Tim Babcock

Last updated
Betty Lee
(m. 1941;died 2013)
Tim Babcock
Tim Babcock 1965 (cropped).jpg
16th Governor of Montana
In office
January 25, 1962 January 6, 1969

Timothy Milford Babcock (October 27, 1919 – April 7, 2015) was an American politician, the 16th Governor of the state of Montana, from 1962 to 1969. [1]

Contents

Early life

Babcock was born in Littlefork, Minnesota, the son of Olive (Rinehart) and Erwin Babcock. [2] He later moved to Glendive, Montana and graduated from Dawson County High School in 1939. [3] He married Betty Lee on September 21, 1941, and they had two children. [4] After graduating from Dawson County High School in 1939, he worked at a Douglas Aircraft factory in California. In 1944, he enlisted in the US Army as an infantryman, and served with the 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division in the European Theater during World War II. [4] He fought at Elsenborn Ridge, part of the Battle of the Bulge. He later took part in the capture of the Remagen Bridge, where he was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for valor. [5]

Career

Babcock served three terms in the Montana Legislature prior to being elected lieutenant governor in 1960. He became governor in 1962 upon the death of Governor Donald Nutter. During his tenure, he proposed a three-percent sales tax to support the state government, and moderated the budget signed by Governor Nutter. In 1964, Babcock endorsed Barry Goldwater of Arizona for the Republican presidential nomination. Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas, however, was an easy winner that year of Montana's then four electoral votes. [6] He ran for re-election in 1964 against Roland Renne, the former President of Montana State College and the Democratic nominee. Following a close campaign, Babcock was narrowly re-elected over Renne. From 1964 to 1965, he a member of the National Governors' Conference Executive Committee, and he chaired the Western Governors' Conference from 1966 to 1967.

In 1966, he ran against incumbent United States Senator Lee Metcalf, and despite the fact that Democrats nationwide lost three Senate seats that year, Metcalf not only defeated Babcock, but increased his margin of victory from 1960.

When Babcock ran for re-election in 1968, he faced a stiff challenge in the Republican primary from Ted James, who had served with Babcock as his Lieutenant Governor since 1965. Babcock ended up defeating James, and advanced to the general election, where he faced Forrest H. Anderson, the State Attorney General, whom he lost to by a solid margin.

Following his defeat, he was appointed by then-President Richard Nixon to the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere.

In 1969, Babcock, who was a close friend of Nixon, was hired by Armand Hammer's Occidental Petroleum as a vice president and as Hammer's lobbyist with access not only to the White House but also to Babcock's friend President Nixon. [7]

He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention eleven times and served on the National Republican Committee in 1997 and 2000.

In 1978, Babcock and his wife wrote a book: Challenges: Above & Beyond.

Illegal financial support of Nixon's Watergate fund

In September 1972, Armand Hammer made three illegal contributions totaling $54,000 to Richard Nixon's Watergate fund through friends of former Montana Governor Tim Babcock, who had been a vice president of Hammer's Occidental Petroleum, after which both Babcock and Hammer pleaded guilty to charges involving illegal contributions. [8] [9] [10] In August 1989, George H. W. Bush pardoned Hammer for the illegal contributions to aid Nixon's re-election in 1972. [10] [11]

Personal life and death

The Hauser Mansion Hauser Mansion, Helena.jpg
The Hauser Mansion

Babcock purchased the Hauser Mansion in Helena in 1969. [12] Built for Governor Samuel Thomas Hauser, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [12]

On April 7, 2015, Babcock died in Helena, Montana, aged 95. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armand Hammer</span> American businessman (1898–1990)

Armand Hammer was an American business manager and owner, most closely associated with Occidental Petroleum, a company he ran from 1957 until his death. Called "Lenin's chosen capitalist" by the press, he was also known for his art collection and his close ties to the Soviet Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Connally</span> American politician (1917–1993)

John Bowden Connally Jr. was an American politician. He served as the 39th governor of Texas and as the 61st United States Secretary of the Treasury. He began his career as a Democrat and later became a Republican in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marc Racicot</span> American attorney, politician and former Governor of Montana

Marc Racicot is an American attorney, lobbyist, politician and former member of the Republican Party who served as the 21st Governor of Montana from 1993 until 2001. After leaving office, Racicot worked as a lobbyist for the law firm Bracewell & Giuliani. His notable clients included Enron, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and the Recording Industry Association of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Finch (American politician)</span> American politician

Robert Hutchinson Finch was a Republican politician from La Canada Flintridge, California. In 1967, he served as the 38th Lieutenant Governor of California. Following Richard Nixon's presidential campaign in 1968, he was appointed Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1969. He was the Counselor to the President from 1970 until 1972. During the 1976 California United States Senate election, he lost in the Republican primary to S.I. Hayakawa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1970 United States Senate elections</span>

The 1970 United States Senate elections was an election for the United States Senate. It took place on November 3, with the 33 seats of Class 1 contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. These races occurred in the middle of Richard Nixon's first term as president. The Democrats lost a net of three seats, while the Republicans and the Conservative Party of New York picked up one net seat each, and former Democrat Harry F. Byrd Jr. was re-elected as an independent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Schweitzer</span> 23rd Governor of Montana

Brian David Schweitzer is an American farmer and politician who served as the 23rd Governor of Montana from 2005 to 2013. Schweitzer served for a time as chair of the Western Governors Association as well as the Democratic Governors Association. He also served as President of the Council of State Governments.

Thomas Lee Judge was an American politician who served as the 18th governor of Montana from 1973 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 25th lieutenant governor of Montana from 1969 to 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 United States Senate election in Montana</span>

The 2006 United States Senate election in Montana was held November 7, 2006. The filing deadline was March 23; the primary was held June 6. Incumbent Republican Senator Conrad Burns ran for re-election to a fourth term, but lost to Democrat Jon Tester by a margin of 0.87%, or 3,562 votes out of 406,505 cast. This made the election the second-closest race of the 2006 Senate election cycle, behind only the election in Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Metcalf</span> American judge

Lee Warren Metcalf was an American lawyer, judge, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a U.S. Representative (1953–1961) and a U.S. Senator (1961–1978) from Montana. He was the first of Montana's U.S. Senators to be born in the state, and was Permanent Acting President pro tempore of the Senate, the only one to hold that position, from 1963 until his death in 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roland Renne</span>

Roland R. Renne, an Agricultural Economics Professor, served as President of Montana State College from 1943 to 1964. Dr. Renne was also active in Washington, D.C., and United States overseas agricultural economics work. He was the 1964 Democratic candidate for governor of Montana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1988 United States presidential election in Idaho</span> Election in Idaho

The 1988 United States presidential election in Idaho took place on November 8, 1988. All 50 states and the District of Columbia, were part of the 1988 United States presidential election. State voters chose four electors to the Electoral College, which selected the president and vice president.

Betty Lee Babcock was an American businesswoman, politician, and the wife of the Governor of Montana Tim M. Babcock. She served as the First Lady of Montana from 1962 to 1969, as a delegate to the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention, and as a member of Montana House of Representatives from 1975 to 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1968 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

United States gubernatorial elections were held on 5 November 1968, in 21 states and one territory, concurrent with the House, Senate elections and presidential election. These were the last gubernatorial elections for Arizona, New Mexico, and Wisconsin to take place in a presidential election year, as all would extend their governors' terms from two to four years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1966 United States Senate election in Montana</span> U.S. Senate election in Montana

The 1966 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 8, 1966. Incumbent United States Senator Lee Metcalf, who was first elected to the Senate in 1960, ran for re-election. He won the Democratic primary uncontested, and moved on to the general election, where he was opposed by Tim M. Babcock, the Republican nominee and the Governor of Montana. Though the race remained close, Metcalf was able to expand on his 1960 margin of victory, and defeated Babcock to win a second term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1968 Montana gubernatorial election</span> Gubernatorial election in Montana 1968, Nov. 5

The 1968 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1968. Incumbent Governor of Montana Tim Babcock, who became Governor upon the death of previous Governor Donald Grant Nutter and was re-elected in 1964, ran for re-election. He faced serious competition in the Republican primary from his Lieutenant Governor, but managed to comfortably win renomination. Advancing to the general election, Babcock faced Forrest H. Anderson, the Attorney General of Montana and the Democratic nominee, and independent candidate Wayne Montgomery of the New Reform Party. Ultimately, Anderson managed to defeat Babcock by a solid margin, winning his first and only term as governor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 Montana gubernatorial election</span>

The 1964 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1964. Incumbent Governor of Montana Tim M. Babcock, who became Governor upon the death of previous Governor Donald Grant Nutter, ran for re-election. He won the Republican primary unopposed, and advanced to the general election, where he faced Roland Renne, the former President of Montana State College and the Democratic nominee, in the general election. Despite the fact that then-President Lyndon B. Johnson won the state handily in that year's presidential election, Babcock managed to narrowly defeat Renne to win his second and final term as governor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hauser Mansion</span> Historic house in Montana, United States

Hauser Mansion is a historic house in Helena, Montana, U.S.. It was built in 1885 for Governor Samuel Thomas Hauser. It was designed by the architectural firm Wallace & Thornburg. It was inherited by his daughter, Ellen Hauser Thatcher, in 1913, and subsequently sold to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Helena, John P. Carroll, followed by other bishops. From 1935 to 1969, it was used by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. It was purchased by Governor Tim Babcock in 1969. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since February 12, 1979.

References

  1. "Former Governors of Montana". Netstate.com. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  2. "Tim Milford Babcock | Obituaries". Billingsgazette.com. 2015-04-09. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  3. "Tim M. Babcock". Soylent Communications. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Tim M. Babcock". National Governors Association. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  5. "Local Vets Remember Battle of Bulge on Its Anniversary". Helenair.com. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  6. Thomas Payne (June 1965). "The 1964 Election in Montana". The Western Political Quarterly. 18 (2): 491–494. doi:10.2307/445294. JSTOR   445294. The 1964 Elections in the West
  7. Epstein 1996, p. 270.
  8. Ripley, Anthony (December 11, 1974). "Guilt Admitted by a Nixon Donor". New York Times . Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  9. Oelsner, Lesley (October 2, 1975). "Hammer Enters Plea In Nixon Fund Case". New York Times . Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  10. 1 2 Rampe, David (August 15, 1989). "Armand Hammer Pardoned by Bush". The New York Times. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  11. Andrews, Robert M. (August 15, 1989). "Armand Hammer, Elated Over Bush Pardon, Usually Gets What He Wants". Associated Press . Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  12. 1 2 "National Register of Historic Places Inventory--Nomination Form: Hauser Mansion". National Park Service. United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  13. Kristen Inbody (2015-04-07). "'A sad day for Montana' as former Gov. Babcock dies". Greatfallstribune.com. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
Political offices
Preceded by
Paul Cannon
Lieutenant Governor of Montana
1961–1962
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Montana
1962–1969
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Montana
1964, 1968
Succeeded by
Ed Smith
Preceded by Republican nominee for Senator from Montana
(Class 2)

1966
Succeeded by
Henry Hibbard