J. Bracken Lee
Posted 07-13-2012 at 11:39 PM by Happy in Wyoming
Updated 06-24-2014 at 04:27 AM by Happy in Wyoming
Updated 06-24-2014 at 04:27 AM by Happy in Wyoming
There was never another like him. He served as mayor of Price, Utah for twelve years, then governor for eight years, and finally as mayor of Salt Lake for twelve years, He was a foe of government spending at every turn and he made enemies galore, particularly Utah’s government education establishment. He hated the fact that teachers worked nine easy months but were paid for twelve. He was particularly outraged when schoolteachers and staff took other government jobs in the summer vacation.
Although not a Mormon the LDS church effectively supported him in his first two gubernatorial elections, the first against a Mormon. But honor and principle always came ahead of political expediency. Although the church strongly supported a Sunday closing law that would have required most Utah businesses to close on Sunday he vetoed it. At a time, 1955, when Eisenhower enjoyed almost universal support he criticized Eisenhower for not rolling back the legislation of the New Deal. These two actions cost him the governorship. But in the early Fifties he was suggested as a running mate for Bob Taft, a strong conservative, if he won the 1952 Republican Presidential nomination. Taft died shortly after the 1953 inauguration so if that had happened we would have had President J. Bracken Lee.
He was a savage foe of the federal income tax and advocated repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment. He wanted the federal government to collect taxes from the states, not from the people. He hated Communists and strongly supported Joe McCarthy.
He was a libertarian before anyone had ever heard the word. As mayor of Price he had favored tolerance of gambling and prostitution as long as they were discreet. He was no fan of Utah’s draconian liquor laws and corrupt enforcement. As governor he changed all of this and saved the state millions.
I heard him speak when I was nineteen and was very impressed. A few weeks ago I learned of Let ‘em Holler: A Political Biography of J. Bracken Lee. The author is generally friendly if not always in agreement so it’s pleasant to read. If you wish to read about a unique man and a true hero I recommend it highly.
Amazon.com: Let 'em holler: A political biography of J. Bracken Lee (9780913738337): Dennis L Lythgoe: Books
Although not a Mormon the LDS church effectively supported him in his first two gubernatorial elections, the first against a Mormon. But honor and principle always came ahead of political expediency. Although the church strongly supported a Sunday closing law that would have required most Utah businesses to close on Sunday he vetoed it. At a time, 1955, when Eisenhower enjoyed almost universal support he criticized Eisenhower for not rolling back the legislation of the New Deal. These two actions cost him the governorship. But in the early Fifties he was suggested as a running mate for Bob Taft, a strong conservative, if he won the 1952 Republican Presidential nomination. Taft died shortly after the 1953 inauguration so if that had happened we would have had President J. Bracken Lee.
He was a savage foe of the federal income tax and advocated repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment. He wanted the federal government to collect taxes from the states, not from the people. He hated Communists and strongly supported Joe McCarthy.
He was a libertarian before anyone had ever heard the word. As mayor of Price he had favored tolerance of gambling and prostitution as long as they were discreet. He was no fan of Utah’s draconian liquor laws and corrupt enforcement. As governor he changed all of this and saved the state millions.
I heard him speak when I was nineteen and was very impressed. A few weeks ago I learned of Let ‘em Holler: A Political Biography of J. Bracken Lee. The author is generally friendly if not always in agreement so it’s pleasant to read. If you wish to read about a unique man and a true hero I recommend it highly.
Amazon.com: Let 'em holler: A political biography of J. Bracken Lee (9780913738337): Dennis L Lythgoe: Books
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