Alexander Joseph Groesbeck

Alexander Joseph Groesbeck (November 7, 1873 – March 10, 1953) was an American politician who served as attorney general and the 30th governor of Michigan.

Early life

Groesbeck was born in Warren, Michigan, the son of Macomb County Sheriff Louis Groesbeck and his wife Julia (Coquillard) Groesbeck.

Politics Groesbeck's entrance into state politics came in 1912 he led efforts to select a delegation to the Republican National Convention favoring the renomination of President William Howard Taft. Groesbeck also actively led the party faction supporting Taft in the general election. That same year, Groesbeck was elected the state party chairman, serving until 1914. In 1916, Groesbeck was elected attorney general of Michigan, and was re-elected in 1918.

As reported in The New York Times, Attorney General Groesbeck supported a call for Henry Ford to run for the United States Senate as a Republican. This vision drew opposition from many other Republicans.

In 1920, he won the Republican primary election for governor and defeated Democrat and former governor Woodbridge N. Ferris in the general election. After being re-elected in 1922 and 1924, Groesbeck lost to Fred W. Green in the 1926 Republican primary election.

In 1925, Groesbeck vetoed legislation that would have created a state poet laureate. Time magazine reported: Forgetful of the state poets of republican Athens, the Governor's historical knowledge led him to describe the bill as "a reversion to monarchical customs" which "has no place in a republican form of government." During his six years in office, the state's highway growth continued, prison reform measures were sanctioned, state titles for automobiles began, and state government was restructured and consolidated.

He was defeated in the 1930 Republican primary election by Wilber M. Brucker.

Retirement, death and legacy

Groesbeck was later appointed chairman of the Michigan Civil Service Commission, and served from 1941 to 1944. Also in 1944, he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention which nominated for U.S. president, Thomas Dewey, who would lose to the three-term President Franklin Roosevelt in the general election. He was also a member of the Detroit Bar Association, the Michigan Bar Association and the American Bar Association, and in club circles was well known as a member of the Detroit Club and the Detroit Athletic Club.

He died in Detroit and is interred there at Woodlawn Cemetery.

He is memorialized by a state historical marker in the City of Warren.