William Hathaway

William Dodd Hathaway (February 21, 1924 – June 24, 2013) was an American politician and lawyer from Maine.[1] A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a United States senator for Maine from 1973 to 1979, as the U.S. representative for Maine's 2nd congressional district from 1965 to 1973, and as the commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission from 1990 to 1999.

For the American poet, see William K. Hathaway.
"Senator Hathaway" redirects here. For the Wisconsin State Senate member, see Oscar Clark Hathaway.
William Hathaway
Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission
In office
February 8, 1990 – November 11, 1999
Nominated byGeorge H. W. Bush (1990)
Bill Clinton (1993)
Preceded byThomas F. Moakley
Succeeded byJoseph E. Brennan
United States Senator
from Maine
In office
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1979
Preceded byMargaret Chase Smith
Succeeded byWilliam Cohen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Maine's 2nd district
In office
January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1973
Preceded byClifford McIntire
Succeeded byWilliam Cohen
Personal details
Born
William Dodd Hathaway

(1924-02-21)February 21, 1924
Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedJune 24, 2013(2013-06-24) (aged 89)
McLean, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materHarvard University
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army Air Corps
Years of service1942–1946
Battles/wars
AwardsPurple Heart

Early life

Hathaway was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He served in World War II in the United States Army Air Corps, where he was shot down while bombing the Ploiești, Romania oil fields during Operation Tidal Wave and was a prisoner of war for over two months. He was awarded the Air Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.[2]

After the war he attended Harvard University, graduating in 1949, and Harvard Law School, graduating in 1953. He then moved to Maine and practiced law in Lewiston.

Political career
William Hathaway (D-Maine) poses for his official congressional portrait photograph, c. 1970-71

He served as Assistant County Attorney for Androscoggin County from 1955 to 1957, and he was a Hearing Examiner for the State Liquor Commission from 1957 to 1961.

A Democrat, in 1964 he was elected to the U.S. House from the 2nd District after incumbent Republican Clifford McIntire ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate, and he served from 1965 until 1973. This was a time of resurgence for Democrats in Maine, at that time a traditionally Republican state. The same period saw the growth of the political careers of Edmund S. Muskie and Kenneth M. Curtis.

In 1972 Hathaway ran for the United States Senate and defeated four-term Republican incumbent Margaret Chase Smith in a considerable upset. In 1973, Hathaway was one of the three senators who opposed the nomination of Gerald Ford to be Vice President. (The other two were fellow Democrats Thomas Eagleton of Missouri and Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin.)[3] One of his Senate aides was future Maine Governor and Senator Angus King. Hathaway was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1978, losing to his successor in the 2nd District, future Secretary of Defense William Cohen, by 22 percentage points.[4]

Later life

Hathaway resided in the Washington, D.C., area after leaving the Senate and worked as a lobbyist and lawyer.[5] In 1990 he was appointed by President George H. W. Bush to the Federal Maritime Commission, and he served as chairman from 1993 to 1996.

Hathaway was known and well-liked by the employees of the U.S Senate, especially the Senate elevator operators. He was a constant source of humor and good will to those that worked on the Capitol elevators. "Going Up" is an unpublished manuscript by Kerry Whitney, US Senate Elevator Operator.

He retired in 1996 and continued to live in the Washington, DC, area.

In June 2002, at the age of 78, Hathaway was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism during Operation Tidal Wave.[6]

Hathaway was married to Mary Lee Bird of Horse Shoe, North Carolina, and Akron, Ohio, for over 61 years until her death, in 2007. Hathaway had two children, Susan and Fred.

Hathaway died of pulmonary fibrosis[7] exactly 69 years to the day after he was shot down during World War II.

Notes

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

  1. Kestenbaum, Lawrence (2009). "William Dodd Hathaway entry". Political Graveyard. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  2. Martin, Douglas (June 25, 2013). "William Hathaway, Senator From Maine, Dies at 89". The New York Times. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  3. "TO ADVISE AND CONSENT TO THE NOMINATION OF GERALD R. ... -- Senate Vote #499 -- Nov 27, 1973". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  4. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  5. "Former Maine Sen. William Hathaway dead at 89". Bangor Daily News. June 24, 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  6. "Award Of The Distinguished Flying Cross To Former Senator William D. Hathaway | Capitol Words". capitolwords.org. Archived from the original on 2014-11-01.
  7. "Bill Hathaway, U.S. Senator from Maine, dies at 89". 24 June 2013.
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