Winthrop Rockefeller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Winthrop Rockefeller
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Portrait by Bernard Gotfryd, 1967
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| 37th Governor of Arkansas | |
| In office January 10, 1967 – January 12, 1971 |
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| Lieutenant | Maurice Britt |
| Preceded by | Orval Faubus |
| Succeeded by | Dale Bumpers |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 1, 1912 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 22, 1973 (aged 60) Palm Springs, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Winrock Farms Morrilton, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
Jievute "Bobo" Paulekiute
(m. 1948; div. 1954)Jeannette Edris
(m. 1956; div. 1971) |
| Children | Winthrop Paul Rockefeller |
| Parents | John Davison Rockefeller Jr. Abigail Greene Aldrich |
| Relatives | See Rockefeller family |
| Education | Yale University |
| Profession | Politician, businessman |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | 77th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | |
Winthrop Rockefeller (May 1, 1912 – February 22, 1973) was an American leader. He was a politician and also a generous person who gave money to good causes. Winthrop was the fourth son of John D. Rockefeller Jr. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. His grandfather was John D. Rockefeller, who helped start Standard Oil.
Winthrop became a successful businessman in Arkansas. He helped fund many local projects. These included new medical clinics in areas that needed them most. In 1966, he was elected governor of Arkansas. He was the first Republican governor there since the Reconstruction period. He was re-elected in 1968. During his time as governor, he worked to complete the integration of schools in Arkansas.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Winthrop Rockefeller was born in New York. His parents were John D. Rockefeller Jr. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. He was one of the grandsons of Standard Oil co-founder John D. Rockefeller. He had five siblings. His brother, Nelson Rockefeller, later became the Governor of New York. Nelson also served as Vice President of the United States.
Winthrop went to the Loomis Chaffee School. He then attended Yale University from 1931 to 1934. He left Yale to work in the oil industry.
On January 22, 1941, Winthrop joined the United States Army. This was before the United States entered World War II. He was first assigned to the 1st Infantry Division. Later, he joined the 77th Infantry Division. He rose through the ranks to become a lieutenant colonel.
With the 77th Division, he served in the invasions of Guam and Leyte in the Philippines. He earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He received these awards for his bravery during a kamikaze attack. This happened on the troopship USS Henrico during the invasion of Okinawa. His picture is in the Infantry Officer Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Becoming Governor
Winthrop Rockefeller first ran for governor in 1964. He ran against Orval Faubus. Rockefeller did not win that election. However, his campaign helped make the Republican Party stronger in Arkansas. This set the stage for future elections.
The 1966 Election
When Rockefeller ran again in 1966, few people in Arkansas were Republicans. But many Arkansans were ready for a change. They had grown tired of Governor Faubus, who had served six terms. Many Democrats also liked the new ideas Rockefeller offered.
A mix of Republicans and Democrats who wanted change helped Rockefeller win. He defeated James D. Johnson, a former judge. This victory made Winthrop Rockefeller the first Republican governor of Arkansas since the 1870s.
At this time, Winthrop's brother, Nelson Rockefeller, was also a governor. Nelson was the governor of New York. They were the third pair of brothers to be governors at the same time in U.S. history. Later, George W. Bush and Jeb Bush were also governors at the same time.
In 1968, Winthrop Rockefeller was considered a "favorite son" candidate for president. This happened at the 1968 Republican National Convention. He received all 18 votes from his home state of Arkansas. His brother Nelson also ran for president that year.
Governor of Arkansas (1967-1971)
As governor, Winthrop Rockefeller started many reforms. He wanted to make government better. However, he faced challenges from a legislature mostly made up of Democrats.
Rockefeller's ideas for good government included:
- Changing the state constitution.
- Reorganizing how the government worked.
- Reforming election laws.
- Improving teacher pay and benefits.
- Starting kindergarten programs funded by the state.
- Improving education and job training in prisons.
- Attracting new businesses to Arkansas.
One of his most famous reforms was stopping illegal gambling in Hot Springs. He also helped make state government more efficient. He passed a state law for a minimum wage.
Rockefeller was very interested in improving the Arkansas prison system. He received a report about the harsh conditions in prisons. He created a new Department of Corrections. He hired Tom Murton, a professional who knew a lot about prisons, as the new warden. Murton tried to fix problems, but Rockefeller later fired him.
Rockefeller also focused on improving education. He suggested more money for new school buildings and teacher salaries.
Working with the Legislature
Much of Rockefeller's second term involved disagreements with the legislature. In 1969, he told lawmakers that voters had approved tax increases. He wanted to spend this new money on education, health, and state employee salaries. He asked them to listen to the people, not to "selfish interests."
Many people saw Rockefeller as a very progressive governor. He tried to increase taxes to improve state services. He strongly supported civil rights. He was also against the death penalty.
During his time as governor, Rockefeller successfully completed the integration of Arkansas schools. This had been a very difficult issue before. He also created the Council on Human Relations. By the time he left office, Arkansas had the most racially integrated draft boards of any U.S. state. He was also the only Southern governor to hold a public memorial for Martin Luther King Jr..
The 1970 Election
In the 1970 election, Rockefeller expected to run against Orval Faubus again. Instead, a new Democratic candidate, Dale Bumpers, became popular. Bumpers promised reforms and had a lot of charm. Rockefeller lost his bid for a third term to Bumpers. However, his efforts had pushed the Democratic Party in Arkansas to also seek reforms.
Personal Life
On February 14, 1948, Winthrop married actress Jievute "Bobo" Paulekiute. They had a son, Winthrop Paul "Win" Rockefeller, in September 1948. The couple later divorced in 1954.
In 1956, Rockefeller married Jeanette Edris. She had two children from a previous marriage. Winthrop and Jeanette did not have children together. They divorced in 1971 after he left the governorship. As the state's First Lady, Jeanette Rockefeller was very interested in mental health issues.
In September 1972, Winthrop Rockefeller was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed away on February 22, 1973, in Palm Springs, California, at the age of sixty. His ashes were buried at Winrock Farms in Morrilton, Arkansas.
Legacy and Impact
Winthrop Rockefeller's legacy continues through many charities and scholarships. The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and the Winthrop Rockefeller Charitable Trust support many projects. These include Winrock International, a group that helps people and protects natural resources. The foundation helps with economic development, education, and social justice in Arkansas.
In 1964, he founded the Museum of Automobiles on Petit Jean Mountain. After his death, it was given to the state parks system.
The Winthrop Rockefeller Institute was founded in 2005. It is also on Petit Jean Mountain. It works to continue Governor Rockefeller’s ideas for creating positive change. The Winthrop Rockefeller Charitable Trust gave the Institute a large gift in 2018.
Rockefeller's political work changed both the Republican and Democratic parties in Arkansas. His presence forced both parties to reform.
Winthrop Rockefeller was featured on the cover of Time magazine on December 2, 1966.
His son, Winthrop Paul Rockefeller, later served as Arkansas lieutenant governor. He won a special election in 1996 and two more terms. Like his father, Win Paul Rockefeller's political career was cut short by cancer.
The Winrock Shopping Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is named after Rockefeller. He helped develop this center.
Rockefeller also helped develop a large area of land in James City County, Virginia. This area now includes a brewery, the Busch Gardens Williamsburg theme park, and the Kingsmill resort. These developments created many jobs in the area.
Electoral History
1964 General Election for Governor
- Orval Faubus (D) (inc.) 57%
- Winthrop Rockefeller (R) 43%
1966 Republican Primary for Governor
- Winthrop Rockefeller 98%
- Gus McMillan 2%
1966 General Election for Governor
- Winthrop Rockefeller (R) 54%
- James D. "Justice Jim" Johnson (D) 46%
1968 Republican Primary for Governor
- Winthrop Rockefeller (inc.) 95%
- Sidney K. Roberts 5%
1968 General Election for Governor
- Winthrop Rockefeller (R) (inc.) 52%
- Marion Crank (D) 48%
1970 Republican Primary for Governor
- Winthrop Rockefeller (inc.) 95%
- James K. "Uncle Mac" MacKrell 2%
- R.J. Hampton 2%
- Lester Gibbs 1%
1970 General Election for Governor
- Dale Bumpers (D) 62%
- Winthrop Rockefeller (R) (inc.) 32%
- Walter L. Carruth (AIP) 6%
Images for kids
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Rockefeller in 1969
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See also
