and finally to Nampa, Idaho
, in 1922. He engaged in the agriculture, livestock, feed and shipping businesses.
In 1932, Gossett was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives
. In 1936, he was elected the 22nd and 24th Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
, serving alongside Governor Barzilla W. Clark
. Four years later Gossett returned as lieutenant governor under Governor Chase A. Clark
, Barzilla Clark's younger brother.
Gossett was elected governor in his own right in 1944, but served less than a year. In November 1945 he resigned to let his successor, Lieutenant Governor Arnold Williams
, appoint him to the United States Senate to succeed the late John W. Thomas
.
In 1946, Gossett was defeated in the Democratic primary for a special election to finish Thomas' term in the Senate by state senator George E. Donart
, who in turn was defeated by Republican
Congressman Henry Dworshak
in the general election. After the loss Gossett returned to his former business pursuits.
Gossett attempted a political comeback in 1954 by running to replace retiring Governor Len Jordan
. He was defeated in the Democratic gubernatorial primary by state senator Clark Hamilton
. Hamilton in turn lost the general election to Republican Attorney General Robert E. Smylie
.
Gossett is buried in Kohlerlawn Cemetery in Nampa.
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...
from Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
.
Biography
Gossett attended public schools in Ohio. He moved west to Cunningham, Washington, in 1907, to Ontario, OregonOntario, Oregon
Ontario is the largest city in Malheur County, Oregon, United States. It lies along the Snake River at the Idaho border. The population was 10,985 at the 2000 census, with an estimated population of 11,245 in 2006...
, in 1910, and finally to Nampa, Idaho
Nampa, Idaho
Nampa is the largest and the fastest growing city in Canyon County, Idaho, USA. The population of Nampa was 81,557 at the 2010 census. Nampa is located about west of Boise along Interstate 84, and six miles west of Meridian. Nampa is part of the Boise metropolitan area...
, in 1922. He engaged in the agriculture, livestock, feed and shipping businesses.
In 1932, Gossett was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives
Idaho House of Representatives
The Idaho House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 70 representatives elected to two-year terms and meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.-Composition of the House:...
. In 1936, he was elected the 22nd and 24th Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
Lieutenant Governor of Idaho is a constitutional statewide elected office in the State of Idaho. According to the Idaho Constitution, the lieutenant governor is elected to a four-year term....
, serving alongside Governor Barzilla W. Clark
Barzilla W. Clark
Barzilla Worth Clark was a politician from Idaho. He served as the 16th Governor of Idaho from 1937 to 1939, and was a member of the Idaho Democratic Party....
. Four years later Gossett returned as lieutenant governor under Governor Chase A. Clark
Chase A. Clark
Chase Addison Clark was an attorney and politician from Idaho. He served as the 18th Governor of Idaho from 1941 to 1943, and was a member of the Idaho Democratic Party....
, Barzilla Clark's younger brother.
Gossett was elected governor in his own right in 1944, but served less than a year. In November 1945 he resigned to let his successor, Lieutenant Governor Arnold Williams
Arnold Williams
Arnold Williams , served as the 21st Governor of Idaho from 1945 until 1947.Williams was born in Fillmore, Utah. He was elected as the 26th Lieutenant Governor of Idaho in 1944. He became governor in November 1945 to finish the unexpired term of Charles C...
, appoint him to the United States Senate to succeed the late John W. Thomas
John W. Thomas
John W. Thomas was an American Politician. A Republican, he served on two occasions as a United States Senator from Idaho, both times appointed after his predecessor died in office.-Early life:...
.
In 1946, Gossett was defeated in the Democratic primary for a special election to finish Thomas' term in the Senate by state senator George E. Donart
George E. Donart
George E. Donart was a Democratic politician from Idaho. He was the Democratic nominee in a 1946 special election for the United States Senate seat in Idaho to finish the term of John W. Thomas, who died in November 1945....
, who in turn was defeated by 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...
Congressman Henry Dworshak
Henry Dworshak
Henry Clarence Dworshak was a Republican United States Representative and a United States Senator from Idaho....
in the general election. After the loss Gossett returned to his former business pursuits.
Gossett attempted a political comeback in 1954 by running to replace retiring Governor Len Jordan
Leonard B. Jordan
Leonard Beck "Len" Jordan was the 23rd Governor of Idaho and United States Senator from Idaho.Jordan served in World War I as an Army officer. He was a sheep rancher in Hell's Canyon during the Great Depression...
. He was defeated in the Democratic gubernatorial primary by state senator Clark Hamilton
Clark Hamilton
Clark Hamilton was a Democratic politician from Idaho. He was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Idaho in 1954. Hamilton was defeated by Republican Attorney General Robert E. Smylie....
. Hamilton in turn lost the general election to Republican Attorney General Robert E. Smylie
Robert E. Smylie
Robert Eben Smylie was a politician and attorney from Idaho. He served as the 24th Governor of Idaho from 1955 to 1967. He was a member of the Idaho Republican Party....
.
Gossett is buried in Kohlerlawn Cemetery in Nampa.