Robert F. Bradford

Robert F. Bradford
57th Governor of Massachusetts
In office January 2, 1947 – January 6, 1949
Lieutenant	Arthur W. Coolidge
Preceded by	Maurice J. Tobin
Succeeded by	Paul A. Dever
55th Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
In office January 3, 1945 – January 2, 1947
Governor	Maurice J. Tobin
Preceded by	Horace T. Cahill
Succeeded by	Arthur W. Coolidge
Personal details
Born	Robert Fiske Bradford (1902-12-15)December 15, 1902 Boston, Massachusetts
Died	March 18, 1983(1983-03-18) (aged 80) Boston, Massachusetts
Political party	Republican
Profession	Politician, Lawyer

Robert Fiske Bradford (December 15, 1902 – March 18, 1983) was an American politician who served one term as the 57th Governor of Massachusetts, from 1947 to 1949.

Biography

Bradford was born in Boston, Massachusetts. The scion of an old traditional New England Yankee Brahmin family, his father was a successful physician and dean of Harvard Medical School. Through an entirely paternal line he was a descendant of Mayflower passenger William Bradford (Plymouth Colony governor). He graduated from the elite Browne and Nichols School, and from Harvard University in 1923.

A Republican, Mr. Bradford entered politics by serving as Executive Secretary to Governor Joseph Ely, and later worked on the gubernatorial and senatorial campaigns of Leverett Saltonstall. In 1938, he was elected District Attorney of Middlesex County, and served in that position from 1939 to 1945, when he became Lieutenant Governor under Democratic Governor Maurice J. Tobin. In 1946, Bradford challenged and defeated Tobin, and served as Governor from 1947 to 1949.

As Governor, Bradford governed in the fashion of his mentor, Leverett Saltonstall, with an emphasis on fiscal conservatism and social liberalism. During his administration, he advanced balanced budgets and intervened to prevent protracted strikes, which would be deleterious to the interests of business and the broader public. His administration worked to promote public housing for veterans and prevent alcoholism through treatment and prevention programs. In 1947, he chaired the "Silent Guest" program in which Americans were encouraged to donate the cash equivalent of one setting of Thanksgiving dinner to the starving poor in post-war Europe. Bradford was defeated in his bid for re-election in 1948 by former Massachusetts Attorney General Paul A. Dever.

After his loss, Bradford returned to the private practice of law, and later in life served as President of Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts.

Composer Leroy Anderson, who penned such classics as "Sleigh Ride" and "Blue Tango", wrote a piece entitled "Governor Bradford March" that was premiered on July 6, 1948 at a concert by the Boston Pops Orchestra under the direction of Arthur Fiedler. Governor Bradford made a special appearance.

He died on March 18, 1983 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Legacy

Bradford's daughter, Ann, was the wife of U.S. Senator Charles Mathias of Maryland.^[1]

Ancestry

References

External links

• Official Commonwealth of Massachusetts Governor Biography
• Recording of "The Governor's March"

Governors of Massachusetts Colony (1629–86) Endecott Winthrop T. Dudley Haynes Vane Winthrop T. Dudley Bellingham Winthrop Endecott T. Dudley Winthrop Endecott T. Dudley Endecott Bellingham Endecott Bellingham Leverett Bradstreet Dominion (1686–89) J. Dudley Andros Bradstreet Province (1692–1776) W. Phips Stoughton Bellomont Stoughton Governor's Council J. Dudley Governor's Council J. Dudley Tailer Shute Dummer Burnet Dummer Tailer Belcher Shirley S. Phips Shirley S. Phips Governor's Council Pownall Hutchinson Bernard Hutchinson Gage Commonwealth (since 1776) Hancock Cushing Bowdoin Hancock Adams Sumner Gill Governor's Council Strong Sullivan Lincoln, Sr. Gore Gerry Strong Brooks Eustis Morton Lincoln, Jr. Davis Armstrong Everett Morton Davis Morton Briggs Boutwell Clifford E. Washburn Gardner Banks Andrew Bullock Claflin W. Washburn Talbot Gaston Rice Talbot Long Butler Robinson Ames Brackett Russell Greenhalge Wolcott Crane Bates Douglas Guild Draper Foss Walsh McCall Coolidge Cox Fuller Allen Ely Curley Hurley Saltonstall Tobin Bradford Dever Herter Furcolo Volpe Peabody Volpe Sargent Dukakis King Dukakis Weld Cellucci Swift Romney Patrick Baker Italics indicate acting officeholders

Lieutenant Governors of Massachusetts Colony (1629–86) Goffe Humphrey T. Dudley Ludlow Bellingham Winthrop T. Dudley Bellingham Endecott Winthrop T. Dudley Endecott T. Dudley Endecott Bellingham Willoughby Leverett Symonds Bradstreet Danforth Dominion (1686–89) Stoughton Nicholson Province (1692–1776) Stoughton Povey Tailer Dummer Tailer S. Phips Hutchinson A. Oliver T. Oliver Commonwealth (since 1776) T. Cushing B. Lincoln Adams Gill S. Phillips Robbins L. Lincoln Cobb Gray W. Phillips L. Lincoln, Jr. Morton Winthrop Armstrong Hull Childs Reed Cushman Huntington Plunkett Brown Benchley Trask Goodrich Nesmith Hayden Claflin Tucker Talbot Knight Long Weston Ames Brackett Haile Wolcott Crane Bates Guild Draper Frothingham Luce Walsh Barry G. Cushing C. Coolidge Cox Fuller Allen Youngman Bacon Hurley Kelly Cahill Bradford A. Coolidge Sullivan Whittier R. Murphy McLaughin Bellotti Richardson Sargent Dwight O'Neill Kerry E. Murphy Cellucci Swift Healey Murray Polito