William E. Miller
William Edward Miller (March 22, 1914 – June 24, 1983) was an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from New York as a Republican. During the 1964 presidential election, he was the Republican nominee for vice president, the first Catholic nominated for the office by the Republican Party.
For other people named William E. Miller, see William E. Miller (disambiguation).
William E. Miller
42nd district (1951–1953)
40th district (1953–1965)
John S. Marsh
Jack E. Gellman[1]
June 24, 1983 (aged 69)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
4, including Stephanie
1942–1946
A native of Lockport, New York, Miller graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1935, and from Albany Law School in 1938, afterwards becoming an attorney in Lockport. In 1942, he was appointed a commissioner for the U.S. District Court in Buffalo, New York. Miller served in the United States Army during World War II – first as a member of an intelligence unit in Richmond, Virginia, and then as a prosecutor of Nazi war criminals during the Nuremberg trials.
Miller was an assistant district attorney in Niagara County, New York, from 1946 to 1948. In January 1948, the district attorney's position became vacant, and the governor of New York appointed Miller. Miller was elected to a full term later that year, and served as district attorney until January 1951, when he resigned.
In 1950, Miller was a successful Republican candidate for the United States House of Representatives. He was re-elected six times, and served from January 1951 until January 1965. In 1960, he was selected to lead the National Republican Congressional Committee, and led Republicans to gain more than 20 seats in that year's elections. In 1961, he became chairman of the Republican National Committee, a position he used to advocate for the party to become more conservative. In 1964, Miller was selected as the Republican nominee for vice president. The ticket of Senator Barry Goldwater and Miller for vice president lost to the Democratic nominees, President Lyndon Johnson and Senator Hubert Humphrey.
After leaving Congress, Miller resumed practicing law in Lockport. He died in Buffalo on June 24, 1983, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Early life and education[edit]
William Edward Miller was born in Lockport, New York on March 22, 1914, a son of Elizabeth Hinch and Edward J. Miller.[2][3] He attended the parochial schools of Lockport, and graduated from Lockport High School in 1931.[4] Miller attended the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with a B.A. in 1935, and Albany Law School, from which he graduated with an LL.B. in 1938.[5] He was admitted to the bar in 1938, and practiced in Lockport.[6] In 1942, Miller was appointed a commissioner for the U.S. District Court in Buffalo.[5]
Career[edit]
Military service[edit]
Miller enlisted in the United States Army on July 1, 1942, and received training in the Military Intelligence branch.[7] After serving with an Intelligence unit in Richmond, Virginia, in May 1945, Miller received his commission as a first lieutenant and was assigned to the War Criminals Branch of the War Department staff.[5] In August 1945, he was assigned as assistant prosecutor of Nazi war criminals during the Nuremberg trials.[5] Miller was discharged in March 1946, and returned to Lockport.[5]
Personal life[edit]
Miller and his wife, Stephanie (Wagner) (1923–2023) were the parents of three daughters and a son.[6] Their youngest daughter, Stephanie Miller, was a stand-up comedian in the 1980s, and CNBC late night TV host in the 1990s. Since 2004 she has hosted a nationally syndicated politically liberal radio talk show based in Los Angeles.[6] Their son, William E. Miller Jr., was the unsuccessful 1992 and 1994 Republican nominee in New York's 29th congressional district.[37]