William Knowland | |
---|---|
Senate Minority Leader | |
In office January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1959 | |
Deputy | Leverett Saltonstall Everett Dirksen |
Preceded by | Lyndon B. Johnson |
Succeeded by | Everett Dirksen |
Senate Majority Leader | |
In office August 4, 1953 – January 3, 1955 | |
Deputy | Leverett Saltonstall |
Preceded by | Robert A. Taft |
Succeeded by | Lyndon B. Johnson |
Leader of the Senate Republican Conference | |
In office August 4, 1953 – January 3, 1959 | |
Deputy | Leverett Saltonstall Everett Dirksen |
Preceded by | Robert A. Taft |
Succeeded by | Everett Dirksen |
Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee | |
In office January 3, 1953 – August 4, 1953 | |
Leader | Robert A. Taft |
Preceded by | Robert A. Taft |
Succeeded by | Homer S. Ferguson |
United States Senator from California | |
In office August 26, 1945 – January 3, 1959 | |
Preceded by | Hiram Johnson |
Succeeded by | Clair Engle |
Member of the California Senate from the 16th district | |
In office 1935–1939 | |
Preceded by | Arthur Breed Sr. |
Succeeded by | Arthur Breed Jr. |
Member of the California State Assembly from the 14th district | |
In office 1933–1935 | |
Preceded by | Frank Israel |
Succeeded by | Charles Wagner |
Personal details | |
Born | William Fife Knowland June 26, 1908 Alameda, California, U.S. |
Died | February 23, 1974 Guerneville, California, U.S. | (aged 65)
Cause of death | Suicide by gunshot |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) |
Helen Davis Herrick
(m. 2031; div. 1972)Ann Dickson (m. 1972) |
Children | 3, including Joe 2 stepchildren |
Relatives | Joseph R. Knowland (Father) |
Education | University of California, Berkeley (BA) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | 1942–1945 |
Rank | Major |
Unit | Forward Echelon Communications Zone Fifteenth United States Army |
Battles/wars | World War II |
William Fife Knowland (June 26, 1908 – February 23, 1974) was an American politician, newspaper publisher, and Republican Party leader. He was a U.S. Senator representing California from 1945 to 1959. He was Senate Majority Leader from August 1953 to January 1955 after the death of Robert A. Taft. In 1958, he made a failed run for Governor of California.
On February 23, 1974, Knowland shot himself in the head at his summer home near Guerneville, California at the age of 65. He died owing over $900,000 to banks and impatient mobsters.[1]