William E. Miller
Encyclopedia
William Edward "Bill" Miller (March 22, 1914–June 24, 1983) was a New York
politician. He was the Republican Party
nominee for Vice President of the United States
in the 1964 election
. Miller is the only practicing Catholic
to have been nominated for national office by the Republican Party.
, the son of Elizabeth Hinch and Edward J. Miller, a factory floor sweeper. Miller attended the University of Notre Dame
and Albany Law School
. He served in the United States Army
during World War II
, and later helped prosecute German war criminals at the Nuremberg trials
. Miller was appointed district attorney
of Niagara County, New York
in 1948, by Governor Thomas E. Dewey. Miller served in the United States House of Representatives
from 1951 to 1965 and was chairman of the Republican National Committee
from 1961 to 1964.
Following the defeat of the Goldwater
-Miller ticket, Miller returned to his hometown of Lockport, where he resumed his law practice. He also appeared in one of the first "Do you know me?" commercials for American Express
. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
.
He and his wife Stephanie had three daughters and one son. His youngest daughter, Stephanie Miller
, was a stand-up comedian
in the 1980s and is now a nationally syndicated liberal radio talk show host based on the West Coast. His son, William E. Miller, Jr. ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the House of Representatives in 1992 and 1994 to represent New York's 29th district.
New York's 40th district, 1952
New York's 40th district, 1954
New York's 40th district, 1956
New York's 40th district, 1958
New York's 40th district, 1960
New York's 40th district, 1962
United States presidential election, 1964
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
politician. He was 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...
nominee for 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...
in the 1964 election
United States presidential election, 1964
The United States presidential election of 1964 was held on November 3, 1964. Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson had come to office less than a year earlier following the assassination of his predecessor, John F. Kennedy. Johnson, who had successfully associated himself with Kennedy's...
. Miller is the only practicing Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
to have been nominated for national office by the Republican Party.
Life and career
Miller was born in Lockport, New YorkLockport (city), New York
Lockport is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 21,165 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a set of Erie canal locks within the city. Lockport is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the town of Lockport...
, the son of Elizabeth Hinch and Edward J. Miller, a factory floor sweeper. Miller attended the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
and Albany Law School
Albany Law School
Albany Law School is an ABA accredited law school based in Albany, New York. It was founded in 1851 by Amos Dean , Amasa Parker, Ira Harris and others....
. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and later helped prosecute German war criminals at the Nuremberg trials
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the victorious Allied forces of World War II, most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany....
. Miller was appointed district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of Niagara County, New York
Niagara County, New York
Niagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,469. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra; meaning the strait or thunder of waters. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, and...
in 1948, by Governor Thomas E. Dewey. Miller served in the United States 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...
from 1951 to 1965 and was 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 1961 to 1964.
Following the defeat of the Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
-Miller ticket, Miller returned to his hometown of Lockport, where he resumed his law practice. He also appeared in one of the first "Do you know me?" commercials for American Express
American Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
. He is buried at 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...
.
He and his wife Stephanie had three daughters and one son. His youngest daughter, Stephanie Miller
Stephanie Miller
Stephanie Catherine Miller is an American comedienne and host of The Stephanie Miller Show, a progressive talk radio program produced in Los Angeles and syndicated nationally by Dial Global. Talkers magazine ranked her as the 24th most important radio talk show host in America for 2010.-Early...
, was a stand-up comedian
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
in the 1980s and is now a nationally syndicated liberal radio talk show host based on the West Coast. His son, William E. Miller, Jr. ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the House of Representatives in 1992 and 1994 to represent New York's 29th district.
Electoral history
New York's 42nd district, 1950- William E. Miller (R) - 75,377 (58.57%)
- Mary Louise Nice (D) - 53,310 (41.43%)
New York's 40th district, 1952
- William E. Miller (R) - 102,565 (59.64%)
- E. Dent Lackey (D) - 69,087 (40.17%)
- John Touralchuk (American Labor) - 329 (0.19%)
New York's 40th district, 1954
- William E. Miller (R) (inc.) - 77,016 (60.92%)
- Mariano A. Lucca (D) - 46,956 (37.14%)
- Louis Longo (Liberal) - 2,233 (1.77%)
- Nick Curtis (American Labor) - 222 (0.18%)
New York's 40th district, 1956
- William E. Miller (R) (inc.) - 117,051 (64.34%)
- A. Thorne Hills (D) - 64,872 (35.66%)
New York's 40th district, 1958
- William E. Miller (R) (inc.) - 90,066 (60.80%)
- Mariano A. Lucca (D) - 54,728 (36.94%)
- Hel J. Di Pota (Liberal) - 3,354 (2.26%)
New York's 40th district, 1960
- William E. Miller (R) (inc.) - 104,752 (53.62%)
- Mariano A. Lucca (D) - 85,005 (43.51%)
- Albert J. Taylor (Liberal) - 5,621 (2.88%)
New York's 40th district, 1962
- William E. Miller (R) (inc.) - 72,706 (52.04%)
- E. Dent Lackey (D) - 67,004 (47.96%)
United States presidential election, 1964
United States presidential election, 1964
The United States presidential election of 1964 was held on November 3, 1964. Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson had come to office less than a year earlier following the assassination of his predecessor, John F. Kennedy. Johnson, who had successfully associated himself with Kennedy's...
- Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon B. JohnsonLyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
/Hubert HumphreyHubert HumphreyHubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. , served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
(D) - 43,127,041 (61.1%) and 486 electoral votes (44 states and D.C. carried) - Barry GoldwaterBarry GoldwaterBarry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
/William E. Miller (R) - 27,175,754 (38.5%) and 52 electoral votes (6 states carried) - Unpledged electors (D) - 210,732 (0.3%) and 0 electoral votes
External links
- Official Congressional Biography
- Photos of Miller's gravesite at Arlington National CemeteryArlington National CemeteryArlington 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...