Robert Finch

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For the Canadian poet by this name see Robert Finch (poet)

Robert Hutchison Finch (October 9, 1925 - October 10, 1995) was a Republican politician from Southern California. Born in Tempe, Arizona, he was the son of Robert L. Finch, a member of the Arizona State House of Representatives.

Finch served in the Marine Corps in World War II. After the war, he served Congressman Norris Poulson as an aide, and befriended a novice Washington politician named Richard Nixon. He returned to California to study law at the University of Southern California. He served again as a Marine during the Korean War. He then practiced law for a few years before returning to Washington as Vice President Nixon's aide. He later managed Nixon's unsuccessful 1960 presidential campaign against John F. Kennedy.

In 1967, Finch was elected as California's Lieutenant Governor under Ronald Reagan. He resigned in 1969 to become President Nixon's Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare from 1969 to 1970. After retiring from the post, Finch wrote and taught at the University of Southern California.

During United States presidential election, 1968 Finch was reported as Nixon first choice for his Vice Presidential candidate. But Finch declined and Nixon eventually chose Spiro Agnew.

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Preceded by Glenn M. Anderson	Lieutenant Governors of California 1967–1969	Succeeded by Ed Reinecke
Preceded by Wilbur J. Cohen	United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare 1969–1970	Succeeded by Elliot Richardson

United States Secretaries of Health, Education and Welfare
Hobby • Folsom • Flemming • Ribicoff • Celebrezze • Gardner • Cohen • Finch • Richardson • Weinberger • Mathews • Califano • Harris