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Chuck Percy, John D Rockefeller IV, Oligarchs in America, Percy family tree, Political Oligarchy, President Chester Arthur, Representative Herndon, Rockefeller family tree, Saron Percy, Senator Charles Harting Percy, Senator Rockefeller, Thomas Hord Herndon, US Political families, US Political Oligarchy.
It was announced yesterday that former Senator Charles Percy of Illinois had died aged 91.
“Chuck” Percy as Charles preferred to be known, was a typical old firm oligarchical member of the Senate. Well turned out, well groomed, and with impeccable manners he epitomised all that is expected of the gentleman politician. He had a strong background in business having been President of Bell and Howell and overseeing its exponential rise after the Second World War.
He was, however, of old blue blood too. Through his grandmother Helen Herndon, Charles was connected to Virginia’s ruling families. Great grandfather Thomas Hord Herndon, had been the Representative from Alabama, as well as a third cousin of the wife of President Chester Arthur.
Chuck too held hopes for the great prize of President, and sought it twice in 1967 where he eventually deferred to Nelson Rockefeller (see second chart!) and more positively in 1976 before he eventually decided President Ford was too well established for him to be able to launch a successful attempt.
He continued to maintain connections with the oligarchy when his daughter Sharon Percy married Senator John D Rockefeller IV an oligarch we have looked at in previous posts on this blog, here, and here.
Another example of how the oligarchs continue to over represent a small section of society at the expense of everyone else.
Copyright David Macadam 2011
David, do you remember the murder of Sharon Percy’s twin sister in the ’60′s?
Yes, indeed she was stabbed to death in a seemingly motiveless attack. Certainly it was not a burglary and nothing was stolen. The case was open for years, but from what I remember no one was ever arrested. Just shows that horrid things happen to nice people. Certainly Percy always came across as a decent man, fiscally conservative but socially democrat. I liked his take on Social housing where he recognised that this had to be improved to improve society.
I liked him too. The oddest thing about that murder – if I remember correctly – was that both girls slept in the same room, and Sharon heard nothing.
There was a ‘mystery solved’ book about 40 years ago that I think I actually read but it couln’dt have been very memorable cuz I can’t even remember the author’s conclusions.
I’ve still got a note on my to do list to spend some time here reading. Such great stuff.
Every read Lewis Latham’s “The Wish for Kings” – he wrote it in ’91 and it examines the growing oligarchy and our acceptance of it. Not historically, so much as contemporary. (Shoot, now I may have to reread it.)
Ummm, make the ‘Ever read . . .?”, not ‘every’
Ahh now I’ve another book to go and read! Thanks for the tip
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