Thomas Savig Kleppe (July 1 1919 – March 2 2007) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from North Dakota and as United States Secretary of the Interior.
Thomas S. Kleppe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 41st United States Secretary of the Interior | |
| In office October 17 1975 – January 20 1977 | |
| President | Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | Stanley K. Hathaway |
| Succeeded by | Cecil D. Andrus |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Dakota's 2nd district | |
| In office January 3 1967 – January 3 1971 | |
| Preceded by | Rolland W. Redlin |
| Succeeded by | Arthur A. Link |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 1, 1919 Emmons County, North Dakota |
| Died | March 2, 2007 (aged 87) Bethesda, Maryland |
| Political party | Republican |
The son of homesteaders, Kleppe was born in Kintyre in Emmons County, North Dakota, he graduated from Valley City High School in Valley City, North Dakota in 1936. In 1937, he attended Valley City Teachers College. During World War II, from 1942 to 1946 he was a Warrant Officer.
From 1950 to 1954, he was the mayor of Bismarck, North Dakota. From 1946 to 1964, he was the president and treasurer of the Gold Seal Company.
In 1964, he was the Republican nominee for United States Senate. In 1966 he was elected as a Republican to the Ninetieth United States Congress, and he was reelected in 1968 to the Ninety-first United States Congress (January 3 1967 to January 3 1971). In 1970 he was again an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Senate.
From 1971 to 1975, he was the administrator of the Small Business Administration. From 1975 to 1977, he was the Secretary of the Interior under Gerald Ford. In 1977, he joined the faculty of the University of Wyoming.
He suffered from Alzheimer's disease later in life, and died of it in Bethesda, Maryland.
See also
- United States Congress. "Thomas S. Kleppe (id: K000264)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
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