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American politician (1911–1993)

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Will Rogers Jr.


Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 16th district
In office January 3, 1943 – May 23, 1944
Preceded by	Leland M. Ford
Succeeded by	Ellis E. Patterson

Personal details
Born	William Vann Rogers (1911-10-20)October 20, 1911 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	July 9, 1993(1993-07-09) (aged 81) Tubac, Arizona, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Collier Connell (m. 1941)
Children	2
Parent	Will Rogers (father)
Relatives	Jimmy Rogers (brother)
Education	Stanford University (BA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1942–1946
Unit	893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion 814th Tank Destroyer Battalion
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Bronze Star

William Vann Rogers (October 20, 1911 – July 9, 1993), generally known as Will Rogers Jr., was an American politician, writer, and newspaper publisher. He was the eldest son of humorist Will Rogers (1879–1935) and Betty Blake Rogers (1879–1944). He was a Democratic U. S. Representative from California from January 3, 1943, until May 23, 1944, when he resigned to return to the United States Army.

Early life and military service

Rogers was born in New York City, where his father was performing. He grew up in Los Angeles, and attended school there. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University in 1935. On completing his studies, he served as publisher of the Beverly Hills Citizen newspaper, a role in which he continued until 1953. He had been commissioned a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, but did not go on active duty. With U.S. entry into World War II, however, he enlisted as a private in June 1942, and was commissioned in the field artillery the following month and assigned to the 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion.

Congress and return to active duty

While on active duty, Rogers was elected to the House of Representatives from California, and was sworn into office on January 3, 1943. He served in the 78th Congress. He did not complete his term, however, returning to active duty in the Army after resigning from Congress on May 23, 1944.

As part of his confidential 1943 report for the British government about the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Foreign Office analyst Isaiah Berlin described Rogers’s political leanings and his prospective post-war positions regarding world order and, more specifically, the British Empire:

A new-comer to the House. Son of a very celebrated father. A sincere and somewhat impassioned young man who believes strongly in the Wallace type of internationalism and in cooperation with the United Nations. A trifle callow and politically inexperienced, he will undoubtedly be a vigorous and enthusiastic champion of all-out post-war co-operation with the United Nations. His fervent adherence to the liberal ideals of the "New Republic" may tend to make him critical of the British Empire.

After his resignation, Rogers was assigned to the 814th Tank Destroyer Battalion and served in the European campaign in George Patton's Third United States Army. Rogers was wounded in action and also received a Bronze Star. He was released from active duty on March 1, 1946.

Postwar politics

Rogers ran for the Senate seat in California in 1946, challenging William Knowland, who had been appointed by Governor Earl Warren in August of the previous year to fill in the seat after the death of Hiram Johnson. California held two elections involving the seat: a special election (with blank ballots) for filling out the remainder of Johnson's term (to 1947) and a full six year term. Knowland won the special election handily over Rogers among an array of other write-ins and won a full term in the general election by over 200,000 votes.

After this, Rogers Jr managed the Southern California presidential campaign for Harry S. Truman in 1948. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1948, 1952, and 1956. He participated in government service, serving as a member of the California State Parks Commission (1958–1962, chairman 1960–1962). Proud of his part Cherokee heritage, he served as a special assistant to the Commission on Indian Affairs during the Johnson administration from 1967 to 1969.

Acting

Rogers had a minor career as an actor and was most noted for playing his father (whom he closely resembled), particularly in The Story of Will Rogers (1952), Wild Heritage (1958) in which he played a judge, and in 1982 (in voice only) in The American Adventure at Disney's Epcot in Florida. He also appeared frequently in the 1950s television anthology series, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars. Rogers starred as "Tom Brewster" in The Boy from Oklahoma, a 1954 Western film directed by Michael Curtiz, the basis for the 1957 television series Sugarfoot, although the producers of that series chose to cast Will Hutchins in Rogers' part. In July 1953 he began starring in Rogers of the Gazette, a CBS Radio serie, playing the role of a small-town newspaper owner. Also for one season, in 1956, he hosted The Morning Show on CBS Television but was replaced by Jimmy Dean. He was one of several actors as well to host syndicated reruns of the television anthology series Death Valley Days, with the episodes he hosted airing under the title The Pioneers.

Later years and death

In his later years, Rogers retired to his ranch at Tubac, Arizona. In poor health after suffering several strokes, having heart problems, and having had hip replacements, Rogers died by suicide in 1993 at the age of 81. His body was found in his car near the ranch with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was buried next to his wife in the Tubac Cemetery. Rogers was survived by his two sons, Clem Adair Rogers and Carl Connell Rogers and his brother, James Rogers.

Electoral history

United States House of Representatives elections, 1942
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Will Rogers Jr.	61,437	53.7
	Republican	Leland M. Ford (incumbent)	52,023	45.4
	Communist	Allen L. Ryan	1,043	0.9
Total votes			114,503	100.0
Turnout
	Democratic gain from Republican

Results

1946 U.S. Senate special election in California
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Write-in	William F. Knowland (inc.)	425,273	74.31%
	Write-in	Will Rogers Jr.	90,723	15.85%
	Write-in	George H. McLain	17,883	3.13%
	Write-in	Ellis E. Patterson	3,889	0.68%
	Write-in	Douglas Corrigan	2,464	0.43%
	Write-in	Vic Paulsen	1,616	0.28%
	Write-in	Moody Staten	1,494	0.26%
	Write-in	Hartley F. Peart	1,383	0.24%
	Write-in	George C. Highley	1,268	0.22%
	Write-in	James Moran	918	0.16%
	Write-in	Ben Rinaldo	765	0.13%
	Write-in	Aubrey D. Lewis	519	0.09%
	Write-in	Frank Merriam	507	0.09%
	Write-in	All others	23,619	4.13%
Total votes			572,321	100.00%

General election results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	William F. Knowland (inc.)	1,428,067	54.10%
	Democratic	Will Rogers Jr.	1,167,161	44.22%
	Prohibition	Douglas Corrigan	42,683	1.62%
	Socialist Labor	Herbert Steiner (write-in)	156	0.01%
	Write-in	All others	1,398	0.05%
Total votes			2,639,465	100.00%

References

"Rogers, William Vann, Jr". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
Hachey, Thomas E. (Winter 1973–1974). "American Profiles on Capitol Hill: A Confidential Study for the British Foreign Office in 1943" (PDF). Wisconsin Magazine of History. 57 (2): 141–153. JSTOR 4634869. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2013.
"WILL ROGERS JR., 81, DIES". Washington Post. January 4, 2024. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
Nazario, Sonia (July 11, 1993). "Ailing Will Rogers Jr., 81, Commits Suicide : Obituary: Actor, journalist and former congressman worked to ensure his famous father's legacy. He had suffered two strokes and recently undergone hip implant surgery". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
Kirby, Walter (July 5, 1953). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. The Decatur Daily Review. p. 40. Retrieved July 5, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
"Will Rogers Jr., Humorist's Son, Soldier, Politician and Actor, 81". New York Times. July 11, 1993. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
Nazario, Sonia (1993). “Ailing Will Rogers Jr., 81, Commits Suicide : Obituary: Actor, journalist and former congressman worked to ensure his famous father's legacy. He had suffered two strokes and recently undergone hip implant surgery”, archives of the Los Angeles Times, July 11, 1993. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
1942 election results
"Our Campaigns - CA US Senate Special". OurCampaigns. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
"Our Campaigns - CA US Senate". OurCampaigns. Retrieved June 19, 2020.

Bibliography

Johnston, Lyle (2019). Standing on the Shadow: The Will Rogers, Jr. Story. Privately printed.

External links

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded byLeland M. Ford	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 16th congressional district 1943–1944	Succeeded byEllis E. Patterson
Party political offices
Preceded byHiram Johnson Endorsed	Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from California (Class 1) 1946	Succeeded byWilliam Knowland Endorsed

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