Elmer Carl Nelson (June 1, 1900 – March 31, 1975) was an American political figure who served as the chairman of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee from 1953 to 1956, a delegate to the

1956 Republican National Convention The 1956 Republican National Convention was held by the Republican Party of the United States at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California, from August 20 to August 23, 1956. U.S. Senator William F. Knowland was temporary chairman and forme ...

from Massachusetts, and the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts in

1958 Events January * January 1 – The European Economic Community (EEC) comes into being. * January 3 – The West Indies Federation is formed. * January 4 ** Edmund Hillary's Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition completes the third ...

. He was a resident of Mendon, Massachusetts.

Early life

Nelson was born on June 1, 1900, in

Woonsocket, Rhode Island Woonsocket ( ), is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 43,240 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Being Rhode Island's northernmost city, Woonsock ...

. He graduated from Milford High School in

Milford, Massachusetts Milford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 30,379 according to the 2020 census. First settled in 1662 and incorporated in 1780, Milford became a booming industrial and quarrying community in the 19th c ...

. During his senior year he enlisted in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

. He served in the 26th Division, 101st Engineer Battalion during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. In 1929 he opened a

Buick Buick () is a division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM). Started by automotive pioneer David Dunbar Buick in 1899, it was among the first American marques of automobiles, and was the company that established General ...

dealership in Milford.

Political career

Nelson represented the 8th Worcester District in the

Massachusetts House of Representatives The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from 14 counties each divided into single-member ...

from 1933 to 1937. He served as vice chairman of the Special Commission on Taxation. He managed

Leverett Saltonstall Leverett A. Saltonstall (September 1, 1892June 17, 1979) was an American lawyer and politician from Massachusetts. He served three two-year terms as the List of Governors of Massachusetts, 55th Governor of Massachusetts, and for more than twent ...

's successful 1938 gubernatorial campaign. He then served as volunteer aide to Saltonstall and was seen as the Governor's patronage chief. From 1939 to 1942, Nelson was a state racing commissioner. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

he was a captain in the

. Nelson managed Christian Herter's 1952 gubernatorial campaign and in 1953, with Herter's support, was elected chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party. He was given a $12,000-a-year salary, becoming the party's first paid chairman. In 1956, the party's presumptive gubernatorial nominee,

Sumner G. Whittier Sumner Gage Whittier (July 4, 1911 – January 8, 2010) was an American politician who served two two-year terms as the 58th Lieutenant Governor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 1953 to 1957. Career Whittier was an Alderman in the ...

demanded Nelson's resignation, which he refused. He was defeated for reelection by Ralph H. Bonnell at that year's party convention. In 1958, Nelson was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor. He lost to Democrat Robert F. Murphy 60% to 39%. Nelson led his third successful gubernatorial campaign when he managed John Volpe's 1964 campaign.

Death

Nelson died on March 31, 1975, at Milford Hospital.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Elmer C. 1900 births 1975 deaths Massachusetts automobile salespeople American campaign managers Massachusetts Republican Party chairs Members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives People from Mendon, Massachusetts People from Milford, Massachusetts United States Army personnel of World War I United States Army personnel of World War II

Early life

Political career

Death

See also

References