Charles C. Gossett

Charles C. Gossett
United States Senator from Idaho
In office November 17, 1945 (1945-11-17) – November 6, 1946 (1946-11-06)
Appointed by	Arnold Williams
Preceded by	John W. Thomas
Succeeded by	Henry Dworshak
20th Governor of Idaho
In office January 1, 1945 (1945-01-01) – November 17, 1945 (1945-11-17)
Lieutenant	Arnold Williams
Preceded by	C. A. Bottolfsen
Succeeded by	Arnold Williams
22nd Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
In office January 4, 1937 – January 2, 1939
Governor	Barzilla Clark
Preceded by	G. P. Mix
Succeeded by	Donald Whitehead
24th Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
In office January 6, 1941 – January 4, 1943
Governor	Chase Clark
Preceded by	Donald Whitehead
Succeeded by	Edwin Nelson
Personal details
Born	Charles Clinton Gossett (1888-09-02)September 2, 1888 Pricetown, Ohio
Died	Boise, Idaho
Resting place	Kohlerlawn Cemetery Nampa, Idaho
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Clara Louise Fleming (1892–1967)
Children	3
Residence	Nampa, Idaho
Profession	Agriculture
Religion	Christian

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.

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.

External links

• Charles C. Gossett at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• National Governors Association: biography
• Charles C. Gossett at 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	U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Idaho November 17, 1945 – November 6, 1946 Served alongside: Glen H. Taylor	Succeeded by Henry Dworshak