Wilber Marion Brucker
Encyclopedia
Wilber Marion Brucker
was an American
Republican
politician
. Born in Saginaw, Michigan
, he served as the 32nd Governor of Michigan
from 1931 to 1933 and as the United States Secretary of the Army
between July 21, 1955 and January 19, 1961.
, the son of U.S. Representative Ferdinand Brucker
. He graduated from the University of Michigan
in 1916 and enlisted in the Michigan National Guard
, serving with its 33rd Infantry Regiment on the Mexican border, 1916-1917. He attended First Officers’ Training Camp in Fort Sheridan, Illinois
, and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry. He then served in France
during World War I
with the 166th Infantry, 42d Division, in the Château Thierry
, St. Mihiel
, and Meuse-Argonne
operations, 1917–1918.
, 1919–1923, and then prosecuting attorney, 1923–1927. He married Clara Hantel in 1923. He served as assistant attorney general of Michigan, 1927–1928, and as Michigan Attorney General
, 1928–1930.
In 1930 he was elected as Michigan's 32nd Governor, serving only one term after being defeated in 1932 by Democrat
William Comstock
. During his two years in office, the police force in Michigan increased and a new state police headquarters in Lansing was authorized. Also, legislation was sanctioned that allowed a grand jury to scrutinize municipal fraud. In 1936, Brucker defeated incumbent U.S. Senator James Couzens in the Republican primary elections, but lost to Democrat Prentiss M. Brown
in the general election. From 1922–1937 was also a captain in the U.S. Army Officer Reserve Corps.
He was a member of the law firm of Clark, Klein, Brucker, and Waples, 1937–1954, and served as general counsel of the Department of Defense
, 1954–1955, during the Army-McCarthy Hearings
. In 1955, Brucker was appointed by U.S. President
Dwight D. Eisenhower
as Secretary of the Army
, serving from July 21, 1955 to January 19, 1961. Brucker administered the Army during a period of major technological advance, especially in the missile-satellite field, and at a time when the Army’s place in the national defense structure was overshadowed by a philosophy of "massive retaliation
". Under his direction the Army instituted a five-element (pentagonal) organization concept for the division, established a Strategic Army Corps
for emergency reaction, and launched the United States’ first satellite, Explorer I
.
in the emergency room at the Harper Hospital in Detroit, Michigan
and is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery
.
was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Born in Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
, he served as the 32nd Governor of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
from 1931 to 1933 and as the United States Secretary of the Army
United States Secretary of the Army
The Secretary of the Army is a civilian official within the Department of Defense of the United States of America with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, installations, environmental issues, weapons systems and...
between July 21, 1955 and January 19, 1961.
Early life
Brucker was born in Saginaw, MichiganSaginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
, the son of U.S. Representative Ferdinand Brucker
Ferdinand Brucker
Ferdinand Brucker was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.Brucker was born in Bridgeport, Michigan, where he attended the common schools. He was a member of the State militia 1878-1881...
. He graduated from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1916 and enlisted in the Michigan National Guard
Michigan National Guard
The Michigan National Guard consists of the Michigan Army National Guard and the Michigan Air National Guard.-Units:Michigan Army National Guard units include:* Joint Forces Headquarters, Lansing, MI* 177th Military Police Brigade, Taylor, MI...
, serving with its 33rd Infantry Regiment on the Mexican border, 1916-1917. He attended First Officers’ Training Camp in Fort Sheridan, Illinois
Fort Sheridan, Illinois
Fort Sheridan is a residential neighborhood spread among Lake Forest, Highwood, and Highland Park in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It was originally established as a United States Army Post named after Civil War Cavalry General Philip Sheridan, to honor his services to Chicago...
, and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry. He then served in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
with the 166th Infantry, 42d Division, in the Château Thierry
Battle of Château-Thierry (1918)
The Battle of Château-Thierry was fought on 18 July 1918 and was one of the first actions of the American Expeditionary Force under General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing...
, St. Mihiel
Battle of Saint-Mihiel
The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a World War I battle fought between September 12–15, 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Force and 48,000 French troops under the command of U.S. general John J. Pershing against German positions...
, and Meuse-Argonne
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
operations, 1917–1918.
Politics
After the war, Brucker was assistant prosecuting attorney of Saginaw CountySaginaw County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 210,039 people, 80,430 households, and 55,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 260 people per square mile . There were 85,505 housing units at an average density of 106 per square mile...
, 1919–1923, and then prosecuting attorney, 1923–1927. He married Clara Hantel in 1923. He served as assistant attorney general of Michigan, 1927–1928, and as Michigan Attorney General
Michigan Attorney General
The Attorney General of Michigan is the fourth-ranking official in the U.S. state of Michigan and one of four great offices of state. The officeholder is elected statewide in the November general election alongside the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, members of the Senate and...
, 1928–1930.
In 1930 he was elected as Michigan's 32nd Governor, serving only one term after being defeated in 1932 by 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...
William Comstock
William Comstock
William Alfred Comstock was an American politician as the 33rd Governor of the U.S. state of Michigan.-Early life:...
. During his two years in office, the police force in Michigan increased and a new state police headquarters in Lansing was authorized. Also, legislation was sanctioned that allowed a grand jury to scrutinize municipal fraud. In 1936, Brucker defeated incumbent U.S. Senator James Couzens in the Republican primary elections, but lost to Democrat Prentiss M. Brown
Prentiss M. Brown
Prentiss Marsh Brown was a Democratic U.S. Representative and Senator from the state of Michigan.- Biography :...
in the general election. From 1922–1937 was also a captain in the U.S. Army Officer Reserve Corps.
He was a member of the law firm of Clark, Klein, Brucker, and Waples, 1937–1954, and served as general counsel of the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, 1954–1955, during the Army-McCarthy Hearings
Army-McCarthy Hearings
The Army–McCarthy hearings were a series of hearings held by the United States Senate's Subcommittee on Investigations between April 1954 and June 1954. The hearings were held for the purpose of investigating conflicting accusations between the United States Army and Senator Joseph McCarthy...
. In 1955, Brucker was appointed by U.S. 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....
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
as Secretary of the Army
United States Secretary of the Army
The Secretary of the Army is a civilian official within the Department of Defense of the United States of America with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, installations, environmental issues, weapons systems and...
, serving from July 21, 1955 to January 19, 1961. Brucker administered the Army during a period of major technological advance, especially in the missile-satellite field, and at a time when the Army’s place in the national defense structure was overshadowed by a philosophy of "massive retaliation
Massive retaliation
Massive retaliation, also known as a massive response or massive deterrence, is a military doctrine and nuclear strategy in which a state commits itself to retaliate in much greater force in the event of an attack.-Strategy:...
". Under his direction the Army instituted a five-element (pentagonal) organization concept for the division, established a Strategic Army Corps
Strategic Army Corps
The Strategic Army Corps was a command of the United States Army, with a mission of high readiness, active in the 1960s, but later inactivated.-Background:...
for emergency reaction, and launched the United States’ first satellite, Explorer I
Explorer I
Explorer 1 was the first Earth satellite of the United States, launched as part of its participation in the International Geophysical Year...
.
Death
He returned to legal practice in Detroit with the firm of Brucker and Brucker, 1961–1968, and was a member of the Board of Directors of Freedoms Foundation. He died in 1968 having suffered an apparent heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in the emergency room at the Harper Hospital in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.