U.S. Senator

Robert P. Griffin

Robert Griffin was elected to U.S. House of Representatives from the Michigan’s 9th congressional district in 1956, unseating incumbent Ruth Thompson in the Republican primary. He served in the United States Congress from January 3, 1957, until his resignation May 10, 1966. He was appointed by Governor George Romney on May 11, 1966, to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Patrick V. McNamara. Griffin was elected November 8, 1966, to a full six-year term, defeating former Governor Soapy Williams by a 56% to 44% margin, commencing January 3, 1967 and was reelected in 1972, winning a tough race against state Attorney General Frank J. Kelley.

He was Republican Whip 1969–1977 and was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1978, narrowly defeated by Democrat Carl Levin. Mr. Griffin was a justice of the Michigan Supreme Court 1987–1994.

Interviewed by Dennis Cawthorne
81 minutes, July 25, 1996