Oklahoma Governor. He was appointed by Governor Haskell to be a judge in the Tenth Judicial District of Oklahoma in 1908. In 1910 and 1914 he entered the races for Governor of Oklahoma but was unsuccessful in the Democratic primaries. He finally received the Democratic nomination for Governor and was elected in 1918. He was inaugurated on January 13, 1919 as Oklahoma's fourth Governor. He enthusiastically supported women's suffrage and prohibition of alcohol. His attempts at education reform and highway construction met with mixed results. Robertson was forced to declare martial law to restore order following the Tulsa Race Riot in 1921. This incident was the worst civil disruption in the state's history. Thirty-five city blocks were destroyed by fire and over eight hundred people were admitted to local hospitals with injuries. Officially, 39 people were killed in the riots; but unofficial reports claim that three hundred to three thousand African-Americans were killed. The riot promoted nativism, created fear of the radical left, and encouraged the growth of the Ku Klux Klan. During his last two years in office, Robertson was confronted with a Republican State House of Representatives that investigated scandals within his administration. The House attempted to impeach Robertson, but the effort failed by one vote. He left office on January 8, 1923, and resumed his legal career. Several attempts to revive his polical career were met with failure.
Oklahoma Governor. He was appointed by Governor Haskell to be a judge in the Tenth Judicial District of Oklahoma in 1908. In 1910 and 1914 he entered the races for Governor of Oklahoma but was unsuccessful in the Democratic primaries. He finally received the Democratic nomination for Governor and was elected in 1918. He was inaugurated on January 13, 1919 as Oklahoma's fourth Governor. He enthusiastically supported women's suffrage and prohibition of alcohol. His attempts at education reform and highway construction met with mixed results. Robertson was forced to declare martial law to restore order following the Tulsa Race Riot in 1921. This incident was the worst civil disruption in the state's history. Thirty-five city blocks were destroyed by fire and over eight hundred people were admitted to local hospitals with injuries. Officially, 39 people were killed in the riots; but unofficial reports claim that three hundred to three thousand African-Americans were killed. The riot promoted nativism, created fear of the radical left, and encouraged the growth of the Ku Klux Klan. During his last two years in office, Robertson was confronted with a Republican State House of Representatives that investigated scandals within his administration. The House attempted to impeach Robertson, but the effort failed by one vote. He left office on January 8, 1923, and resumed his legal career. Several attempts to revive his polical career were met with failure.
Bio by: Thomas Fisher
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