Hiram
Warren Johnson,
the son of a lawyer, was born in Sacramento, California. After finishing
high school he entered the University of California in 1884. After
graduating he became a partner in his father's law office.
In 1910 Johnson, a member of the Republican
Party, was elected governor of California. Under his leadership
the legislature passed a series of progressive measures including
women's suffrage, restrictions on child
labour and workingmen's compensation. When Theodore
Roosevelt decided to be the Progressive
Party candidate in the 1912 presidential elections, he selected
Johnson as his prospective vice-president. Roosevelt and Johnson won
4,126,020 votes but were defeated by Woodrow
Wilson. However, because of Johnson's record as a reforming governor,
they won California.
In 1914 Johnson was re-elected as governor of California. This time
he represented the Progressive Party
rather than the Republican Party.
A progressive on domestic issues, Johnson was an isolationist in foreign
affairs and helped to defeat Woodrow Wilson
in his plans for the United States to join the League
of Nations.
In the 1930s Johnson supported Franklin
D. Roosevelt and the New Deal but
was opposed to his foreign policies and voted against American membership
of the United Nations. Hiram Warren Johnson
died on 6th August, 1945.
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