Guy Gabrielson
Encyclopedia
Guy George Gabrielson was a Republican politician from New Jersey
. He served as chairman of the Republican National Committee
from 1949 to 1952, and was a member of the New Jersey State Assembly from 1925 to 1929, and was its Speaker in 1929.
An attorney who later became a corporate executive, after leaving elective politics, Gabrielson turned to Republican politics. He rose through the ranks of Republican activists. He became a member of the Republican National Committee in 1944 and its chairman in 1948, leaving both posts in 1952.
Gabrielson was controversial at the 1952 Republican National Convention
because of his support for presidential hopeful Ohio Senator Robert Taft
, but was greeted with cheers when he opened the Convention.
After dissolving his law firm in 1959, Gabrielson served as a corporate executive, retaining several posts in the years before his 1976 death.
, the son of Frank A. Gabrielson and Ida (Janson) Gabrielson. In 1918, Gabrielson had married Cora Speer.
A lawyer in private life, he was also politically active in New Jersey
, serving in the state's General Assembly
from 1925 to 1929, and as Speaker during the 1929 session. Gabrielson lost his seat as the Depression triggered an increasing Democratic wave.
In a 1950 New York Times article in the wake of McCarthyism
, he said homosexuals working for the American government were "perhaps as dangerous as actual Communists".
In 1951, Gabrielson became embroiled in a loan scandal, and freshman Senator Richard Nixon
(R-Calif.) called for his ouster, as well as that of Democratic National Committee
chairman William M. Boyle
, a close ally of President Harry Truman, who had a similar loan involvement. Nixon feared Gabrielson would favor California's senior senator, William Knowland for any national office, and desired his ouster to clear his own path to higher office. Boyle resigned, Gabrielson, whose offense was much more that of appearance, did not resign. Because of the enmity between Gabrielson and Nixon, the senator's name was never entered for formal consideration as a keynote speaker at the convention. Gabrielson would also be one of the few Republican politicians not to offer him support after Nixon, by then the Republican Vice-presidential candidate, placed his fate in the hands of the RNC in the Checkers speech
, saying that Nixon's speech (which he had not heard) did not "make sense" because it would take ten days to assemble the RNC.
Gabrielson supported Taft at the 1952 convention, and the Eisenhower forces were afraid he would tilt the close convention for the Ohio senator. However, when the chairman came forward to open the convention, both sides burst into a round of applause for Gabrielson.
In 1959, Gabrielson retired from his legal practice, dissolving his firm. In his retirement, he worked for several corporations or served on their boards. He had lived from 1940 to 1975 in Bernardsville, New Jersey
; he then moved to the seaside town of Mantoloking
. He died in nearby Point Pleasant, New Jersey
on May 1, 1976, having outlived Cora Gabrielson by three years, and was survived by a son and daughter.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He served as chairman of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
from 1949 to 1952, and was a member of the New Jersey State Assembly from 1925 to 1929, and was its Speaker in 1929.
An attorney who later became a corporate executive, after leaving elective politics, Gabrielson turned to Republican politics. He rose through the ranks of Republican activists. He became a member of the Republican National Committee in 1944 and its chairman in 1948, leaving both posts in 1952.
Gabrielson was controversial at the 1952 Republican National Convention
1952 Republican National Convention
The 1952 Republican National Convention was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois from July 7 to July 11, 1952 and nominated the popular general and war hero Dwight D...
because of his support for presidential hopeful Ohio Senator Robert Taft
Robert Taft
Robert Alphonso Taft , of the Taft political family of Cincinnati, was a Republican United States Senator and a prominent conservative statesman...
, but was greeted with cheers when he opened the Convention.
After dissolving his law firm in 1959, Gabrielson served as a corporate executive, retaining several posts in the years before his 1976 death.
Early life and career
Gabrielson was born May 22, 1891 in Sioux Rapids, IowaSioux Rapids, Iowa
Sioux Rapids is a city in Buena Vista County, Iowa, United States. The population was 720 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sioux Rapids is located at...
, the son of Frank A. Gabrielson and Ida (Janson) Gabrielson. In 1918, Gabrielson had married Cora Speer.
A lawyer in private life, he was also politically active in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, serving in the state's 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...
from 1925 to 1929, and as Speaker during the 1929 session. Gabrielson lost his seat as the Depression triggered an increasing Democratic wave.
Republican politics
With few prospects in elective politics, he turned to Republican politics and became Republican National Committeeman from New Jersey in 1948. He was then elected Chairman of the RNC in 1949.In a 1950 New York Times article in the wake of McCarthyism
McCarthyism
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by...
, he said homosexuals working for the American government were "perhaps as dangerous as actual Communists".
In 1951, Gabrielson became embroiled in a loan scandal, and freshman Senator 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...
(R-Calif.) called for his ouster, as well as that of Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
chairman William M. Boyle
William M. Boyle
William Marshall Boyle Jr. was a Democratic political activist from Kansas. Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1949 to 1951, he was a friend of President Harry S...
, a close ally of President Harry Truman, who had a similar loan involvement. Nixon feared Gabrielson would favor California's senior senator, William Knowland for any national office, and desired his ouster to clear his own path to higher office. Boyle resigned, Gabrielson, whose offense was much more that of appearance, did not resign. Because of the enmity between Gabrielson and Nixon, the senator's name was never entered for formal consideration as a keynote speaker at the convention. Gabrielson would also be one of the few Republican politicians not to offer him support after Nixon, by then the Republican Vice-presidential candidate, placed his fate in the hands of the RNC in the Checkers speech
Checkers speech
The Checkers speech or Fund speech was an address made by Richard Nixon, the Republican vice presidential candidate and junior United States Senator from California, on television and radio on September 23, 1952. Senator Nixon had been accused of improprieties relating to a fund established by his...
, saying that Nixon's speech (which he had not heard) did not "make sense" because it would take ten days to assemble the RNC.
Gabrielson supported Taft at the 1952 convention, and the Eisenhower forces were afraid he would tilt the close convention for the Ohio senator. However, when the chairman came forward to open the convention, both sides burst into a round of applause for Gabrielson.
Later life
The 1952 convention ended Gabrielson's time as RNC chairman, and he stepped down in favor of Arthur Summerfield. He left his position as committeeman from New Jersey at the end of 1952.In 1959, Gabrielson retired from his legal practice, dissolving his firm. In his retirement, he worked for several corporations or served on their boards. He had lived from 1940 to 1975 in Bernardsville, New Jersey
Bernardsville, New Jersey
Bernardsville is a borough and affluent suburb in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. Bernardsville has the 10th-highest per capita income in the state. Nationwide, Bernardsville ranks 75th among the 100 highest-income places in the United States...
; he then moved to the seaside town of Mantoloking
Mantoloking, New Jersey
Mantoloking is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States . As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough had a total population of 296. The borough has an estimated summer population of approximately 5,000...
. He died in nearby Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Point Pleasant is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 18,392...
on May 1, 1976, having outlived Cora Gabrielson by three years, and was survived by a son and daughter.