Nelson Rockefeller

Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (July 8, 1908 – January 26, 1979) was a liberal Republican American politician and businessman. He was from one of the richest and most powerful families in the United States.

Nelson Rockefeller
41st Vice President of the United States
In office December 19, 1974 – January 20, 1977
President	Gerald Ford
Preceded by	Gerald Ford
Succeeded by	Walter Mondale
49th Governor of New York
In office January 1, 1959 – December 18, 1973
Lieutenant	Malcolm Wilson
Preceded by	W. Averell Harriman
Succeeded by	Malcolm Wilson
1st Under Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare
In office June 11, 1953 – December 22, 1954
President	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded by	Office Created
Succeeded by	Herold Christian Hunt
1st Assistant Secretary of State for American Republic Affairs
In office December 20, 1944 – August 17, 1945
President	Franklin Delano Roosevelt Harry S. Truman
Preceded by	Office Created
Succeeded by	Spruille Braden
Personal details
Born	Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (1908-07-08)July 8, 1908 Bar Harbor, Maine, U.S.
Died	January 26, 1979(1979-01-26) (aged 70) New York City, U.S.
Resting place	Rockefeller Family Cemetery Sleepy Hollow, New York
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Mary Todhunter Clark (m. 1930–1962; divorced) Margaretta Large Fitler (m. 1963–1979; his death)
Relations	John Davison Rockefeller, Sr. (grandfather) Laura Celestia Spelman (grandmother) Nelson Wilmarth Aldrich (grandfather) Elizabeth Rockefeller (aunt) Alta Rockefeller (aunt) Edith Rockefeller (aunt) Lucy Truman Aldrich (aunt) Richard Steere Aldrich (uncle) Winthrop Williams Aldrich (uncle) Abigail Aldrich Rockefeller (sister) John Davison Rockefeller III (brother) Laurance Spelman Rockefeller (brother) Winthrop Aldrich Rockefeller (brother) David Rockefeller (brother) Margaret Rockefeller Strong (cousin) John Rockefeller Prentice (cousin)
Children	Rodman Clark Rockefeller Ann Rockefeller Steven Clark Rockefeller Mary Rockefeller Michael Clark Rockefeller Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, Jr. Mark Fitler Rockefeller
Parents	John Davison Rockefeller, Jr. Abigail Greene Aldrich
Residence	New York City
Alma mater	Dartmouth College (A.B.)
Profession	businessman philanthropist public servant politician
Signature

Contents

Personal life

His paternal grandfather was John D. Rockefeller Sr. His maternal grandfather was United States Senator Nelson Aldrich of Rhode Island. He was the son of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and Abby Aldrich. He was Governor of New York from 1959 to 1973. He was the brother of David Rockefeller, chairman of Chase Bank, Winthrop, later Governor of Arkansas, John III, and Laurance. He is the uncle of former Senator John D. Rockefeller IV.

Marriages

He was married twice. His first was to Mary Todhunter Clark until they divorced. His second was to Margaretta Fitler Murphy until his death from a heart attack.

Political career

He tried three times to gain his party's nomination for the United States presidency but lost to the slightly more conservative Vice President and future President Richard Nixon in 1960 and 1968 and conservative Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona in 1964. He refused to support Goldwater in the general election after losing to him, which Nixon condemned him for and used to argue that Rockefeller was not a loyal Republican. He was Vice-President from 1974-1977 under Gerald Ford. He waged a campaign against future President George Bush to be appointed to that office. He won. He was a member of the Republican Party. He was in Knights of Pythias.

Other websites

Media related to Nelson Rockefeller at Wikimedia Commons

• Rockefeller Archive Center: Nelson Rockefeller Contains details on the collection of public and private papers available to researchers at the Center.
• The Rocky Roll An extended portrait by Time Magazine of Nelson campaigning for New York Governor in 1958.
• Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress biography