Thomas Berry (politician)

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Thomas Matthew Berry (born April 23, 1879 in Paddock , Nebraska , † October 30, 1951 in Rapid City , South Dakota ) was an American politician and from 1933 to 1937 the 14th governor of South Dakota.

Early years

Thomas Berry attended local schools in O'Neal, Nebraska. In 1897 he moved to South Dakota. He eventually came to Mellette County via Gregory County and Todd County . There he built a 120 square kilometer ranch where he raised cattle and riding horses. Berry was a member of the Democratic Party . Between 1925 and 1931 he was a member of the state parliament of South Dakota and a member of the board of directors of Custer National Park (Custer State Park). In 1932 he was elected as his party's candidate for the new governor of South Dakota. He benefited from the nationwide trend in favor of the Democrats, the climax of which was the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt as the new US President.

South Dakota Governor

Thomas Berry took up his new office on January 3, 1933. After re-election in 1934, he was able to remain in office until January 5, 1937. During this period, the country gradually recovered from the aftermath of the great economic crisis that had ravaged the country since 1929. He benefited above all from Roosevelt's New Deal policy, which he supported. Between 1935 and 1936 he was also the federal commissioner for the implementation of this policy in South Dakota (Federal Relief Administrator). During this time, Berry also managed to reduce the national debt and introduce unemployment insurance in South Dakota. The property tax was abolished and a sales tax was introduced instead. In 1936 Thomas Berry applied for a third term. This time he was defeated by the Republican Leslie Jensen in the elections .

Another résumé

In 1938 and 1942 Berry applied unsuccessfully for a seat in the US Senate . For this he was between 1942 and 1947 President of the Farm Credit Administration, an organization that controls the loans granted to farmers. Thomas Berry died in October 1951. He was married to Lorena McClein, with whom he had four children.

literature

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

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