Ralph Owen Brewster (1888-1961) of Dexter, a two-time Republican governor of Mai

Source

Down East

Date

6-1-2005

Pages

70-71, 101-103

Abstract

Ralph Owen Brewster (1888-1961) of Dexter, a two-time Republican governor of Maine, had a stormy political career that included being backed by the Ku Klux Klan as gubernatorial candidate in 1924, a feud with Howard Hughes, and alliance with Red-baiting Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Although Brewster was not a Klan member, he refused to condemn the group. He was once the protege of Gov. Percival Baxter, but the two men became enemies after Brewster failed to repudiate the Klan. He served in the U.S. House and Senate, and in 1952 became the only incumbent senator from Maine to fail to win renomination. His reputation never fully recovered from having to defend himself against Howard Hughes' claims that he was in the pocket of Pan American Airways, during an investigation of government contracts awarded to Hughes.

Subjects

Politicians, Brewster, Ralph Owen

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