Guy J. Swope
Encyclopedia
Guy Jacob Swope was an American
teacher
, accountant
, and Democrat
ic politician
. His career included one term as a United States Congressman in the Seventy-seventh United States Congress, serving as a Director in the United States Department of Interior under Franklin D. Roosevelt
, and serving for a brief period as (acting) Governor of Puerto Rico
in 1941. He also served in the United States Naval Reserve, Military Government Branch, where he attained the rank of Commander
.
Swope was born in Meckville, Berks County, Pennsylvania
and studied in Keystone State Teachers College
and Columbia University School of International Affairs
. After graduation, he first worked as a teacher in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
and later as an agent for the Internal Revenue Service
. In 1935, he became the budgetary secretary for Pennsylvania
and served in that position for two years before being elected to congress in 1936. He failed to win re-election in 1938.
He was made auditor of Puerto Rico in 1940 and served in that capacity for only a year before being appointed acting Governor. He only worked as governor for less than a year before becoming a Director in the Division of Territories and Island Possessions for the Department of the Interior.
During the Second World War, he joined the United States Naval Reserve. After the war, he was a civilian chief of the National Government Division in Tokyo
, Japan
and later as an assistant to the American High Commissioner in Germany.
After the war, Swope returned to political life with a failed bid for re-election to Congress in 1956, but he was appointed Deputy State Treasurer
of Pennsylvania from 1961 until his retirement in 1965.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
, and Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
ic politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. His career included one term as a United States Congressman in the Seventy-seventh United States Congress, serving as a Director in the United States Department of Interior under Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, and serving for a brief period as (acting) Governor of Puerto Rico
Governor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
in 1941. He also served in the United States Naval Reserve, Military Government Branch, where he attained the rank of Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
.
Swope was born in Meckville, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Berks County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile...
and studied in Keystone State Teachers College
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania , is an American public university located in rural Kutztown, Berks County, Pennsylvania and is one of fourteen schools that comprise the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary...
and Columbia University School of International Affairs
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. After graduation, he first worked as a teacher in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 120,327 people and 32,771 families residing in the county. The population density was 332 people per square mile . There were 49,320 housing units at an average density of 136 per square mile...
and later as an agent for the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
. In 1935, he became the budgetary secretary for Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and served in that position for two years before being elected to congress in 1936. He failed to win re-election in 1938.
He was made auditor of Puerto Rico in 1940 and served in that capacity for only a year before being appointed acting Governor. He only worked as governor for less than a year before becoming a Director in the Division of Territories and Island Possessions for the Department of the Interior.
During the Second World War, he joined the United States Naval Reserve. After the war, he was a civilian chief of the National Government Division in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and later as an assistant to the American High Commissioner in Germany.
After the war, Swope returned to political life with a failed bid for re-election to Congress in 1956, but he was appointed Deputy State Treasurer
Pennsylvania Treasurer
The Pennsylvania Treasurer is the head of the Pennsylvania Department of the Treasury, which is the custodian of virtually all the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's funds....
of Pennsylvania from 1961 until his retirement in 1965.