kids encyclopedia robot

Nelson Rockefeller facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Rockefeller.jpg
41st Vice President of the United States
In office
December 19, 1974 – January 20, 1977
President Gerald Ford
Preceded by Gerald Ford
Succeeded by Walter Mondale
49th Governor of New York
In office
January 1, 1959 – December 18, 1973
Lieutenant Malcolm Wilson
Preceded by W. Averell Harriman
Succeeded by Malcolm Wilson
1st Under Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare
In office
June 11, 1953 – December 22, 1954
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded by Office Created
Succeeded by Herold Christian Hunt
1st Assistant Secretary of State for American Republic Affairs
In office
December 20, 1944 – August 17, 1945
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Harry S. Truman
Preceded by Office Created
Succeeded by Spruille Braden
Personal details
Born
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller

(1908-07-08)July 8, 1908
Bar Harbor, Maine, U.S.
Died January 26, 1979(1979-01-26) (aged 70)
New York City, U.S.
Resting place Rockefeller Family Cemetery
Sleepy Hollow, New York
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Mary Todhunter Clark
(m. 1930–1962; divorced)
Margaretta Large Fitler
(m. 1963–1979; his death)
Relations
  • John Davison Rockefeller, Sr. (grandfather)
  • Laura Celestia Spelman (grandmother)
  • Nelson Wilmarth Aldrich (grandfather)
  • Elizabeth Rockefeller (aunt)
  • Alta Rockefeller (aunt)
  • Edith Rockefeller (aunt)
  • Lucy Truman Aldrich (aunt)
  • Richard Steere Aldrich (uncle)
  • Winthrop Williams Aldrich (uncle)
  • Abigail Aldrich Rockefeller (sister)
  • John Davison Rockefeller III (brother)
  • Laurance Spelman Rockefeller (brother)
  • Winthrop Aldrich Rockefeller (brother)
  • David Rockefeller (brother)
  • Margaret Rockefeller Strong (cousin)
  • John Rockefeller Prentice (cousin)
Children
  • Rodman Clark Rockefeller
  • Ann Rockefeller
  • Steven Clark Rockefeller
  • Mary Rockefeller
  • Michael Clark Rockefeller
  • Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, Jr.
  • Mark Fitler Rockefeller
Parent(s) John Davison Rockefeller, Jr.
Abigail Greene Aldrich
Residence(s) New York City
Alma mater Dartmouth College (A.B.)
Profession
  • businessman
  • philanthropist
  • public servant
  • politician
Signature Cursive signature in ink

Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (July 8, 1908 – January 26, 1979) was a liberal Republican American politician and businessman. He was from one of the richest and most powerful families in the United States.

Personal life

His paternal grandfather was John D. Rockefeller Sr. His maternal grandfather was United States Senator Nelson Aldrich of Rhode Island. He was the son of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and Abby Aldrich. He was Governor of New York from 1959 to 1973. He was the brother of David Rockefeller, chairman of Chase Bank, Winthrop, later Governor of Arkansas, John III, and Laurance. He is the uncle of former Senator John D. Rockefeller IV.

Marriages

He was married twice. His first was to Mary Todhunter Clark until they divorced. His second was to Margaretta Fitler Murphy until his death from a heart attack.

Political career

He tried three times to gain his party's nomination for the United States presidency but lost to the slightly more conservative Vice President and future President Richard Nixon in 1960 and 1968 and conservative Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona in 1964. He refused to support Goldwater in the general election after losing to him, which Nixon condemned him for and used to argue that Rockefeller was not a loyal Republican. He was Vice-President from 1974-1977 under Gerald Ford. He waged a campaign against future President George Bush to be appointed to that office. He won. He was a member of the Republican Party. He was in Knights of Pythias.

Images for kids

Women's History Month on Kiddle
Women Scientists of Antiquity
Hypatia
Agnodice
Aglaonice
Mary the Jewess
kids search engine
Nelson Rockefeller Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.