Ernest Gruening

Ernest Gruening served as a Senator from Alaska in the United States Congress from 1959 to 1969. A member of the Democratic Party, Ernest Gruening contributed to the legislative process during 2 terms in office.

Ernest Gruening’s service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history. As a member of the Senate, Ernest Gruening participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of constituents.

Ernest Henry Gruening ( GREEN-ing; February 6, 1887 – June 26, 1974) was an American journalist and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, Gruening was the governor of the Alaska Territory from 1939 until 1953, and a United States Senator from Alaska from 1959 until 1969. Born in New York City, Gruening pursued a career in journalism after graduating from Harvard Medical School. After working for various newspapers in New York and Boston, he served in various roles during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was appointed as Governor of Alaska in 1939 and became a prominent advocate of Alaska statehood; known as “the Father of Alaska statehood”. Gruening became one of Alaska’s inaugural pair of senators, along with Bob Bartlett, after Alaska gained statehood in 1959. Gruening was a prominent opponent of the Vietnam War, and with Oregon’s Wayne Morse, was one of just two senators to vote against the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which allowed the bombing of North Vietnam. In 1968, Mike Gravel defeated Gruening in the Democratic Senate primary, and Gruening’s attempt to win re-election as an independent was unsuccessful.