George Aiken facts for kids

Quick facts for kids George Aiken
Official portrait, c. 1974
United States Senator from Vermont
In office January 10, 1941 – January 3, 1975
Preceded by	Ernest W. Gibson Jr.
Succeeded by	Patrick Leahy
64th Governor of Vermont
In office January 7, 1937 – January 9, 1941
Lieutenant	William H. Wills
Preceded by	Charles Manley Smith
Succeeded by	William H. Wills
60th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
In office January 9, 1935 – January 6, 1937
Governor	Charles Manley Smith
Preceded by	Charles Manley Smith
Succeeded by	William H. Wills
77th Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office January 4, 1933 – January 8, 1935
Preceded by	Edward H. Deavitt
Succeeded by	Ernest E. Moore
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Putney
In office January 7, 1931 – January 7, 1935
Preceded by	Robert Goodyear Loomis
Succeeded by	William Hinds Darrow
Personal details
Born	George David Aiken (1892-08-20)August 20, 1892 Dummerston, Vermont, U.S.
Died	November 19, 1984(1984-11-19) (aged 92) Montpelier, Vermont, U.S.
Resting place	Mount Pleasant Cemetery Putney, Vermont, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouses	Beatrice Howard ​ ​ (m. 1914; died 1966)​ Lola Pierotti ​ (m. 1967)​
Profession	Farmer Horticulturist Author

George David Aiken (born August 20, 1892, died November 19, 1984) was an American politician and a plant expert. He was a member of the Republican Party. He served as the 64th governor of Vermont from 1937 to 1941. After that, he became a U.S. Senator for 34 years, from 1941 to 1975. When he retired, he was the longest-serving member of the Senate.

As governor, Aiken disagreed with some parts of the New Deal. These were government programs meant to help during the Great Depression. He especially opposed plans for hydroelectric power and flood control in Vermont. Later, as a Senator, he helped create programs like food stamps. He also pushed for federal help for schools and a minimum wage.

In the 1960s and 1970s, he took a balanced view on the Vietnam War. He did not agree with President Lyndon B. Johnson making the war bigger. He supported President Richard Nixon's plan to slowly pull troops out. Aiken was a strong supporter of small farmers. He also spoke out against Senator Joseph McCarthy's unfair tactics in the 1950s.

Early Life and Love for Plants

George David Aiken was born in Dummerston, Vermont. His parents moved to Putney in 1893. There, they grew fruits and vegetables. His father also worked in local government. George went to public schools in Putney and graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1909.

From a young age, Aiken loved farming. In 1912, he borrowed money to plant raspberries. Within five years, his berry farm grew very large. He also started a plant nursery. He even wrote books about growing wildflowers, fruits, and berries. He was also the president of the Vermont Horticultural Society.

In 1914, Aiken married Beatrice Howard. They had three daughters and one son. Beatrice passed away in 1966. In 1967, Aiken married Lola Pierotti, who had been his assistant for a long time. Lola remained active in politics until she died at 102 years old.

Starting in Politics

Aiken served on the school board in Putney from 1920 to 1937. He first ran for the Vermont House of Representatives in 1922 but did not win. In 1930, he won and served from 1931 to 1935. As a state representative, he was known for opposing private power companies. He disagreed with them over building dams.

In 1933, he became the Speaker of the House. This was despite some opposition from his own party. As Speaker, he helped pass a law to protect people who could not pay their debts during the Great Depression.

In 1934, Aiken was elected Lieutenant Governor of Vermont. He served from 1935 to 1937. During this time, he made sure that Democrats and the only female senator were fairly included in the Senate's committees. This was important because Republicans had many more members.

Governor of Vermont

In 1936, Aiken was elected governor. He served from 1937 to 1941. He was known as a moderate Republican. This meant he supported some parts of the New Deal programs. However, he opposed the federal government's plans for flood control and land use in Vermont.

As governor, Aiken worked to reduce the state's debt. He also started a "pay-as-you-go" program for building roads. He convinced the federal government to change its plans for flood control in the Connecticut River Valley. He also worked to break up monopolies in industries like banks and railroads. He encouraged farmers to form co-ops to sell their crops and get electricity.

Aiken presented himself as a champion for farmers and common people. He opposed the powerful families and conservative Republicans in Vermont. He became a leader of the progressive Republicans in the state. In 1940, he ran for the U.S. Senate and won easily. He continued to be reelected by large majorities until 1975.

Serving in the U.S. Senate

George Aiken became a U.S. Senator in January 1941. He was re-elected five times. During his time in the Senate, he held important roles. He chaired committees on government spending and agriculture.

He supported many government programs to help rural America. These included Food Stamps, rural electrification, and flood control. He also loved the natural beauty of Vermont. He once said that some people just love mountains and living where they feel free.

Aiken took a middle ground on labor unions. He believed that disagreements between workers and companies should be solved through talks. He voted for the Taft–Hartley Act in 1947. This law aimed to balance the rights of workers and companies.

He voted for important Civil Rights Acts in 1957, 1964, and 1968. He also supported the 24th Amendment, which banned poll taxes. He voted for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and for Thurgood Marshall to join the U.S. Supreme Court.

Aiken had a thoughtful view on the Vietnam War. He was not fully for or against the war. He famously suggested that the U.S. should declare it had "won" and bring the troops home. He meant that the U.S. military controlled much of the area. He thought this would allow a shift back to political solutions.

He was very popular in Vermont. For his last re-election campaign, he spent very little money. He left office in 1975. Patrick Leahy became the first Democrat to represent Vermont in the Senate. Leahy later became the longest-serving member of the Senate, just like Aiken. Aiken and Leahy held the same Senate seat for more than 80 years combined.

Retirement and Passing

Aiken decided not to run for re-election in 1974. He lived in Putney until 1984. As his health declined, he moved to a nursing home in Montpelier. He passed away in Montpelier on November 19, 1984. He was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Putney.