
Gerhard Mennen "Soapy" Williams (23 February 1911-2 February 1988) was the Democratic Governor of Michigan from 1 January 1949 to 1 January 1961, succeeding Kim Sigler and preceding John Swainson.
Biography[]
Gerhard Mennen Williams was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of the founder of the Mennen's brand of men's personal care products; this earned him the nickname "Soapy". Williams departed from his family's staunch Republicanism during his time at law school, becoming a Democrat and practicing law from 1936 to 1941. Williams served in the US Navy in the Pacific during World War II (earning ten battle stars as a Lieutenant Commander) before serving as Governor of Michigan from 1949 to 1961, during which time he advocated for civil rights, racial equality, and justice for the poor, and forged an alliance between Democrats, Blacks, and union voters that endured for many years. Late in his term, Williams opposed Lyndon B. Johnson's selection as vice-president in 1960 due to Johnson's record on civil rights, and he opted against running for re-election in 1960 due to his struggles with the Republican-controlled state legislature. He went on to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs under President John F. Kennedy and advocated for decolonization, serving from 1961 to 1966. He failed in his 1966 US Senate bid, and he served as Ambassador to the Philippines from June 1968 to April 1969 and then on the Michigan Supreme Court from 1971 to 1987 (as Chief Justice from 1983 to 1987). He died in 1988.