Forrest H. Anderson

Forrest Howard Anderson (January 30, 1913 – July 20, 1989) was an American politician, attorney, and judge who served as the 17th Governor of Montana from 1969 to 1973.[1] Prior to this, he served as the Attorney General of Montana from 1957 to 1969 and as a member of the Montana Supreme Court.

Forrest H. Anderson
17th Governor of Montana
In office January 6, 1969 – January 1, 1973
Lieutenant	Thomas Lee Judge
Preceded by	Tim M. Babcock
Succeeded by	Thomas Lee Judge
Attorney General of Montana
In office January 7, 1957 – January 6, 1969
Governor	J. Hugo Aronson Donald G. Nutter Tim M. Babcock
Preceded by	Arnold Olsen
Succeeded by	Robert L. Woodahl
Justice of the Montana Supreme Court
In office 1953-1957
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
In office 1943-1945
Personal details
Born	January 30, 1913 Helena, Montana
Died	July 20, 1989 (aged 76) Helena, Montana
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Margaret Evelyn Samson

Biography

Anderson was born in Helena, Montana.[2] His father, Oscar Anderson, was an immigrant from Sweden and his mother, Mary O'Keefe, was an Irish immigrant. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Montana and obtained his law degree from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1938. He married Margaret Evelyn Samson on January 24, 1941, and they had three children.[3]

Career

Anderson was a Democrat. He served in the Montana House of Representatives from 1943 to 1945. He was a Lewis and Clark County Attorney from 1945 to 1947. He was also an Associate Justice on the Montana Supreme Court from 1953 to 1957, a delegate to the 1956 Democratic National Convention, and served three terms as Montana Attorney General from 1957 to 1968.[2]

As Attorney General, he came to prominence during the 1959 State Prison riot, when he personally negotiated with the prisoners. Running for Governor in 1968 he defeated the incumbent, Governor Tim Babcock, largely on an anti-sales tax platform notable for the campaign slogan, "Pay More, What For?"[3]

Elected as Governor of Montana in 1968, Anderson was sworn in on January 6, 1969, and served until January 1, 1973. In his influential and somewhat controversial single term in office, he considered his greatest accomplishment to be the executive branch reorganization that he oversaw. This combined several hundred state agencies, boards, commissions and councils into nineteen departments. The controversies he faced included a major dispute with the Fish and Game Commission and its commissioner, Frank Dunkle, over environmental issues and sportsmen's access to state lands. The biggest political clash he faced occurred in 1971, when the Montana Legislature debated a sales tax. When the Legislature deadlocked, Anderson called them back into special session twice, and finally the issue was put to a ballot referendum, where it was soundly rejected. During his tenure, another major accomplishment was his establishment of the Board of Investments, which was able to remove state funds from low yield bank accounts and invest them in higher yield accounts.[3]

Anderson strongly supported and authorized the 1972 Constitutional Convention, then helped facilitate its implementation after it was ratified that year.[2]

Later life

Anderson did not run for a second term because of poor health, and was succeeded in office by his lieutenant Governor, Tom Judge.[3]

In 1989, Anderson, who had been in failing health for years, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his home.[4][5] He was cremated and his ashes are interred in Forestvale Cemetery, Helena, Lewis and Clark County, Montana. The Forrest H. Anderson Memorial Bridge which crosses the Missouri River in Craig is named in his honor.[6] There is a marker at 47.07023°N 111.956087°W near Craig close to the river and highway bridge which memorializes Anderson and his passion for fishing and hunting.[7]

References

1. "Former Governors of Montana". www.netstate.com. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
2. "Forrest H. Anderson". National Governors Association. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
3. "Montana Governor (1969-1972: Forrest H. Anderson) records, 1968-1972". Archives West. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
4. "Forrest Anderson, Ex-Governor Of Montana, Kills Himself at 76". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 23, 1989. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
5. "Index to Politicians: Anderson, E to F". Political Graveyard. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
6. "Montana bridge dedicated to former governor". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. July 8, 2007. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
7. "Photo: Remembering Governor Forrest H. Anderson Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved 4 August 2020.

External links

• Forrest H. Anderson at Find a Grave
• National Governors Association
• The Political Graveyard