Lawrence William Cramer
Lawrence William Cramer (born December 26, 1897 in New Orleans , Louisiana , † October 18, 1978 in Chapel Hill , North Carolina ) was an American university professor and politician . Between 1935 and 1940 he was Governor of the US Virgin Islands .
Career
Lawrence Cramer studied at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and then at Columbia University in New York City . During the First World War he served in the United States Army , where he was wounded in action. After the war, he taught political science at Columbia University. He also wrote a book on the diplomatic background of the First World War.
Since 1931 Cramer was Lieutenant Governor of the Virgin Islands. He was the official representative of Governor Paul Martin Pearson . After this was involved in various scandals and was finally recalled by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935, Lawrence Cramer was appointed as his successor. But since he had to testify in Washington, DC before a committee of inquiry of the US Senate because of the scandals, Robert Herrick was appointed acting governor. Only after the hearings before the US Senate and his return to the Virgin Islands was over, Cramer was able to take office as governor. He served between August 21, 1935 and December 14, 1940.
Cramer was in a difficult position because of the scandals surrounding his predecessor Pearson. The local population was upset and demanded that President Roosevelt return to the military administration by the US Navy , which had existed until 1931. This request was rejected. Lawrence Cramer was initially able to stabilize the situation. He was sworn in by a local judge when he took office and campaigned for more rights for his area. He also demanded unrestricted universal suffrage for his people. Such measures calmed the situation in the Virgin Islands until about 1937. Since that year there have been conflicts between the governor and the territorial House of Representatives. Eight of the nine proposed bills were rejected. The dispute dragged on over the following years. One of the reasons for dispute was tax legislation. In December 1940, Cramer resigned from his office.
During World War II he was the executive director of the Presidential Committee on Fair Employment Practices . After that, he no longer appeared politically. He died on October 18, 1978 in Chapel Hill, where he was also buried.
Web links
- Lawrence William Cramer in the database of Find a Grave (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Cramer, Lawrence William |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American university professor and politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 26, 1897 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | New Orleans , Louisiana |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 18, 1978 |
| Place of death | Chapel Hill , North Carolina |