Robert D. Blue

Robert D. Blue

Robert Donald Blue (born September 24, 1898 in Eagle Grove , Iowa , † December 13, 1989 in Fort Dodge , Iowa) was an American politician and from 1945 to 1949 the 30th governor of the state of Iowa.

Early years and political advancement

Robert Blue attended Capital City Commercial College and then Iowa State University . However, his studies were interrupted by the First World War, in which he participated as a soldier in the US Army. After the war he finished his education with a law degree at Drake University . There he took his law exam in 1922.

From 1924 to 1931, Blue was a Wright County attorney and from 1932 to 1934 he represented the city of Eagle Grove. Blue was a member of the Republican Party . From 1934 to 1943 he was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives . For the past two years he has been speaker of the house. In 1942 he was elected lieutenant governor of his state as his party's candidate . From 1943 to 1945 he was Deputy Governor Bourke B. Hickenlooper , whose successor he was elected in 1944.

Governor of Iowa

Blue took up his new office on January 11, 1945. After being re-elected in 1946, he could remain in office until January 13, 1949. When he took office, World War II was still in full swing. After the end of the war, production in Iowa had to be cut back to meet civilian needs. The returning soldiers had to be reintegrated into society and the relatives of the fallen and war invalids cared for. In addition to these war-related events, the governor developed a public service pension program and campaigned for health care.

It was also the 100th anniversary of Iowa's accession to the United States. On this occasion, more scholarships were awarded for the state universities. Even so, Blue was becoming increasingly unpopular in Iowa. The workers, farmers and teachers were dissatisfied with some of his decisions. For example, the tax burden was too great for the farmers, while the teachers complained about a cut in the education budget. For this reason he was already defeated in 1948 in the primary against William S. Beardsley .

After the end of his governorship, Blue retired from politics. In his hometown of Eagle Grove he went about his private business. He died of a stroke in December 1989 at the age of 91. He had two children with his wife, Cathlene Beale.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 2, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

• Robert D. Blue in the National Governors Association (English)