Roy L. Elson (October 1, 1930 – February 25, 2010)http://death-records.mooseroots.com/l/167708824/Roy-Lane-Elson was an American

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

from

Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...

, and a onetime aide and protégé of longtime U.S. Senator Carl Hayden (D-AZ). He was perhaps best known as the Democratic nominee for the

U.S. Senate The United States Senate is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and House have the authority under Article One of the ...

from Arizona in 1964 and 1968. After graduating from the University of Arizona he joined the staff of Hayden in 1952 but was soon called into active duty in the air force during the Korean War. Returning to the Senate in 1955, he remained on the staff until Hayden retired. During his first bid, he ran for the seat held by Republican

Barry Goldwater Barry Morris Goldwater (January 2, 1909 – May 29, 1998) was an American politician and major general in the United States Air Force, Air Force Reserve who served as a United States senator from 1953 to 1965 and 1969 to 1987, and was the Re ...

, who declined to seek a third term to seek the Republican presidential nomination in 1964. Goldwater lost to incumbent President

Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson (; August 27, 1908January 22, 1973), also known as LBJ, was the 36th president of the United States, serving from 1963 to 1969. He became president after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, under whom he had served a ...

. Despite Johnson's landslide victory and big gains for Democrats across the country, Goldwater narrowly carried his home state, and Elson lost the Senate race to Republican

Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

Paul Fannin by a 51.4% - 48.6% margin. Elson was nominated again in 1968, now for the seat being vacated by his boss, Carl Hayden, who by then was President pro tempore and dean of the Senate. Elson lost again, this time by a margin of 57.2% to 42.8%. The winner was Goldwater, who returned to the Senate for three more terms. Elson then became a lobbyist for the National Association of Broadcasters. His oldest brother was Edward L.R. Elson, who served as

Chaplain of the United States Senate The chaplain of the United States Senate opens each session of the United States Senate with a prayer, and provides and coordinates religious programs and pastoral care support for senators, their staffs, and their families. The chaplain is appoi ...

from 1969 to 1981.

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External links

* http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/elmquist-elwyn.html *Roy Elson Oral History Interviews, https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/oral_history/Elson_Roy.htm {{DEFAULTSORT:Elson, Roy 1930 births 2010 deaths University of Arizona alumni Arizona Democrats

See also

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External links