Will Rogers Jr.
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Will Rogers Jr. | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 16th district | |
In office January 3, 1943 – May 23, 1944 | |
Preceded by | Leland M. Ford |
Succeeded by | Ellis E. Patterson |
Personal details | |
Born | William Vann Rogers October 20, 1911 New York City, New York, U.S. |
Died | July 9, 1993 Tubac, Arizona, U.S. | (aged 81)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse |
Collier Connell (m. 1941) |
Children | 2 |
Parent |
|
Relatives | Jimmy Rogers (brother) |
Education | Stanford University (BA) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 1942–1946 |
Unit | 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion 814th Tank Destroyer Battalion |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | ![]() |
William Vann Rogers (October 20, 1911 – July 9, 1993), generally known as Will Rogers Jr., was an American politician, writer, and newspaper publisher. He was the eldest son of humorist Will Rogers (1879–1935) and Betty Blake Rogers (1879–1944). He was a Democratic U. S. Representative from California from January 3, 1943, until May 23, 1944, when he resigned to return to the United States Army.
Early life and military service
[edit]![](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Will_Rogers%2C_Jr._showing_lasso_tricks_at_Alaska_Methodist_University.jpg/200px-Will_Rogers%2C_Jr._showing_lasso_tricks_at_Alaska_Methodist_University.jpg)
Rogers was born in New York City, where his father was performing. He grew up in Los Angeles, and attended school there. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University in 1935. On completing his studies, he served as publisher of the Beverly Hills Citizen newspaper, a role in which he continued until 1953. He had been commissioned a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, but did not go on active duty. With U.S. entry into World War II, however, he enlisted as a private in June 1942, and was commissioned in the field artillery the following month and assigned to the 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion.
Congress and return to active duty
[edit]While on active duty, Rogers was elected to the House of Representatives from California, and was sworn into office on January 3, 1943. He served in the 78th Congress. He did not complete his term, however, returning to active duty in the Army after resigning from Congress on May 23, 1944.[1]
As part of his confidential 1943 report for the British government about the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Foreign Office analyst Isaiah Berlin described Rogers’s political leanings and his prospective post-war positions regarding world order and, more specifically, the British Empire:
A new-comer to the House. Son of a very celebrated father. A sincere and somewhat impassioned young man who believes strongly in the Wallace type of internationalism and in cooperation with the United Nations. A trifle callow and politically inexperienced, he will undoubtedly be a vigorous and enthusiastic champion of all-out post-war co-operation with the United Nations. His fervent adherence to the liberal ideals of the "New Republic" may tend to make him critical of the British Empire.[2]
After his resignation, Rogers was assigned to the 814th Tank Destroyer Battalion and served in the European campaign in George Patton's Third United States Army. Rogers was wounded in action and also received a Bronze Star. He was released from active duty on March 1, 1946.
Postwar politics
[edit]Rogers ran for the Senate seat in California in 1946, challenging William Knowland, who had been appointed by Governor Earl Warren in August of the previous year to fill in the seat after the death of Hiram Johnson. California held two elections involving the seat: a special election (with blank ballots) for filling out the remainder of Johnson's term (to 1947) and a full six year term. Knowland won the special election handily over Rogers among an array of other write-ins and won a full term in the general election by over 200,000 votes.
After this, Rogers Jr managed the Southern California presidential campaign for Harry S. Truman in 1948. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1948, 1952, and 1956. He participated in government service, serving as a member of the California State Parks Commission (1958–1962, chairman 1960–1962). Proud of his part Cherokee heritage, he served as an special assistant to the Commission on Indian Affairs during the Johnson administration from 1967 to 1969.[3][4]
Acting
[edit]Rogers had a minor career as an actor and was most noted for playing his father (whom he closely resembled), particularly in The Story of Will Rogers (1952), Wild Heritage (1958) in which he played a judge, and in 1982 (in voice only) in The American Adventure at Disney's Epcot in Florida. He also appeared frequently in the 1950s television anthology series, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars. Rogers starred as "Tom Brewster" in The Boy from Oklahoma, a 1954 Western film directed by Michael Curtiz, the basis for the 1957 television series Sugarfoot,[citation needed] although the producers of that series chose to cast Will Hutchins in Rogers' part. In July 1953 he began starring in Rogers of the Gazette, a CBS Radio serie, playing the role of a small-town newspaper owner.[5] Also for one season, in 1956, he hosted The Morning Show on CBS Television but was replaced by Jimmy Dean. He was one of several actors as well to host syndicated reruns of the television anthology series Death Valley Days, with the episodes he hosted airing under the title The Pioneers.
Later years and death
[edit]In his later years, Rogers retired to his ranch at Tubac, Arizona. In poor health after suffering several strokes, having heart problems, and having had hip replacements, Rogers died by suicide in 1993 at the age of 81. His body was found in his car near the ranch with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was buried next to his wife in the Tubac Cemetery. Rogers was survived by his two sons, Clem Adair Rogers and Carl Connell Rogers and his brother, James Rogers.[6][7]
Electoral history
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Will Rogers Jr. | 61,437 | 53.7 | |||
Republican | Leland M. Ford (incumbent) | 52,023 | 45.4 | |||
Communist | Allen L. Ryan | 1,043 | 0.9 | |||
Total votes | 114,503 | 100.0 | ||||
Turnout | ||||||
Democratic gain from Republican |
Results
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Write-in | William F. Knowland (inc.) | 425,273 | 74.31% | |
Write-in | Will Rogers Jr. | 90,723 | 15.85% | |
Write-in | George H. McLain | 17,883 | 3.13% | |
Write-in | Ellis E. Patterson | 3,889 | 0.68% | |
Write-in | Douglas Corrigan | 2,464 | 0.43% | |
Write-in | Vic Paulsen | 1,616 | 0.28% | |
Write-in | Moody Staten | 1,494 | 0.26% | |
Write-in | Hartley F. Peart | 1,383 | 0.24% | |
Write-in | George C. Highley | 1,268 | 0.22% | |
Write-in | James Moran | 918 | 0.16% | |
Write-in | Ben Rinaldo | 765 | 0.13% | |
Write-in | Aubrey D. Lewis | 519 | 0.09% | |
Write-in | Frank Merriam | 507 | 0.09% | |
Write-in | All others | 23,619 | 4.13% | |
Total votes | 572,321 | 100.00% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | William F. Knowland (inc.) | 1,428,067 | 54.10% | |
Democratic | Will Rogers Jr. | 1,167,161 | 44.22% | |
Prohibition | Douglas Corrigan | 42,683 | 1.62% | |
Socialist Labor | Herbert Steiner (write-in) | 156 | 0.01% | |
Write-in | All others | 1,398 | 0.05% | |
Total votes | 2,639,465 | 100.00% |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Rogers, William Vann, Jr". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- ^ Hachey, Thomas E. (Winter 1973–1974). "American Profiles on Capitol Hill: A Confidential Study for the British Foreign Office in 1943" (PDF). Wisconsin Magazine of History. 57 (2): 141–153. JSTOR 4634869. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2013.
- ^ "WILL ROGERS JR., 81, DIES". Washington Post. January 4, 2024. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ Nazario, Sonia (July 11, 1993). "Ailing Will Rogers Jr., 81, Commits Suicide : Obituary: Actor, journalist and former congressman worked to ensure his famous father's legacy. He had suffered two strokes and recently undergone hip implant surgery". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
- ^ Kirby, Walter (July 5, 1953). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. The Decatur Daily Review. p. 40. Retrieved July 5, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Will Rogers Jr., Humorist's Son, Soldier, Politician and Actor, 81". New York Times. July 11, 1993. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- ^ Nazario, Sonia (1993). “Ailing Will Rogers Jr., 81, Commits Suicide : Obituary: Actor, journalist and former congressman worked to ensure his famous father's legacy. He had suffered two strokes and recently undergone hip implant surgery”, archives of the Los Angeles Times, July 11, 1993. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- ^ 1942 election results
- ^ "Our Campaigns - CA US Senate Special". OurCampaigns. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - CA US Senate". OurCampaigns. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
Bibliography
[edit]- Johnston, Lyle (2019). Standing on the Shadow: The Will Rogers, Jr. Story. Privately printed.
External links
[edit]- Rogers' World War II service at the History Net
- Profile of Rogers in the context of his efforts on behalf of Jews in World War II
- Will Rogers Jr. at IMDb
- United States Congress. "Will Rogers Jr. (id: R000406)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- William Vann "Bill" Rogers at Find a Grave
- 1911 births
- 1993 deaths
- 20th-century American male actors
- 20th-century American legislators
- American actor-politicians
- United States Army personnel of World War II
- American male film actors
- American politicians who died by suicide
- Cherokee Nation members of the United States House of Representatives
- Male actors from New York (state)
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from California
- Military personnel from New York City
- Native American members of the United States Congress
- Politicians from New York City
- Stanford University alumni
- Suicides in Arizona
- United States Army officers
- Vann family (Georgia)
- 1993 suicides
- 20th-century Native Americans