John H. Reed

Infobox Governor


imagesize = 150px
name= John H. Reed
order=66^th
office= Governor of Maine
term_start= September, 1959
term_end= January, 1967
lieutenant=
predecessor= Clinton Clauson
successor= Kenneth Curtis
birth_date= birth date and age |1921|01|05
birth_place= Fort Fairfield, Maine
death_date=
death_place=
profession=Potato Farmer
party= Republican

John H. Reed was the 66^th governor of Maine. He was once an Aroostook County potato farmer. Reed is a Republican, who took office following the death of Governor Clinton Clauson.

Reed was born in Fort Fairfield, Maine in 1921. He graduated from the University of Maine in 1942. After graduating, he served in the United States Navy in World War II.

After coming home, he was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 1954. He served one term before being elected to the Maine Senate. At the start of his second senate term, he was elected Senate President, an office which in Maine is second in line for the governorship. Upon Clauson's death he was appointed governor and was elected to finish Clauson's term in 1960. He was narrowly reelected in 1962 to serve Maine's first 4 year term as governor. In 1966 he was defeated by Democrat Ken Curtis.

Reed was a strong supporter of the Vietnam War, and was close to President Lyndon Johnson, who appointed him to the National Transportation Safety Board in 1966. After serving in that post, he was appointed by President Richard Nixon US ambassador to Sri Lanka and later the Maldives.

Reed currently lives in Washington, D.C. ["Maine native, a former envoy, praises Bush aid commitment, "Portland Press Herald" (Portland, Me.), Dec 30, 2004. pg. A.1]

References