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'''Henry Cushing "Hank" Grover''' (April 1, 1927– November 28, 2005), was a [[conservative]] politician from the state of [[Texas]] best known for his relatively narrow defeat as the [[Republican Party|Republican]] gubernatorial nominee in 1972.   

'''Henry Cushing "Hank" Grover''' (April 1, 1927– November 28, 2005), was a [[conservative]] politician from the U.S. state of [[Texas]] best known for his relatively narrow defeat as the [[Republican Party|Republican]] gubernatorial nominee in 1972.   

Grover was born in [[Corpus Christi]]. As a youth, he lived in [[San Antonio]].  A [[Roman Catholic]], he graduated from the college-preparatory and all-male St. Thomas High School in Houston. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science from the University of St. Thomas in Houston and his Master of Arts degree in the same subjects from the University of Houston. His master's [[thesis]] was on [[Colonel House|Colonel Edward M. House]] of Houston, a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] active in the 1912 campaign to elect [[Woodrow Wilson]] as the [[U.S. President]].

Grover was born in [[Corpus Christi]] on the Texas Gulf Coast. As a youth, he lived in [[San Antonio]].  A [[Roman Catholic]], he graduated from the college-preparatory and all-male St. Thomas High School in Houston. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science from the University of St. Thomas in Houston and his Master of Arts degree in the same subjects from the University of Houston. His master's [[thesis]] was on [[Colonel House|Colonel Edward M. House]] of Houston, a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] active in the 1912 campaign to elect [[Woodrow Wilson]] as the [[U.S. President]].

Grover was elected as a Democrat to the Texas House of Representatives in 1960, 1962, and 1964. In 1966, he switched parties and was elected to the state Senate. In the 1972 Republican gubernatorial primary, he led a field of five with 37,118 votes (32.6 percent). Houston businessman Albert Bel Fay of Houston ran second with 24,329 ballots (21.3 percent). Three other largely unknown candidates shared a surprisingly large 41.8 percent of the vote.

Grover was elected as a Democrat to the Texas House of Representatives in 1960, 1962, and 1964. In 1966, he switched parties and was elected to the state Senate. In the 1972 Republican gubernatorial primary, he led a field of five with 37,118 votes (32.6 percent). Houston businessman Albert Bel Fay of Houston ran second with 24,329 ballots (21.3 percent). Three other largely unknown candidates shared a surprisingly large 41.8 percent of the vote.

In an even lower turnout runoff primary, Grover defeated Fay (1913–1992), the Republican national committeeman from Texas from 1960 to 1969.  Grover received 37,842 votes (66.4 percent), some 700 more votes than he received in the first primary, to Fay's 19,166 (33.6 percent), or 5,000 fewer votes than he obtained in the primary.  The Sharpstown bank scandal, which had damaged many of the state's Democratic leaders, worked to Grover's advantage, for he could depict himself as an untainted Republican nominee for governor. His uncompromising conservative, constitutionalist views may have hurt him among moderate voters in both parties.

In an even lower turnout runoff primary, Grover defeated Fay (1913–1992), the Republican national committeeman from Texas from 1960 to 1969.  Grover received 37,842 votes (66.4 percent), some 700 more votes than he received in the first primary, to Fay's 19,166 (33.6 percent), or 5,000 fewer votes than he obtained in the primary.  The Sharpstown bank scandal, which had damaged many of the state's Democratic leaders, worked to Grover's advantage, for he could depict himself as an untainted Republican nominee for governor. His uncompromising conservative, constitutionalist views may have weakened him among moderate voters in both parties.

Grover lost the general election by almost exactly 100,000 votes to the Democratic nominee, former state Representative [[Dolph Briscoe]], of Uvalde in south Texas. Grover carried nearly all of the state's urban centers. The final tally was 1,633,493 (47.9 percent) for Briscoe and 1,533,986 (45 percent) for Grover.  Briscoe was a "minority governor" because he failed to garner a simple majority of the votes.  The [[Hispanic]] [[La Raza]] candidate, then 29-year-old Ramsey Muñiz, received 214,118 votes (6 percent), nearly all believed to have been at Briscoe's expense. (Two other minor candidates shared 27,994 votes, or 0.8 percent.)  Muñiz's support was insufficient to deny victory to Briscoe, but political analysts contend that Briscoe's margin was largely dependent on Hispanic voters in rural areas of south Texas who traditionally stuck with their Democratic nominees.

Grover lost the general election by almost exactly 100,000 votes to the Democratic nominee, former state Representative [[Dolph Briscoe]], of Uvalde in south Texas. Grover carried nearly all of the state's urban centers. The final tally was 1,633,493 (47.9 percent) for Briscoe and 1,533,986 (45 percent) for Grover.  Briscoe was a "minority governor" because he failed to garner a simple majority of the votes.  The [[Hispanic]] [[La Raza]] candidate, then 29-year-old Ramsey Muñiz, received 214,118 votes (6 percent), nearly all believed to have been at Briscoe's expense. (Two other minor candidates shared 27,994 votes, or 0.8 percent.)  Muñiz's support was insufficient to deny victory to Briscoe, but political analysts contend that Briscoe's margin was largely dependent on Hispanic voters in rural areas of south Texas who traditionally stuck with their Democratic nominees.

Grover's Catholicism was apparently not an issue with Texas voters. Had he been elected, he would have become the first and thus far only Catholic governor of Texas. Many believed that Texas had supported Republican [[Herbert Hoover]] in 1928 because opponent [[Alfred E. Smith]] was Catholic. Texas, however, had voted in 1960 for [[John F. Kennedy]], the nation's first and thus far only Catholic president.

Grover's Catholicism was apparently not an issue with Texas voters. Had he been elected, he would have become the first and thus far only Catholic governor of Texas. Many believed that Texas had supported Republican [[Herbert Hoover]] in 1928 because opponent [[Alfred E. Smith]] was Catholic. Texas, however, had voted in 1960 for [[John F. Kennedy]], the nation's first and thus far only Catholic president.

==On the direction of the GOP==

==On the direction of the GOP==

Grover and Republican [[U.S. Senator]] [[John G. Tower]] disagreed over the focus of the GOP.  Grover wanted the party to move in a [[populism|populist]] direction to attract those who had previously favored [[Alabama]] Governor [[George C. Wallace]], for president and combine those otherwise traditionally Democratic voters with the Republican base, consisting mostly of fiscal conservatives. Tower favored a different approach to expand the party by attracting middle-of-the-roaders who stressed "good government" and those with economically conservative views. Tower and Grover nearly came to fisticuffs in the 1972 campaign when [[Ernest Angelo]], the new [[mayor]] of Midland, Texas, tried to get the two to work out their differences. The bitterness persisted. While Grover lost his race to Briscoe, Tower was a relatively easy winner for a third term in the Senate over Democrat Harold "Barefoot" Sanders, a former federal judge. The Grover approach appeared to have been vindicated with the 1976 primary victory of former [[California]] Governor [[Ronald W. Reagan]] in the first Texas GOP presidential primary in which voters chose the delegates. Indeed, Grover supported Reagan in 1976 over Tower's choice, the late [[U.S. President]] [[Gerald Ford]].  Tower's approach was, however, consistent with the later successes in Texas of [[George Herbert Walker Bush]] and [[George W. Bush]]. In his 1991 autobiography, Tower referred to Grover in only one paragraph.<ref>

Grover and Republican [[U.S. Senator]] [[John G. Tower]] disagreed over the focus of the GOP.  Grover wanted the party to move in a [[populism|populist]] direction to attract those who had previously favored [[Alabama]] Governor [[George C. Wallace]], for president and combine those otherwise traditionally Democratic voters with the Republican base, consisting mostly of fiscal conservatives. Tower favored a different approach to expand the party by attracting middle-of-the-roaders who stressed "good government" and those with economically conservative views.  

 

Tower and Grover nearly came to fisticuffs in the 1972 campaign when [[Ernest Angelo]], the new [[mayor]] of Midland, Texas, tried to get the two to work out their differences. The bitterness persisted. While Grover lost his race to Briscoe, Tower was a relatively easy winner for a third term in the Senate over Democrat Harold "Barefoot" Sanders, a former federal judge. The Grover approach appeared to have been vindicated with the 1976 primary victory of former [[California]] Governor [[Ronald W. Reagan]] in the first Texas GOP presidential primary in which voters chose the delegates. Indeed, Grover supported Reagan in 1976 over Tower's choice, the late [[U.S. President]] [[Gerald Ford]].  Tower's approach was, however, consistent with the later successes in Texas of [[George Herbert Walker Bush]] and [[George W. Bush]]. In his 1991 autobiography, Tower referred to Grover in only one paragraph.<ref>

{{cite book

{{cite book

  | last = Tower

  | last = Tower

  | year = 1991

  | year = 1991

  | origmonth = February

  | origmonth = February

  | publisher = [[Little, Brown and Company]]

  | publisher = Little, Brown and Company

  | isbn = 0316851132

  | isbn = 0316851132

  | quote = Hank Grover won the gubernatorial nomination and, consistent with his style as an outspoken maverick, demanded the ouster of the [Republican] party chairman [George Williford]. Cooler heads prevailed, but the last thing I needed was a divided party.}}</ref>

  | quote = Hank Grover won the gubernatorial nomination and, consistent with his style as an outspoken maverick, demanded the ouster of the [Republican] party chairman [George Williford]. Cooler heads prevailed, but the last thing I needed was a divided party.}}</ref>

==1984 U.S. Senate campaign==

==1984 U.S. Senate campaign==

Tower announced in the summer of 1983 that he would not seek a fifth term. Grover, who had disagreed with Tower on many issues, therefore, entered the Republican primary held in May 1984. He fared poorly in that race. In the first primary, Republicans nominated Congressman Phil Gramm of College Station, another convert to the GOP. Also seeking the 1984 Senate nomination were Robert Mosbacher, Jr., of Houston, son of later U.S. [[Secretary of Commerce]] Robert A. Mosbacher, and conservative-to-[[Libertarianism|libertarian]] Congressman [[Ron Paul]] of the district southwest of Houston. Gramm in turn defeated the Democratic nominee, then state Senator and later U.S. Representative [[Lloyd Doggett]], and went on to serve three terms in the U.S. Senate.

Tower announced in the summer of 1983 that he would not seek a fifth term. Grover, who had disagreed with Tower on many issues, therefore, entered the Republican primary held in May 1984. He fared poorly in that race. In the first primary, Republicans nominated Congressman [[Phil Gramm]] of College Station, another convert to the GOP. Also seeking the 1984 Senate nomination were Robert Mosbacher, Jr., of Houston, son of later U.S. [[Secretary of Commerce]] Robert A. Mosbacher, and conservative-to-[[Libertarianism|libertarian]] Congressman [[Ron Paul]] of the district southwest of Houston. Gramm in turn defeated the Democratic nominee, then state Senator and later U.S. Representative [[Lloyd Doggett]], and went on to serve three terms in the U.S. Senate.

The 1996 campaign offered a glimpse into Grover's later political views, largely compatible to those of former Republican presidential contender [[Pat Buchanan]].  Grover proposed a $10-a-barrel [[oil]] import tax to, in his view, reduce American dependence on imported oil, raise revenue to cut the deficit, and provide an incentive for independent oil drillers to find new wells. Grover proposed bringing home all American troops from Europe and placing them on the Mexican border from Brownsville, Texas, to [[San Diego]], California. He believed the military is required to halt illegal immigration and drug smuggling.

The 1996 campaign offered a glimpse into Grover's later political views, largely compatible to those of former Republican presidential contender [[Pat Buchanan]].  Grover proposed a $10-a-barrel [[oil]] import tax to, in his view, reduce American dependence on imported oil, raise revenue to cut the deficit, and provide an incentive for independent oil drillers to find new wells. Grover proposed bringing home all American troops from Europe and placing them on the Mexican border from Brownsville, Texas, to [[San Diego]], California. He believed the military is required to halt illegal immigration and drug smuggling.

On [[abortion]], Grover said, ''"I'm 100 percent pro-life."'' He said that abortion should be outlawed under all circumstances, even when the mother was raped: "As sad as those situations are, it's not that child's fault", he said. Speaking at [[Baylor University]] in [[Waco]], Grover said that the most feminine thing a woman can do is give birth, adding that perhaps college-age women could not understand the full meaning of abortion. Grover also said that he agreed with the 1996 government shutdowns, saying it was "the only time Congress has faced up to the fact that the nation is bankrupt". He applauded those freshmen Republicans in Congress (1995–1996) who did not waver and who demanded that the government stop reckless spending.

On [[abortion]], Grover said, ''"I'm 100 percent pro-life."'' He said that abortion should be outlawed under all circumstances, even when the mother was raped: "As sad as those situations are, it's not that child's fault", he said.  

 

Speaking at [[Baylor University]] in [[Waco]], Grover said that the most feminine thing a woman can do is give birth, adding that perhaps college-age women could not understand the full meaning of abortion. Grover also said that he agreed with the 1996 government shutdowns, saying it was "the only time Congress has faced up to the fact that the nation is bankrupt". He applauded those freshmen Republicans in Congress (1995–1996) who did not waver and who demanded that the government stop reckless spending.

 

==Obituary==

==Obituary==

Grover was a member of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Houston. He was cremated.

Grover was a member of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Houston. He was cremated.

"My husband was not a politician.  He was a statesman. His wonderful integrity worked against him in the political process ... I just try to put all the politics out of my mind", Mrs. Grover said.

"My husband was not a politician.  He was a statesman. His wonderful integrity worked against him in the political process ... I just try to put all the politics out of my mind", Mrs. Grover said in a 2006 interview with the historian Billy Hathorn.