Robert E. Woodside Explained

Robert E. Woodside, Jr.
Office:Justice of the Pennsylvania Superior Court
Term Start:1953
Term End:1965
Office2:Pennsylvania Attorney General
Term Start2:March 7, 1951
Term End2:October 1, 1953
Governor2:John S. Fine
Predecessor2:Charles J. Margiotti
Successor2:Frank Truscott
Office3:Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Term Start3:1933
Term End3:1941
Birth Date:4 June 1904
Birth Place:Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Death Place:Sun City, Maricopa County, Arizona
Nationality:American
Party:Republican
Alma Mater:Dickinson College
Spouse:F. Fairlee Habbart
Children:3

Robert Elmer Woodside, Jr. (June 4, 1904March 18, 1998) was an American politician and judge. He served four terms as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, one term as Attorney General, and one term on the Superior Court.[1] [2]

Early life

Woodside was born in Millersburg, Pennsylvania, the son of Robert E. and Ella Neitz Woodside. He attended Dickinson College, where he was a member of the Raven's Claw Society, graduating in 1926. He received a law degree from Dickinson School of Law in 1928. He married F. Fairlee Habbart in 1931, and they had three children.[3]

Political career

Early political career

He was first elected to the State House of Representatives in 1932 and served four terms, until 1941. From 1939 to 1941, he was Republican Floor Leader.[1] He was then appointed a judge on the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas, where he served until he was appointed state Attorney General in 1951. He was appointed in 1953 to fill a vacancy on the state Superior Court. He was elected to a full ten-year term in 1954 and lost his 1964 bid for re-election.

Slot machine raids

Slot machines were illegal in Pennsylvania under an 1805 law, prohibiting mechanical gambling devices. Still, slot machines were popular at political clubs as fundraisers.

In 1951, President Harry Truman signed legislation banning the interstate transportation of slot machines in violation of state law.[4] Woodside, with Pennsylvania Governor John S. Fine's encouragement, undertook an enforcement campaign against the machines. The first state Attorney General to do so, Woodside sent the State Police on thousands of raids when local district attorneys refused to co-operate. Over 700 clubs folded after their slot machines had been destroyed. In Erie, the mayor, the police chief, and twelve others were found guilty in 1954 of bribery and conspiracy regarding the machines.[5]

Later political career

Woodside was appointed in 1953 to fill a vacancy on the state Superior Court. He was elected to a full ten-year term in 1954 but lost his 1964 bid for re-election.

In 1962, Woodside had been drafted to run for state governor. US Senator Hugh Scott strongly opposed Woodside and ran in opposition but withdrew when party leaders backed William Scranton, then relatively unknown.[6]

Later career

Woodside was an adjunct professor at Dickinson School of Law (1970-1990). He was a partner in the law firm Mette, Evans & Woodside.

Death

He died on vacation in Sun City, Arizona.[1] [2]

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Robert E. Woodside, Jr.. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. 2015-09-16.
  2. News: The Morning Call. Robert Woodside, 93, Ex-Pennsylvania Judge And State House Leader. March 22, 1998.
  3. Book: The Pennsylvania Manual (1951 - 52). 90. 1952. Allen. Alice. 643.
  4. Book: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Harry S. Truman, 1951. 7. 201. 9781623761288. Truman. Harry S.. January 1965.
  5. Book: Beers, Paul B.. Pennsylvania Politics Today and Yesterday: The Tolerable Accommodation. Penn State Press. 2010. 176. 978-0271044989.
  6. Book: A History of Pennsylvania. Philip Shriver. Klein. Ari Arthur. Hoogenboom. Penn State Press. 1980. 513. 0271002166.