-Caveat Lector- > http://www.latimes.com/obituary/20010304/tCB00V5136.html > > Sunday, March 4, 2001 > > Ex-Ohio Gov. James Rhodes, 91, Dies > > COLUMBUS, Ohio--Former Gov. James A. Rhodes, whose decision to quell > an anti-war protest by sending National Guard troops to Kent State > University in 1970 led to four student deaths, died Sunday. He was 91. > > Rhodes, the state's only four-term governor, died at 2:45 p.m. at Ohio > State University Medical Center from complications from an infection > and heart failure, said David Crawford, a hospital spokesman. > > The son of a coal miner, Rhodes rose from poverty to become Columbus > mayor when he was 33. The election marked the beginning of a political > career that spanned nearly 50 years. > > Rhodes was credited with bringing many industries to Ohio. During his > administrations, the state built highways, expanded the university > system and put an airport in almost every county. > > A college dropout, he also was credited with making Ohio a leader in > vocational education. > > But the Kent State shootings cast an indelible shadow on his career. > > On May 2, 1970, he decided to send the National Guard to Kent State, > which, like campuses across the nation, was in turmoil over the > incursion into Cambodia during the Vietnam War. Protesters had > vandalized businesses in downtown Kent and the campus ROTC building > was burned. > > On May 4, four students died and nine were wounded when troops opened > fire. The reason behind the shootings was never fully learned. > > Lawsuits against Rhodes and other officials ended in January 1979, > when the victims' families agreed to settlements totaling $675,000. > > Those close to him said he was saddened by the tragedy but blamed the > turbulence of the war era and believed his action was necessary. > Already that year there had been three riots on Ohio campuses. > > "The Kent State call came from the merchants and county commissioners > because of the conditions that were existing the night before," Rhodes > said years later. "You see, it was a consensus." > > In 1999, Rhodes still believed the protesters were misguided: "It was > people who thought something was wrong with America." > > When he ran in the GOP Senate primary on May 5, 1970 -the day after > the Kent State shootings -he lost to Robert Taft Jr., the father of > current Gov. Bob Taft -by 6,000 votes out of about 900,000 cast. > > He made a comeback in 1974, narrowly defeating Democratic Gov. John > Gilligan. He served two more terms, then tried another comeback in > 1986, but lost. > > In later years, Rhodes was an Ohio presidential campaign adviser to > Ronald Reagan and the elder George Bush, who said he helped them carry > the state. > > Rhodes' wife, Helen, died in 1987. He is survived by two daughters. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
