Rockefeller, Nelson (Aldrich) (1908-1979)

US Republican politician, vice president 1974-77. He was an official in the administrations of Roosevelt, Truman, and Eisenhower, and governor of New York 1958-73. He gained a reputation as a progressive and activist administrator.

He was a leader of the party's moderate ‘Eastern establishment’ wing, and an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 1960, 1964, and 1968. Although appointed vice president by Gerald Ford, Rockefeller was not retained as Ford's running mate in 1976.

Rockefeller was born in Bar Harbor, Maine, and was educated at Dartmouth College. He was assistant secretary of state for Latin American affairs 1944-45, special assistant for foreign affairs to Dwight D Eisenhower 1954-55, and chair of the president's Advisory Committee on Government Organization 1953-58. He was coordinator for inter-American affairs, 1940-44 and 1969-74. His publications include The Future of Federalism (1962).