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List of governors of American Samoa facts for kids

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Governor of American Samoa
Seal of American Samoa.svg
Territory seal
Governor of American Samoa Pulaali'i Tuiteleleapaga Iuli Nikolao Pula.jpg
Incumbent
Pula Nikolao Pula

since January 3, 2025
Residence Government House, Pago Pago
Appointer General election
Term length 4 years,
renewable once
Precursor Malietoa
Formation February 17, 1900
First holder Benjamin Franklin Tilley
as Commandant
Succession Line of succession
Deputy Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa
Website Office of the Governor


The Governor is the leader of American Samoa, a territory of the United States. This article lists all the governors who have served American Samoa since 1900.

For many years, from 1900 to 1978, governors were chosen by the U.S. federal government. However, since 1978, the people of American Samoa have been able to elect their own governors. These elected governors serve for four years at a time.

History of American Samoa's Governors

How Governors Were Chosen

For a long time, the United States Department of the Interior chose the governors for American Samoa. Sometimes, they would send many different governors in just a few years. This made the local Samoans want to choose their own leaders.

In the 1940s, some Navy and Interior governors thought that High Orator Chief Tuiasosopo would be a good leader. Then, in 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed Peter Tali Coleman as Governor. He was the first person of Samoan descent to hold this important job. Coleman had been a U.S. Army officer and studied law.

After Coleman became governor, people in American Samoa realized that local leaders could do the job just as well as those sent by the federal government. Soon, local lawmakers like Governor Owen Aspinall and H. Rex Lee supported the idea of electing governors.

The Push for Elected Governors

Not everyone agreed with the idea of elected governors at first. Governor John Morse Haydon was against it. However, after some discussions, the Department of the Interior decided to replace him.

The idea of having an elected governor became stronger. A special group was formed to figure out how to make this happen.

In 1977, an article in the New York Times talked about how people started to oppose appointed governors. This opposition grew after Earl B. Ruth was appointed. He removed several Samoan officials from their jobs. Governor Ruth was later called back to Washington, D.C.

American Samoans had voted on the idea of electing their own governor three times before, and each time they said no. But in a referendum in 1976, they finally voted yes by a large amount! This allowed them to elect their own leader. The first governor chosen by the people was Peter Tali Coleman that same year.

Te'o J. Fuavai was one of the first people to strongly support the idea of electing governors in American Samoa. He helped create a resolution that asked the Department of the Interior to allow elections.

Appointed Governors (1900–1978)

Naval Administrators (1900–1951)

These governors were officers from the U.S. Navy.

Term Portrait Incumbent Notes
February 17, 1900 – November 27, 1901 Benjamin Franklin Tilley - NH 67313.jpg Benjamin Franklin Tilley, Commandant April 17, 1900: Treaty of Cession of Tutuila
November 27, 1901 – December 16, 1902 Uriel Sebree.jpg Uriel Sebree, Commandant
December 16, 1902 – May 5, 1903 Henry Minett 1877.jpg Henry Minett, acting Commandant
May 5, 1903 – January 30, 1905 Seal of American Samoa.svg Edmund Beardsley Underwood, Commandant/Governor July 16, 1904: Treaty of Cession of Manu'a
January 30, 1905 – May 21, 1908 Charles Brainard Taylor Moore.png Charles Brainard Taylor Moore, Governor
May 21, 1908 – November 10, 1910 Seal of American Samoa.svg John Frederick Parker, Governor
November 10, 1910 – March 14, 1913 William Michael Crose.jpg William Michael Crose, Governor July 17, 1911: U.S. Naval Station Tutuila renamed American Samoa
March 14 – July 14, 1913 Nathan W. Post.png Nathan Post, acting Governor First term
July 14, 1913 – October 2, 1914 Seal of American Samoa.svg Clark Daniel Stearns, Governor
October 2, 1914 – December 6, 1914 Nathan W. Post.png Nathan Post, acting Governor Second term
December 6, 1914 – March 1, 1915 Charles Armijo Woodruff.jpg Charles Armijo Woodruff, acting Governor
March 1, 1915 – June 10, 1919 John Martin Poyer.jpg John Martin Poyer, Governor
June 10, 1919 – November 3, 1920 Warren J. Terhune (US Navy officer).png Warren Terhune, Governor
November 11, 1920 – March 1, 1922 Seal of American Samoa.svg Waldo A. Evans, Governor
March 1, 1922 – September 4, 1923 EdwinTaylorPollock.jpg Edwin Taylor Pollock, Governor
September 4, 1923 – March 17, 1925 Seal of American Samoa.svg Edward Stanley Kellogg, Governor
March 17, 1925 – September 9, 1927 Henry F. Bryan.jpg Henry Francis Bryan, Governor
September 9, 1927 – August 2, 1929 Seal of American Samoa.svg Stephen Victor Graham, Governor February 20, 1929: U.S. Congress recognized the cession of Tutuila and Manu'a by their chiefs, with retrospective to 16 July 1904.
August 2, 1929 – March 24, 1931 Gatewood Sanders Lincoln.PNG Gatewood Lincoln, Governor First term
March 24 – April 22, 1931 James S. Spore.jpg James Sutherland Spore, acting Governor
April 22 – July 17, 1931 Arthur Tenney Emerson.png Arthur Emerson, acting Governor
July 17, 1931 – May 12, 1932 Gatewood Sanders Lincoln.PNG Gatewood Lincoln, Governor Second term
May 12, 1932 – April 10, 1934 George Landenberger 1932.jpg George Landenberger, Governor
April 10–17, 1934 Seal of American Samoa.svg Thomas C. Latimore, acting Governor
April 17, 1934 – January 15, 1936 Seal of American Samoa.svg Otto Dowling, Governor
January 15–20, 1936 Seal of American Samoa.svg Thomas Benjamin Fitzpatrick, acting Governor
January 20, 1936 – June 3, 1938 MacGillivray Milne head.jpg MacGillivray Milne, Governor
June 26, 1938 – July 30, 1940 Edward W. Hanson.jpg Edward Hanson, Governor
July 30 – August 8, 1940 Jesse Rink Wallace.jpg Jesse Wallace, acting Governor
August 8, 1940 – June 5, 1942 Seal of American Samoa.svg Laurence Wild, Governor Henry Louis Larsen served as Military Governor from January 17 to April 25, 1942
June 5, 1942 – February 8, 1944 Seal of American Samoa.svg John Gould Moyer, Governor
February 8, 1944 – January 27, 1945 Seal of American Samoa.svg Allen Hobbs, Governor
January 27 – September 3, 1945 Captain Ralph Waldo Hungerford.jpg Ralph Hungerford, Governor
September 3–10, 1945 Seal of American Samoa.svg Samuel Canan, acting Governor
September 10, 1945 – April 22, 1947 Seal of American Samoa.svg Harold Houser, Governor
April 22, 1947 – June 15, 1949 Vernon Huber.jpg Vernon Huber, Governor
July 7, 1949 – February 23, 1951 Thomas Darden.jpg Thomas Darden, Governor

Civilian Governors (1951–1978)

These governors were civilians, not military officers.

Portrait Governor Took office Left office Party
Phelps Phelps.jpg   Phelps Phelps
(1897–1981)
February 23, 1951 June 20, 1952 Republican
John Elliott.jpg   John C. Elliott
(1919–2001)
July 16, 1952 November 23, 1952 Democratic
No image.png   James Arthur Ewing
(1916–1996)
November 28, 1952 March 4, 1953 Democratic
Lawrence M. Judd (PP-74-3-007).jpg   Lawrence M. Judd
(1887–1968)
March 4, 1953 August 5, 1953 Republican
Richard Barrett Lowe.jpg   Richard Barrett Lowe
(1902–1972)
August 5, 1953 October 15, 1956 Republican
Peter Tali Coleman.jpg   Peter Tali Coleman
(1919–1997)
October 13, 1956 May 24, 1961 Republican
Hyrum Rex Lee.jpg   H. Rex Lee
(1910–2001)
May 24, 1961 July 31, 1967 Democratic
Owen Aspinall.jpg   Owen Aspinall
(1927–1997)
August 1, 1967 July 31, 1969 Democratic
No image.png   John Morse Haydon
(1920–1991)
August 1, 1969 October 14, 1974 Republican
No image.png   Frank Mockler
(1909–1993)
(acting)
October 14, 1974 February 6, 1975 Republican
Earl B. Ruth.jpg   Earl B. Ruth
(1916–1989)
February 6, 1975 September 30, 1976 Republican
No image.png   Frank Barnett
(1933–2016)
October 1, 1976 May 27, 1977 Republican
Hyrum Rex Lee.jpg   H. Rex Lee
(1910–2001)
May 28, 1977 January 3, 1978 Democratic

Elected Governors (1978–Present)

Since 1978, the people of American Samoa have voted for their governors.

S. No. Portrait Governor Tenure Party Elected Lieutenant Governor
1 Peter Tali Coleman.jpg Peter Tali Coleman
(1919–1997)
January 3, 1978

January 3, 1985
Republican 1977
1980
Tufele Liamatua
2 AP Lutali.jpg   A. P. Lutali
(1919–2002)
January 3, 1985

January 2, 1989
Democratic 1984 Eni Faleomavaega
3 Peter Tali Coleman.jpg Peter Tali Coleman
(1919–1997)
January 2, 1989

January 3, 1993
Republican 1988 Galea'i Peni Poumele
  Gaioi Tufele Galeai
4 AP Lutali.jpg A. P. Lutali
(1919–2002)
January 3, 1993

January 3, 1997
Democratic 1992 Tauese Sunia
5 GovSunia.jpg Tauese Sunia
(1941–2003)
January 3, 1997

March 26, 2003
Democratic 1996
2000
Togiola Tulafono
Togiola Tulafono.jpg Togiola Tulafono
(born 1947)
March 26, 2003

April 7, 2003
Democratic 2004
2008
Himself
6 April 7, 2003

January 3, 2013
  Faoa Aitofele Sunia
7 Lolo Moliga by James Kneubuhl.jpg Lolo Matalasi Moliga
(born 1947)
January 3, 2013

January 3, 2021
Independent 2012
2016
Lemanu Peleti Mauga
Democratic
8 Lemanu Peleti Mauga (cropped).png   Lemanu Peleti Mauga
(born 1960)
January 3, 2021

January 3, 2025
Democratic 2020 Eleasalo Ale
9 Governor of American Samoa Pulaali'i Tuiteleleapaga Iuli Nikolao Pula.jpg Pula Nikolao Pula
(born 1955)
January 3, 2025

present
Republican 2024 Pulu Ae Ae Jr.

Succession

See also

  • List of American Samoa Fono
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