Robert D. Blue

Robert Donald Blue (September 24, 1898 – December 14, 1989) was the 30th Governor of Iowa from 1945 to 1949.

This article is about the politician. For the artist, see Robert Blue.

Robert Donald Blue
30th Governor of Iowa
In office
January 11, 1945 – January 13, 1949
LieutenantKenneth A. Evans
Preceded byBourke B. Hickenlooper
Succeeded byWilliam S. Beardsley
Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
In office
January 14, 1943 – January 11, 1945
GovernorBourke Hickenlooper
Preceded byBourke Hickenlooper
Succeeded byKenneth Evans
47th Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives
In office
January 13, 1941 – January 14, 1943
Preceded byJohn R. Irwin
Succeeded byHenry W. Burma
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 75th district
In office
January 14, 1935 – January 10, 1943
Preceded byR.E. Lee Aldrich
Succeeded byWilliam Tyrrell
Personal details
BornSeptember 24, 1898
Eagle Grove, Iowa
DiedDecember 14, 1989(1989-12-14) (aged 91)
Fort Dodge, Iowa
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
Alma materIowa State University
Drake University
ProfessionAttorney

Biography

Blue attended Capital City Commercial College and Iowa State University. He served in the United States Army during World War I. After the war, he earned a law degree from Drake University in 1922. He practiced law in Eagle Grove and was County Attorney of Wright County, Iowa from 1924 to 1931 and City Attorney of Eagle Grove from 1932 to 1934.

In 1934, Blue was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives. He was reelected in 1936, 1938, 1940, and 1942, and was Speaker of the Iowa House from 1939 to 1943. He was elected the Lieutenant Governor of Iowa in 1942 and then Governor in 1944, winning reelection in 1946.

Blue's policies were unpopular among labor groups (opposed to his bill outlawing the closed shop), farmers (opposed to his tax policies), and teachers (opposed to his cuts in education funding). One of his principal opponents in the legislature, William S. Beardsley, took advantage of Blue's unpopularity and successfully challenged him in the Republican primary in 1948. Blue left public life and returned to his hometown of Eagle Grove. He died of a stroke in Fort Dodge, Iowa on December 14, 1989.

Legacy

Before his death, the middle school in Eagle Grove, Iowa changed its name to Robert Blue Middle School (RBMS). Mr. Blue was in attendance at the ceremony.

References
    Party political offices
    Preceded by
    Bourke B. Hickenlooper    		 Republican nominee Governor of Iowa
    1944, 1946    		 Succeeded by
    William S. Beardsley
    Political offices
    Preceded by
    Bourke B. Hickenlooper    		 Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
    1943–1945    		 Succeeded by
    Kenneth A. Evans
    Preceded by
    Bourke Hickenlooper    		 Governor of Iowa
    1945–1949    		 Succeeded by
    William S. Beardsley
    Iowa House of Representatives
    Preceded by
    John R. Irwin    		 47th Speaker
    1941–1943    		 Succeeded by
    Henry W. Burma
    Preceded by
    R.E. Lee Aldrich    		 56th District
    1945–1949    		 Succeeded by
    William Tyrrell
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