R. E. Robertson
Encyclopedia
Ralph Elliott Robertson more commonly known as R. E. "Bob" Robertson, was an American
lawyer and politician
from the territory and state of Alaska
. He was a member of the Republican Party
.
Born in Sioux City, Iowa
, Robertson was educated at Omaha Commercial College, the Michigan College of Mines
and the University of Washington
. He moved to Alaska in 1906 and served as mayor of Juneau from 1920 to 1923. He also served as a trustee of the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines
, from 1925 to 1933.
In 1955, he was elected to the Alaska Constitutional Convention as one of seven at-large delegates from the First Judicial Division. He resigned from the convention several days prior to the scheduled document signing and returned to Juneau, citing numerous issues with the finished document which he had not expressed previously. His major objection was over the apportionment of the legislature into smaller districts; the territorial legislature's districts were coterminous with that of the four judicial divisions established by the U.S. Congress in 1909. Robertson did later agree to append his signature to the document, which happened shortly before his death.
He was nominated by the Republican Party to run in Alaska's first U.S. Senate election in 1958, but he lost in a massive landslide
to Democrat
Bob Bartlett
, winning just 15% against Bartlett's 84%. Robertson died on February 28, 1961 in Seattle, Washington.
He founded the law firm of Robertson, Monagle, Eastaugh and Annis, which through minor changes in name over the years has remained one of Alaska's major law and lobbying firms. The firm made headlines in the 21st century during the candidacy of Sarah Palin
for the office of Vice President of the United States
, due to an association dating back to her days as mayor of Wasilla. Robertson's son-in-law, Frederick Orlebar Eastaugh (1913–1992), was a partner in the law firm and a notable political figure in Juneau for many years. His grandson, Robert Ladd Eastaugh (born 1943), who was also associated with the firm at one point, was an associate justice of the Alaska Supreme Court
from 1994 until retiring in 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the territory and state of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. He was a member of the Republican Party
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...
.
Born in Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
, Robertson was educated at Omaha Commercial College, the Michigan College of Mines
Michigan Technological University
Michigan Technological University is a public research university located in Houghton, Michigan, United States. Its main campus sits on on a bluff overlooking Portage Lake...
and the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
. He moved to Alaska in 1906 and served as mayor of Juneau from 1920 to 1923. He also served as a trustee of the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines
University of Alaska Fairbanks
The University of Alaska Fairbanks, located in Fairbanks, Alaska, USA, is the flagship campus of the University of Alaska System, and is abbreviated as Alaska or UAF....
, from 1925 to 1933.
In 1955, he was elected to the Alaska Constitutional Convention as one of seven at-large delegates from the First Judicial Division. He resigned from the convention several days prior to the scheduled document signing and returned to Juneau, citing numerous issues with the finished document which he had not expressed previously. His major objection was over the apportionment of the legislature into smaller districts; the territorial legislature's districts were coterminous with that of the four judicial divisions established by the U.S. Congress in 1909. Robertson did later agree to append his signature to the document, which happened shortly before his death.
He was nominated by the Republican Party to run in Alaska's first U.S. Senate election in 1958, but he lost in a massive landslide
Landslide victory
In politics, a landslide victory is the victory of a candidate or political party by an overwhelming margin in an election...
to Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Bob Bartlett
Bob Bartlett
Edward Lewis "Bob" Bartlett was an American politician and a member of the Democratic Party.Bartlett was born in Seattle, Washington. After graduating from the University of Alaska in 1925, Bartlett began his career in politics...
, winning just 15% against Bartlett's 84%. Robertson died on February 28, 1961 in Seattle, Washington.
He founded the law firm of Robertson, Monagle, Eastaugh and Annis, which through minor changes in name over the years has remained one of Alaska's major law and lobbying firms. The firm made headlines in the 21st century during the candidacy of Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
for the office of Vice President of the United States
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...
, due to an association dating back to her days as mayor of Wasilla. Robertson's son-in-law, Frederick Orlebar Eastaugh (1913–1992), was a partner in the law firm and a notable political figure in Juneau for many years. His grandson, Robert Ladd Eastaugh (born 1943), who was also associated with the firm at one point, was an associate justice of the Alaska Supreme Court
Alaska Supreme Court
The Alaska Supreme Court is the state supreme court in the State of Alaska's judicial department . The supreme court is composed of the chief justice and four associate justices, who are all appointed by the governor of Alaska and face judicial retention elections and who choose one of their own...
from 1994 until retiring in 2009.