RG 005:032, Office of the Governor: John Davis Lodge (1951-1955)

Inventory of Records

Finding aid prepared by Connecticut State Library staff.

Copyright © 2007 by the Connecticut State Library

Biographical Note

Born: October 20, 1903, Washington, D.C.
College: Harvard, 1925; Harvard Law School, 1929.
Political Party: Republican.
Offices: U.S. Congress, 1947-1951; Governor of Connecticut, 1951-1955; U.S. Ambassador Spain, 1955-1961; Argentina, 1969-1974; Switzerland, 1981-1985.
Died: October 29, 1985, New York City.

The Republican's control of the governor's office in Connecticut ended with the term of John Lodge. He was the first governor to serve a four-year term, but when he left office in 1955 the Republicans would only hold it in four of the next thirty-six years. Lodge came from a long line of political leaders, including his grandfather, Henry Cabot Lodge, and his brother, Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. Lodge received his law degree from Harvard in 1929, but spent several years as a movie actor in Europe where he made fourteen films. In World War II he was a Naval officer. Married to Francesca Braggiotti of Italy in 1929, they had two children.

Lodge entered Connecticut politics in 1947 when he was elected to the U.S. Congress. In 1950 he defeated Governor Bowles in the first election of a Connecticut governor for a four years term. Much of his time in office was impacted by the Korean War (1950-53) as the state received numerous military contracts. Lodge had legislation passed to increase benefits for the unemployed and for injured workers. Bonding was secured to help in the construction of new state facilities.

At the end of his term Lodge sought reelection, but was defeated and left office in January of 1955. He later served as U.S. Ambassador to several countries. He attempted to become a U.S. Senator in 1964, but lost to Thomas Dodd. Lodge died in 1985. His house in Westport still stands and is privately owned. The Connecticut Turnpike (Route 95) is named in his honor.

Bibliography

Congressional Quarterly's Guide to United States Elections. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, 1994 [CSL call number GIS Ref JK 1967 .C662 1994.

Glashan, Roy R. American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1975. Stillwater, Minn.: Croixside Press, 1975 [CSL call number JK 2447 .G53 1975].

Janick, Herbert F. A Diverse People: Connecticut, 1914 to the Present. Chester, Conn.: Pequot Press, c1975 [CSL call number HistRef Conn Doc St22eacs v. 5].

Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978. Westport, Conn.: Meckler Books, 1978 [CSL call number GIS Ref E 176 .B573].

Van Dusen, Albert E. Connecticut. New York: Random House, 1961 [CSL call number HistRef F 94 .V3].

Return to the Table of Contents

Scope and Content

Gov. Lodge's correspondence and subject files related to state agencies, commissions, legislative bills, and appointments among other topics. Also included are state agency files.

Return to the Table of Contents

Arrangement

Series 1. Correspondence.

Series 2. Subject Files.

Series 3. State Agency Files.

Return to the Table of Contents

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

These records are stored at an off-site facility and therefore may not be available on a same-day basis.

See the Rules and Procedures for Researchers Using Archival Records and Secured Collections policy.

Restrictions on Use

See the Reproduction and Publications of State Library Collections policy.

Return to the Table of Contents

Related Material

None.

Return to the Table of Contents

Index Terms

Persons:

Subjects:

Document Types:

Return to the Table of Contents

Container List