Politics (from Greek politikos “of, for, or relating to citizens”) as a term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the corporate, academic, and religious segments of society. It consists of “social relations involving authority or power” and to the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply policy.[1]
Modern political discourse focuses on democracy and the relationship between people and politics. It is thought of as the way we “choose government officials and make decisions about public policy”.
Captain Don Juan Durán de Miranda served twice as governor of New Mexico. His first term was from 1664 to 1665, just about a year; and his second lasted from 1671 to 1675. Information concerning him and his activities are very meager. By Grace Meredith Twentieth and Twenty-third Governor…
Biography of Merritt C. Mechem, governor from January 1921 to January 1923. Born at Ottawa, Kans., October 10, 1870, a son of Homer Clark and Martha Shannon (Davenport) Mechem; attended the public schools in Ottawa and Ottawa University; studied law and for a time attended Kansas University; admitted to…
Kearny letter from Juan Bautista Vigil y Alarid, 1846, General: The address which you have just delivered, in which you announce that you have taken possession of this great country in the name of the United States of America, gives us some idea of the wonderful future that awaits…
Born in Murfreesboro, Tenn., in 1885, Miles was elected governor of the State of New Mexico in 1938 and served two terms, from 1939-1942. Born in Murfreesboro, Tenn., July 28, 1885; attended public and high schools of Tennessee; moved to New Mexico in 1906, and was in mercantile business…
Born in Santa Fe, NM, in 1873, Seligman served as governor the State of New Mexico from 1931 to 1933. by Suzanne Stamatov Arthur Seligman, born 14 June 1871, became Governor of New Mexico in January 1931. He was the first native-born, non-Hispanic, governor of Jewish ancestry. After serving…
Born on April 4, 1823 in Mansfield, Ohio, the son of Gavin Mitchell. Of Scotch-Irish ancestry, Mitchell was married in January 1855 to Jennie St. John, by whom he was the father of Henry St. John and a child who died in infancy. After studying law with John K….
Born in 1800 in Nelson (now Spencer) County, Kentucky, the son of John Donaldson and Frances (Brent) Connelly. A Roman Catholic of Irish ancestry, Connelly was married in Chihuahua, Mexico in 1838 to a Mexican woman, by whom he was the father of three sons, including Peter. Following the…
Born on December 7, 1826 at Ashland, Ohio, the son of Sylvester Flint, a farmer, and Cynthia (Rice) Ross. Ross had thirteen brothers and sisters, including Sylvester, William, Nancy, George, Charles, and Walter. A Presbyterian of Scottish ancestry, he was married in October 1848 to Fanny M. Lathrop of…
Born in Worcester, Otsego County, New York on August 30, 1831, the son of Allen and Anna Maria (De Les Dernier) Sheldon. Of English and French ancestry, Sheldon married Mary Green Miles of Elyria, Ohio in December 1868. Sheldon moved with his parents to Lagrange, Ohio, where he attended…
Born on December 15, 1871 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of James John, a mining executive, and Anna Hex (Osborne) Hagerman. Of German ancestry, Hagerman never married. Hagerman attended school in Milwaukee and studied for a time at Colorado College. He received a B. Litt. degree in 1894 and…
