G. Mennen Williams
American politician and judge
Died when: 76 years 344 days (923 months)Star Sign: Pisces
Gerhard Mennen "Soapy" Williams (February 23, 1911 – February 2, 1988) was an American politician who served as the 41st governor of Michigan, elected in 1948 and serving six two-year terms in office.
He later served as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs under Presidents John F.Kennedy and Lyndon B.Johnson and as chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.
Williams advocated for civil rights, racial equality, and justice for the poor.As assistant secretary of state, his remark that "what we want for the Africans is what they want for themselves", reported in the press as "Africa for the Africans", sparked controversy at the time.
A staunch liberal, Williams was described by the Chicago Tribune as a political reformer who "helped forge the alliance between Democrats, blacks and union voters in the late 1940s that began a strong liberal tradition in Michigan."
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