Keith Harvey Miller (March 1, 1925 – March 2, 2019) was an American Republican politician from Alaska. Miller was the second secretary of state of Alaska under Walter Hickel. He became the third governor of Alaska after Hickel’s resignation to become U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Under his tenure, Alaska came into sudden wealth after an oil lease sale on the North Slope created a revenue of $900 million.[1]
Keith Miller | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 3rd Governor of Alaska | |
| In office January 29, 1969 – December 7, 1970 | |
| Lieutenant | Robert Ward |
| Preceded by | Wally Hickel |
| Succeeded by | William Egan |
| Secretary of State of Alaska | |
| In office December 5, 1966 – January 29, 1969 | |
| Governor | Wally Hickel |
| Preceded by | Hugh Wade |
| Succeeded by | Robert Ward |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Keith Harvey Miller March 1, 1925 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | March 2, 2019 (aged 94) Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | University of Idaho, Moscow University of Washington, Seattle (BS) |
Early life
editKeith Harvey Miller was born in Seattle, Washington on March 1, 1925, one of four sons of Hopkins Keith Miller (1901–1981) and Sarah Margaret (née Harvey) Miller (1903–1960). He grew up in the rural outskirts of Seattle before the family moved to the vicinity of Bothell, Washington in 1939.[2] Miller attended and graduated from high school in Bothell.[1][3] He briefly studied at the University of Idaho before joining the United States Army Air Forces, serving during the last two years of World War II.[3]
Early career and move to Alaska
editAfter leaving the military, Miller established a holly farm in Olympia, Washington in 1946. During this time, he spent portions of several summers working in the Territory of Alaska and also studied at the University of Washington, Seattle, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1952.[4][1][3] Miller sold the holly farm in 1953, the same year he married Diana Mary Doyle in Seattle and established a collection agency there.[3] He sold the agency in 1957 after being hired by the Internal Revenue Service, who stationed him in Anchorage, Alaska.[3]
Early political career
editMiller began his political career in 1962 with his election to the Alaska House of Representatives.,[4] where he served one term. He served as Secretary of State of Alaska (now the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska) from 1966 until Hickel resigned to become United States Secretary of the Interior under President Richard M. Nixon, on January 29, 1969.[5][6] He was promptly elevated to the position of Governor of Alaska.[7]
Governor of Alaska
editUnder Governor Miller, Alaska completed the sale of land leases in Prudhoe Bay, which brought a windfall of $900 million.[8] The funds from the oil leases were seven times the state’s budget and seven years after he first proposed an investment fund for oil royalties, Governor Jay Hammond established the Alaska Permanent Fund.[9][10]
He lobbied extensively for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.[11] He pushed the Congress to approve the pipeline over the objections of Federal Judge George Hart and the Alaska Legislature for funds to build a road to the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field.[11][12]
In 1970, seeking election to a full term, he saw his popularity diminish as his former running mate, Walter Hickel, delayed issuance of the permit to build the pipeline.[8] He faced a primary election challenge from two-term Congressman Howard Wallace Pollock.[13] He defeated Pollock, but faced William A. Egan, who was Alaska’s first governor, in the general election.[8][13] Egan won the race, 52.4-46.1.[8] Only after the 1973 oil crisis did Congress pass the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act that Miller sought.[14]
Later career
editIn 1972, Miller was elected to a four-year term in the Alaska Senate.[4] That term was cut short due to a challenge of the redistricting plan drawn up by the Alaska Supreme Court in 1972, centered on the apportionment of Senate districts in Anchorage. The court drew up a new plan in 1974. Rather than run for reelection in the new, Democratic-leaning district, Miller made one more campaign for governor in the Republican primary. He faced Hickel and Jay Hammond, who became the party’s nominee.[15] In 1977, Governor Hammond named Miller to a seat on the Alaska Transportation Commission to serve as its chair.[4]
Death
editMiller died from pancreatic cancer while at a hospice in Anchorage a day after his 94th birthday on March 2, 2019.[16] His wife, Jean Cuffel Miller, preceded him in death.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Keith Miller, Alaska's third governor, dies at 94". Seattle Times. March 6, 2019.
- ^ Miller, Keith Harvey; Maynard, Joseph Edward (1997). Prudhoe Bay Governor. Anchorage: Todd Communications. ISBN 1-878100-99-8.
- ^ a b c d e Atwood, Evangeline; DeArmond, Robert N. (1977). Who's Who in Alaskan Politics. Portland: Binford & Mort for the Alaska Historical Commission. p. 67. ISBN 0-8323-0287-2.
- ^ a b c d e "Keith Miller obituary". Anchorage Daily News. March 6, 2019.
- ^ Alaska Historical Collections: Gov. Keith H. Miller. 1925–. Alaska State Library. Retrieved on February 1, 2010.
- ^ Alaska Governor Keith H. Miller Archived February 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. American Governor's Association. Retrieved on February 1, 2010.
- ^ Claus M. Naske and Herman E. Slotnick. Alaska: A History of the 49th State. University of Oklahoma Press, 1984. 292.
- ^ a b c d "Egan Regains Governor's Post in Alaska". New York Times. November 5, 1970.
- ^ "The PF and The D: A history of how we got here". Anchorage Press. October 11, 2017.
- ^ "Ranking Alaska's Governors". Anchorage Daily News. September 15, 2008.
- ^ a b "100 Alaskans Descend on Washington This Week to Lobby for Oil Pipeline Proposal". The New York Times. April 27, 1970.
- ^ "Alaska Governor Asks Road Funds". The New York Times. April 27, 1970.
- ^ a b "Alaska's Governor Wins Primary Race". The New York Times. August 27, 1970.
- ^ "Alaska Pipeline Flow Set to Start Tomorrow". The New York Times. June 19, 1977.
- ^ "Jay Hammond, 83; Former Alaska Gov. Championed Oil-Royalty Fund". Los Angeles Times. August 3, 2005.
- ^ "Keith Miller, Alaska's third governor, dies at 94". National Post. March 6, 2019.
External links
edit- Keith Miller at 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature