George I. Bloom
George I. Bloom | |
|---|---|
| Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | |
| In office 1963–1965 | |
| Governor | William Scranton |
| Preceded by | E. James Trimarchi |
| Succeeded by | W. Stuart Helm |
| Chairman of the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania | |
| In office 1956–1963 | |
| Preceded by | Miles Horst |
| Succeeded by | Craig Truax |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 2, 1898 |
| Died | February 3, 1991 (aged 92) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | University of Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh School of Law |
George Isaac Bloom (September 2, 1898 – February 3, 1991) was an American political figure who served as chairman of the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania (1956–1963), Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1963–1965), and chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (1965–1975).
Biography
[edit]Bloom was born in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1920 and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1922.[1] He began his political involvement at the age of 13 by canvassing for a candidate for district attorney. In 1939, he was elected to the Republican state committee. He was secretary to Governor Edward Martin from 1943 to 1947 and was his administrative assistant in Washington, D.C. after he was elected to the United States Senate.[2]
The Republicans lost the 1954 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, their first gubernatorial defeat in 20 years.[3] In 1956, George I. Bloom, a member of the Joseph R. Grundy/Edward Martin–faction of the party, opposed incumbent state party chair Miles Horst, a member of the James H. Duff–faction, for reelection. Horst chose not to run for another term and instead endorsed Henry W. Lark.[4] Lark withdrew shortly before the election and Bloom was elected unopposed.[5] In 1959, Bloom made the Republican Party a statewide organization. He had the headquarters located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where it remains to this day.[6] In 1960, called for an investigation into allegations of electoral fraud involving Democrats in Philadelphia.[7] The investigation resulted in the indictment, resignation, or termination of a number of state officials.[8] Bloom convinced William Scranton to be the party's candidate in the 1962 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, which Scranton won.[2]
Bloom resigned as party chairman to serve as Scranton's Secretary of the Commonwealth and was succeeded by Craig Truax.[9] From 1965 to 1975, Bloom was chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. He remained a member of the Republican state committee until his death on February 3, 1991, at Holy Spirit Hospital.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "Manuscript Group 433: George I. Bloom Collection". Pennsylvania State Archives. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ^ a b c "George Bloom; Was Known As State's 'Mr. Republican'". The Morning Call. February 4, 1991. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ^ Pennsylvania Elections: Statewide Contests, 1950-2004. Bloomsbury Publishing. 2006. p. 89. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ^ "State GOP Chairman Fight Seen". The Washington Reporter. March 16, 1956. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ^ "New State GOP Chairman Will Try To Unite Factions". The News-Dispatch. May 21, 1956. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ^ "Our History". pagop.org.
- ^ "Push Probe of Philly Vote". The Gettysburg Times. Associated Press. March 4, 1960. p. 3. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
- ^ Fontana, Dick (September 6, 1961). "New Attorney General Shows Many 'Firsts' In Her Career". The Beaver County Times. United Press International. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
- ^ "Bloom Resigns As GOP Chief". The Beaver County Times. December 19, 1962. Retrieved 16 October 2025.