Appointed by Arnold Williams Preceded by G. P. Mix Party Democratic Party Preceded by John W. Thomas Preceded by Donald Whitehead | Lieutenant Arnold Williams Name Charles Gossett Succeeded by Henry Dworshak Preceded by C. A. Bottolfsen Role Former Governor of Idaho Resting place Nampa | |
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Died September 20, 1974, Boise, Idaho, United States Spouse Clara Louise Fleming (m. 1916) | ||
Previous office Senator (ID) 1945–1946 | ||
Charles Clinton Gossett (September 2, 1888 – September 20, 1974) was an American politician from Idaho. He served as the 20th Governor of Idaho and a United States Senator, but was in both offices less than a year.
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Biography
Born in Pricetown, Ohio, Gossett 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.
Career
In 1932, Gossett was elected to the Idaho Legislature in the house. In 1936, he was elected the 22nd and 24th Lieutenant Governor of Idaho, serving alongside Governor Barzilla Clark. Four years later Gossett returned as lieutenant governor under Governor Chase Clark, Barzilla Clark's younger brother.
Gossett was elected governor in his own right in 1944, the last election for a two-year term, but served less than a year. He resigned in November 1945 to let his successor, Lieutenant Governor Arnold Williams, appoint him to the United States Senate to succeed the late John W. Thomas.
In the special election for the seat in 1946, Gossett was defeated in the Democratic primary in June by state senator George Donart, who in turn was defeated by Republican Congressman Henry Dworshak in the general election in November. After the loss, Gossett returned to his former business pursuits.
Gossett attempted a political comeback in 1954 in a run for governor. At the time, self-succession (re-election) was not allowed, and Len Jordan's term was ending. Gossett was defeated in the Democratic gubernatorial primary in August by state senator Clark Hamilton, who in turn lost to Republican Attorney General Robert Smylie in the general election. Gossett was appointed to the Idaho Tax Commission by Smylie in 1956 and served until 1967.
Family life
Gossett married Clara Louise Fleming on November 28, 1916, and they had three children.
Death
Following an extended illness, Gossett died at age 86 in Boise on September 20, 1974, and is interred at Kohlerlawn Cemetery in Nampa.