Howard J. Whitmore, Jr.

Who is Howard J. Whitmore, Jr.?

Howard J. Whitmore, Jr. was an American politician who was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1947–1953 and Mayor of Newton, Massachusetts from 1954–1959.

Whitmore graduated from Harvard College in 1929, where he was a pitcher for the Crimson baseball team. His political career began in 1940 when he was elected to the Newton Board of Aldermen. From 1947-1953, he was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he was the Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means. He left the House in 1953 after being elected Mayor of Newton.

Whitmore did not seek reelection in 1959. He was considered to be a frontrunner for the Republican nomination for Governor in 1960, but dropped out of the race after he lost the convention vote to John A. Volpe. He was the Republican nominee for United States Senate in 1964. He lost to incumbent Ted Kennedy by over one million votes.

Following his defeat, Whitmore was named Commissioner of the Metropolitan District Commission, a post he held until 1970.