Abe Goff

Abe McGregor Goff (December 21, 1899 – November 23, 1984) was an attorney and Republican politician from the U.S. state of Idaho, most notably as a one-term congressman from 1947 to 1949. He served in the U.S. Army in both world wars.^[3][4]

Abe Goff
c. 1947
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Idaho's 1st district
In office January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949
Preceded by	Compton White Sr.
Succeeded by	Compton White Sr.
Personal details
Born	Abe McGregor Goff December 21, 1899 Colfax, Washington, U.S.
Died	November 23, 1984(1984-11-23) (aged 84) Moscow, Idaho, U.S.
Resting place	Moscow Cemetery Moscow, Idaho
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Florence Letitia Richardson Goff   (1892–1987) (m.1927–1984, his death)[1]
Children	Timothy R. Goff (1932–72) Annie M. Goff (b. 1935)
Residence(s)	Moscow, Idaho
Alma mater	University of Idaho (LLB)[2]
Profession	Attorney
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	U.S. Army
Years of service	1918 1941–1946
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars	World War I (training), World War II

Early years

Goff was born and raised in Colfax, Washington, in the Palouse region, the fourth son of Herbert W. and Mary (Dorsey) Goff. After graduating from high school in 1918, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a private and underwent preliminary officer training at the University of Idaho in Moscow during the last weeks of World War I. Discharged from the military in December, he entered the law school at the UI in January 1919 and graduated in 1924.^[2] He was also the center on the Vandal football team.^[4][5] and was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.^[6] His older brothers attended Washington State college in nearby Pullman.

Early career

Goff commenced practice in Moscow the same year and was the prosecuting attorney for Latah County from 1926 to 1934.^[7] He also worked as a special lecturer at the UI law school from 1933 to 1941. In 1940, he was made president of the Idaho Bar Association. In 1941, Goff was elected to the Idaho Senate.

World War II

Later the same year, he was activated as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves as a major, and served in the Mediterranean, European, and Pacific theaters. Goff was on General MacArthur's staff at the end of the war and was discharged as a colonel in 1946.^[4] While in the military, he was awarded the Legion of Merit.^[8]

Congress

In 1946, Goff was elected to Congress as a Republican, narrowly defeating seven-term incumbent Compton White of Clark Fork.^[9] He served only one term, as White defeated him in 1948 and reclaimed the seat for a term.

U.S. House elections (Idaho's 1st district): Results 1946–1948

Year		Democrat	Votes	Pct		Republican	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct
1946		Compton White (inc.)	36,509	49.4%		Abe M. Goff	37,326	50.6%
1948		Compton White	46,846	51.8%		Abe M. Goff (inc.)	41,404	45.7%		Thomas B. Wood	Progressive	2,176	2.4%	^

Source:^[10]    ^ 1948 election included 93 votes (0.1%) for Socialist Party candidate Richard M. Shaefer.

After Congress

After leaving the House, Goff ran for the U.S. Senate in 1950, but appointed incumbent Henry Dworshak won the nomination in the August primary,^[11][12] then served as Idaho Republican Party Veteran Committee chairman in 1952.^[13] Goff then took a number of government posts in Washington, D.C.; he was general counsel of the Post Office Department, and later served on the Interstate Commerce Commission, from 1954 to 1967. After his terms ended, Goff retired to the Palouse in Idaho, working as a writer and lecturer in Moscow until his death in 1984.^[4]

Personal life

Goff married Florence Letitia Richardson (1892–1987) of Moscow in 1927. They were married for 57 years and are buried at Moscow Cemetery, east of the city. They had two children: Timothy Richardson Goff (1932–72) and Annie McGregor Goff (b. 1935- 2018).^[1][7]

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

1. "Florence R. Goff, long of Moscow". Idahonian. Moscow. October 31, 1987. p. 5A.
2. "Seniors". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1924. p. 36.
3. "Abe Goff, former congressman, dies". Spokane Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. November 27, 1984. p. 3.
4. "Abe McGregor Goff, 84, Idaho political leader". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. November 27, 1984. p. 2B.
5. "Football". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1924. p. 108.
6. "Beta Theta Pi". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1924. p. 236.
7. "Abe Goff certain of one opponent – his daughter". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. October 6, 1948. p. 12.
8. Devlin, Sherry (May 28, 1985). "Family friends honor former congressman". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. A8.
9. "Abe McGregor Goff prepares to serve Idaho in Congress". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. November 7, 1946. p. 3.
10. "Office of the Clerk: Election statistics". U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
11. "Latah voters give Abe Goff huge margin". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). August 9, 1950. p. 16.
12. "Clark holds Senate lead". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. August 10, 1950. p. 1.
13. Idaho Statesman, 27 Sept. 1952, p. 2

External links

• United States Congress. "Abe Goff (id: G000253)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• University of Idaho Library – Abe McGregor Goff papers, 1915–1968
• University of Idaho Library – Abe Goff interviews – 1974 (audio, 3 hours)
• Political Graveyard – Abe McGregor Goff
• Abe Goff at Find a Grave

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Compton I. White Sr.	United States House of Representatives, Idaho First Congressional District January 3, 1947–January 3, 1949	Succeeded by Compton I. White Sr.