Charles C. Gossett

Charles C. Gossett
United States Senator from Idaho
In office November 17, 1945 – November 6, 1946
Preceded by	John W. Thomas
Succeeded by	Henry Dworshak
20th Governor of Idaho
In office January 1, 1945 – November 17, 1945
Lieutenant	Arnold Williams
Preceded by	C. A. Bottolfsen
Succeeded by	Arnold Williams
Personal details
Born	Charles Clinton Gossett (1888-09-02)September 2, 1888 Pricetown, Ohio
Died	September 20, 1974(1974-09-20) (aged 86) Boise, Idaho
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Clara Louise Fleming
Residence	Nampa
Profession	Agriculture
Religion	Christian

Charles Clinton Gossett (September 2, 1888 – September 20, 1974) was an American politician. He served as the 20th Governor of Idaho and a United States Senator from Idaho.

Biography

Gossett was born in Pricetown, Ohio and attended public schools in Ohio. He moved west to Cunningham, Washington, in 1907, to Ontario, Oregon, in 1910, and finally to Nampa, Idaho, in 1922. He engaged in the agriculture, livestock, feed and shipping businesses. He married Clara Louise Fleming on November 28, 1916.

Career

In 1932, Gossett was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives. In 1936, he was elected the 22nd and 24th Lieutenant Governor of Idaho, serving alongside Governor Barzilla W. Clark. Four years later Gossett returned as lieutenant governor under Governor Chase A. Clark, Barzilla Clark's younger brother.

Gossett was elected governor in his own right in 1944, but served less than a year. In November 1945 he resigned to let his successor, Lieutenant Governor Arnold Williams, appoint him to the United States Senate to succeed the late John W. Thomas.

In 1946, Gossett was defeated in the Democratic primary for a special election to finish Thomas' term in the Senate by state senator George E. Donart, who in turn was defeated by Republican Congressman Henry Dworshak in the general election. After the loss Gossett returned to his former business pursuits.

Gossett attempted a political comeback in 1954 by running to replace retiring Governor Len Jordan. He was defeated in the Democratic gubernatorial primary by state senator Clark Hamilton. Hamilton in turn lost the general election to Republican Attorney General Robert E. Smylie. In 1956 he was appointed to the Idaho Tax Commission.

Family life

He had three children.

Death

Gossett died in Boise, Idaho, on September 20, 1974. He is interred at Kohlerlawn Cemetery, Nampa, Canyon County, Idaho USA.

External links

• Charles C. Gossett at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• National Governors Association
• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7846241 Find A Grave]

Political offices
Preceded by G. P. Mix	Lieutenant Governor of Idaho January 3, 1937 – January 2, 1939	Succeeded by Donald S. Whitehead
Preceded by Donald S. Whitehead	Lieutenant Governor of Idaho January 3, 1941 – January 2, 1943	Succeeded by Edwin Nelson
Preceded by C. A. Bottolfsen	Governor of Idaho January 1, 1945 – November 17, 1945	Succeeded by Arnold Williams
Party political offices
Preceded by Chase A. Clark	Democratic Party nominee, Governor of Idaho 1944 (won)	Succeeded by Arnold Williams
United States Senate
Preceded by John W. Thomas	United States Senator (Class 2) from Idaho November 17, 1945 – November 6, 1946 Served alongside: Glen H. Taylor	Succeeded by Henry Dworshak