William Scranton

William Scranton
Official portrait, 1962
13th United States Ambassador to the United Nations
In office March 15, 1976 – January 19, 1977
President	Gerald Ford
Preceded by	Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Succeeded by	Andrew Young
38th Governor of Pennsylvania
In office January 15, 1963 – January 17, 1967
Lieutenant	Raymond P. Shafer
Preceded by	David Lawrence
Succeeded by	Raymond P. Shafer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 10th district
In office January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1963
Preceded by	Stanley Prokop
Succeeded by	Joe McDade
Personal details
Born	William Warren Scranton (1917-07-19)July 19, 1917 Madison, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	July 28, 2013(2013-07-28) (aged 96) Montecito, California, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Mary Lowe Chamberlain ​ ​ (m. 1942)​
Children	4, including William
Relatives	Scranton family
Education	Yale University (BA, LLB)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army Air Forces  United States Air Force
Years of service	1941–1945
Rank	Captain

William Warren Scranton (July 19, 1917 – July 28, 2013) was an American Republican Party politician and diplomat.^[1] Scranton served as the 38th governor of Pennsylvania from 1963 to 1967, and as United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 1976 to 1977.^[2] "Many who serve as governor today are still measured against Bill Scranton's leadership - some 50 years later," said former state Republican National Committeewoman Elsie Hillman when she learned of Scranton's death in 2013.^[3]

Born into the prominent Scranton family,^[4] William W. Scranton graduated from Yale Law School and served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war, he practiced law and became active in the Pennsylvania Republican Party. He won election to the United States House of Representatives in 1960 and gained a reputation as an outspoken moderate during his time in Congress. He won the Republican nomination in Pennsylvania's 1962 gubernatorial election, defeating Democrat Richardson Dilworth in the general election.^[5]

As governor, Scranton presided over sweeping reforms to Pennsylvania's education system, including the creation of the state's community college system.^[6] Scranton entered the race for the 1964 Republican presidential nomination after the collapse of Nelson Rockefeller's candidacy, but Barry Goldwater won the nomination. Scranton was term-limited out of office in 1967 but remained active in politics. He chaired the President's Commission on Campus Unrest, served as a member of the transition team for President Gerald Ford, and served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 1976 to 1977. He also served on the boards of several high-profile corporations and was associated with the Trilateral Commission and the Council on Foreign Relations.