Robert Hayes Gore

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Robert Hayes Gore (1886—1972) was a Florida politician and newspaper publisher who also served as the 11th civilian Governor of Puerto Rico from July 1933 to January 1934. He was born in Knottsville, Kentucky and became a newspaper writer, editor-publisher in the Scripps chain, soon heading newspapers in Evansville, Indiana, and Terre Haute, Indiana. While he editor-publisher of the Terre Haute Post, Gore conceived the idea of "giving away" $1,000 travel life insurance policies with new newspaper subscriptions. After securing an underwriter, Gore took his program nationwide. Within a year, he was extremely wealthy, establishing a publishing house in Terre Haute and an insurance agency in Chicago to handle the business. While residing in Terre Haute, Gore met Franklin D. Roosevelt campaigning for Vice President of the U.S. That fortuitous meeting ultimately resulted in Gore's appointment as Governor of Puerto Rico. Prior to his stint in Puerto Rico, he split his time between his interests in Terre Haute, Chicago and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. According to The Washington Post, Gore was a campaigner for Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1932 election, which may have influenced his decision to appoint him as Governor the following year. Indeed, according to his biography, he was a key Roosevelt supporter. He had nine children.

During his inaugural speech as Governor, on July 1, 1933, he outlined his platform for the protectorate in three major components: eventual statehood, being against birth control, and legalized cockfighting which he believed would benefit tourism. (His plan included a yearly "great carnival of cockfighting" which would bring in mainland tourists.) Instead of birth control, he advocated a plan by which overcrowded Puerto Ricans would be allowed to settle in Florida. He also spoke for greater links with his home of Chicago and to minimize government spending.

After his stint as Governor, he served as an alternate delegate to the 1944 Democratic National Convention.

Preceded by James R. Beverley (Acting)

Governor of Puerto Rico 1933–1934

Succeeded by Benjamin Jason Horton (Acting)

[edit] References

• Hull, Harwood (1933), "GORE FAMILY FLIES FROM FLORIDA TO NEW ISLAND JOB; CHICAGOAN TAKES OATH AS CHIEF OF PORTO RICO", Chicago Daily Tribune (no. July 2, 1933): 9
• Washington Post (1933), "Warren D. Robbins Minister to Canada; White House Also Chooses Robert H. Gore as Governor of Puerto Rico", Washington Post (no. April 29, 1933): 2
• Index to Politicians: Gordon-mccutchan to Gore. The Political Graveyard. Retrieved on 2006-03-04.
• Beyond the Edge of Poverty: The Biography of Robert Hayes Gore, Sr.. World Statesmen. Retrieved on 2006-03-04.