Here are the 10 best governors in American history, according to Mr. Beat.
For his 10 WORST governors in American history, click here: • Worst 10 American Governors
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Honorable mentions:
James Blanchard
Sam Houston
Bill Weld
Floyd Olsen
George Clinton
Mario Cuomo
Pat Brown
Epaphroditus Ransom - Shout out to Mr. Dunn for bringing him to my attention
Gary Johnson
Adelbert Ames
Oliver Morton
Terry Sanford
Benjamin Gatz Brown
Earl Long
William Milliken
Edwin Johnson
Andrew Gregg Curtin
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Runner1928
McGhiever
Gage Skidmore
Famartin
Joe Loong
Matthew D. Wilson
Mr. Beat's top 10 governors, with sources referenced:
#10 James Beaver
web.archive.org/web/20070501001930/http://www.phmc…
explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-3BD
#9 Ann Richards
texaspolitics.utexas.edu/archive/html/exec/governo…
www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/articl…
#8 Jesse “The Body” Ventura
www.thenation.com/article/ventura-legacy/
news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200212/17_…
Don't Start the Revolution Without Me! by Jesse Ventura
#7 Clyde Tingley
www.abqjournal.com/327880/clyde-tingley-a-man-for-…
www.abqjournal.com/637303/author-seeks-help-in-tel…
Clyde Tingley's New Deal for New Mexico: 1935-1938 by Lucinda Lucero Sachs
#6 Percival Baxter
www.friendsofbaxter.org/park/baxters-vision
maineanencyclopedia.com/percival-p-baxter/
#5 DeWitt Clinton
www.nga.org/governor/dewitt-clinton/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeWitt_Clinton
#4 George Romney
www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/08/how-g…
#3 William Seward
www.mentalfloss.com/article/78406/10-resolute-fact…
#2 Huey Long
time.com/4020709/huey-long-anniversary/
www.hueylong.com/life-times/governor.php
www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/06/12/the-big-slea…
Yeah, I know...he’s turned into a meme, and he still is a controversial figure, but the more I’ve learned about Huey Long over the years, the more I appreciate him. Governor of Louisiana from 1928 to 1932, today he is known as your standard populist...or even demagogue. And that’s fair, he often told people what they wanted to hear, but I think he really believed what he said. When he ran for governor, he ran under the slogan “every man a king, but no one wears a crown.” His whole thing was that the rich were exploiting the poor in his state, so it was time the poor finally got their due. He campaigned in the rural areas of the state often neglected by the New Orleans and Baton Rouge elite. It’s important to realize that in 1928, during a time of widespread poverty and 75% illiteracy in Louisiana, a poll tax and literacy tests kept most of the poor from voting in the state. But Long handily won in the election thanks to those rural voters, and he scared the crap out of the political establishment, especially with all this talk of taxing the rich more.
Long got a bad rap since he did fire many of his opponents once in office. Loyalty was huge to him. But once he consolidated his power, he got lots done, creating a free textbook program for schoolchildren and building up roads, bridges, hospitals, and schools. He literally would show up announced to the Senate or House to almost bully his legislation through when opponents tried to block it. He didn’t feel bad, though, since these opponents were usually funded by business interests.
#1 Robert La Follette
www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/tp-035/
Robert La Follette cared. And he was extremely influential. Governor of Wisconsin from 1901 to 1906, La Follette was one of the key figures of the entire Progressive Era. He became the poster child of “The Wisconsin Idea,” which called for the breaking up of monopolies and trusts and an end to out of control income inequality. La Follette also believed it was due time that democracy had expanded in the country. As governor, he was able to weaken the railroad monopoly by taxing and regulating the industry. He also made direct primary elections a thing and reformed the state civil service.
Fighting Bob was also a charismatic speaker who inspired tens of thousands. #bestgovernors #ushistory #usgovernors
Mr. Beat