William H. Meyer
Encyclopedia
William Henry Meyer was a Member of the United States House of Representatives
from Vermont
.
Born in Philadelphia, he attended the public schools of Philadelphia and graduated from Pennsylvania State University
in 1936. He worked as a timber cruiser, State and Federal forester, Civilian Conservation Corps technician and supervisor in West Virginia, Maryland, Wisconsin, and New Jersey from 1936 to 1940. He moved to a farm in Bennington County, Vermont, in 1945. He worked with the Soil Conservation Service in Vermont from 1940 to 1950. In 1951 he entered private practice as a consulting forester and became executive director of the Vermont Forest and Farmland Foundation.
He was elected as a Democrat
to the Eighty-sixth Congress
(January 3, 1959-January 3, 1961), defeating the Republican
candidate, former Vermont Governor Harold Arthur. He became the first Vermont House Democrat in 102 years. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1960 to the Eighty-seventh Congress
, when he was defeated by the Republican
candidate, Vermont Governor Robert Stafford
. He was appointed as a consultant, Technical Review Staff, Department of the Interior
in May 1961, and served until December 1963.
He was the unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination as United States Senator
in 1962, 1964, and 1970. He was a delegate to Vermont State Democratic conventions in 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968. He was the unsuccessful candidate for election in 1972 to the Ninety-third Congress
. He was a resident of West Rupert, Vermont until his death there December 16, 1983. He was cremated
and had his ashes interred at his home in West Rupert.
By one measure Representative Meyer was the most left-wing member to serve in Congress during the 1937-2002 period. He was one of the leading founders of the nonviolent socialist
Liberty Union Party
of Vermont in June 1970. He was their party's nominee for United States Senator
after failing to obtain the Democratic nomination that year, receiving 0.91% of the vote.
His son Karl Meyer is a noted radical pacifist.
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 Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
.
Born in Philadelphia, he attended the public schools of Philadelphia and graduated from Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
in 1936. He worked as a timber cruiser, State and Federal forester, Civilian Conservation Corps technician and supervisor in West Virginia, Maryland, Wisconsin, and New Jersey from 1936 to 1940. He moved to a farm in Bennington County, Vermont, in 1945. He worked with the Soil Conservation Service in Vermont from 1940 to 1950. In 1951 he entered private practice as a consulting forester and became executive director of the Vermont Forest and Farmland Foundation.
He was elected as a 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...
to the Eighty-sixth Congress
86th United States Congress
The Eighty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1959 to January 3, 1961, during the last two years...
(January 3, 1959-January 3, 1961), defeating the 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...
candidate, former Vermont Governor Harold Arthur. He became the first Vermont House Democrat in 102 years. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1960 to the Eighty-seventh Congress
87th United States Congress
-House of Representatives :-Senate:* President: Richard Nixon , until January 20, 1961** Lyndon Johnson , from January 20, 1961* President pro tempore: Carl Hayden -House of Representatives:...
, when he was defeated by the 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...
candidate, Vermont Governor Robert Stafford
Robert Stafford
Robert Theodore Stafford was an American politician from Vermont. In his lengthy career, he served as the 71st Governor of Vermont, a United States Representative, and a U.S. Senator...
. He was appointed as a consultant, Technical Review Staff, Department of the Interior
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
in May 1961, and served until December 1963.
He was the unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination as United States Senator
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...
in 1962, 1964, and 1970. He was a delegate to Vermont State Democratic conventions in 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968. He was the unsuccessful candidate for election in 1972 to the Ninety-third Congress
93rd United States Congress
The Ninety-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1973 to January 3, 1975, during the end of Richard...
. He was a resident of West Rupert, Vermont until his death there December 16, 1983. He was cremated
Cremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
and had his ashes interred at his home in West Rupert.
By one measure Representative Meyer was the most left-wing member to serve in Congress during the 1937-2002 period. He was one of the leading founders of the nonviolent socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
Liberty Union Party
Liberty Union Party
The Liberty Union Party of Vermont, founded in 1970 by former Congressman William H. Meyer, Peter Diamondstone and others, originated in the anti-war and People's Party movements of the late 1960s and defines itself as a nonviolent socialist party.-History:...
of Vermont in June 1970. He was their party's nominee for United States Senator
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...
after failing to obtain the Democratic nomination that year, receiving 0.91% of the vote.
His son Karl Meyer is a noted radical pacifist.
External links
- Voteview.com
- Our Campaigns (1970 Vermont U.S. Senate General Election Results)
- Inventory of the William H. Meyer Papers, Special Collections, University of Vermont Library