Fred Andrew Seaton

Frederick Andrew Seaton (December 11, 1909 – January 16, 1974) was United States Secretary of the Interior during Dwight Eisenhower's administration.

Biography

Seaton was born in Washington, D.C., but grew up and attended high school in Manhattan, Kansas. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1931, and in 1937 moved to Hastings, Nebraska, where he was publisher of the Daily Tribune for many years.

Seaton was active in Republican politics. He was appointed to the United States Senate in December 1951 by Nebraska Governor Val Peterson to fill the vacancy created by the death of Kenneth S. Wherry. He served until November 4, 1952.

Seaton served in various White House and subcabinet posts in the Eisenhower administration before he was appointed United States Secretary of the Interior. He served in that office from 1956-1961. During his tenure, Alaska and Hawaii became the 49th and 50th states admitted to the Union.

Seaton ran for governor of Nebraska in 1962. He was defeated by incumbent Governor Frank B. Morrison (Olson, p. 335). Following his defeat, Seaton became a strong advocate for campaign finance reform in that state.

Further reading

• "Seaton, Fred(erick) A(ndrew)" in Current Biography 1956.
• James C. Olson, History of Nebraska, Second Edition. (Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1966).

External links

• Papers of Fred A. Seaton, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
• Congressional biography
• "Fred Seaton" biography at Kansas State Historical Society Website
• Fred Andrew Seaton at Find a Grave