Ralph Julian Rivers

Ralph Julian Rivers, 1963

Ralph Julian Rivers (born May 23, 1903 in Seattle , Washington , † August 14, 1976 in Chehalis , Washington) was an American politician . Between 1959 and 1966 he represented the state of Alaska in the US House of Representatives .

Early years and political advancement

After elementary school, Ralph Rivers attended the University of Washington until 1929 , where he studied law. Before that, he had tried his luck in the Alaskan gold fields from 1921 to 1923. After his admission to the bar, he practiced this profession in Alaska. Between 1933 and 1944 he was a federal district attorney in the Alaska Territory . Politically, he became a member of the Democratic Party . Between 1945 and 1949 he was Attorney General of the Territory. For two years he was then chairman of a commission dealing with job security ( Employment Security Commission ). From 1952 to 1954 Rivers served as Mayor of the City of Fairbanks . In 1955 he was a member of the Territorial Senate and from 1955 to 1956 he was Vice President of the Constituent Assembly of Alaska. In 1960, 1964 and 1968 he attended the respective Democratic National Conventions as a delegate .

Congressman and further résumé

Rivers was elected as a member of the US Congress in 1957 and 1958 . The mandate only came into effect with the official accession of the new state of Alaska to the United States. After several re-elections, Rivers was able to exercise his mandate in the House of Representatives between January 3, 1959 and December 30, 1966. In 1966 he failed with 48.4% against 51.6% of the vote in the attempt to run again to Howard Wallace Pollock , the Republican candidate . Then he withdrew from politics.

Web links

• Ralph Julian Rivers in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• Ralph Julian Rivers in the database of Find a Grave (English)