# Abe Goff

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**Abe McGregor Goff** (December 21, 1899 – November 23, 1984) was an attorney and [Republican](/source/United_States_Republican_Party) [politician](/source/Politician) from the [U.S. state](/source/U.S._state) of [Idaho](/source/Idaho), most notably as a one-term [congressman](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) from 1947 to 1949. He served in the [U.S. Army](/source/United_States_Army) in both world wars.[3][4]

## Early years

Goff was born and raised in [Colfax, Washington](/source/Colfax,_Washington), in the [Palouse](/source/Palouse) region, the fourth son of Herbert W. and Mary (Dorsey) Goff. After graduating from [high school](/source/Colfax_Junior-Senior_High_School_(Washington)) in 1918, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a [private](/source/Private_(rank)) and underwent preliminary officer training at the [University of Idaho](/source/University_of_Idaho) in [Moscow](/source/Moscow,_Idaho) during the last weeks of [World War I](/source/World_War_I). Discharged from the military in December, he entered the [law school](/source/University_of_Idaho_College_of_Law) at the UI in January 1919 and graduated in 1924.[2] He was also the [center](/source/Center_(American_football)) on the [Vandals football](/source/Idaho_Vandals_football) team.[4][5] and was a member of [Beta Theta Pi](/source/Beta_Theta_Pi) [fraternity](/source/Fraternities_and_sororities_in_North_America).[6] His older brothers attended [Washington State College](/source/Washington_State_University) (now University) in nearby [Pullman](/source/Pullman,_Washington).

## Early career

Goff commenced practice in Moscow the same year and was the prosecuting attorney for [Latah County](/source/Latah_County,_Idaho) from 1926 to 1934.[7] He also worked as a special lecturer at the UI law school from 1933 to 1941. In 1940, he was made president of the Idaho [Bar Association](/source/Bar_Association). In 1941, Goff was elected to the [Idaho Senate](/source/Idaho_Senate), after failing to win the Republican nomination for the [United States Senate](/source/United_States_Senate).[8]

## World War II

Later the same year, he was activated as a member of the [U.S. Army Reserves](/source/United_States_Army_Reserve) as a [major](/source/Major_(United_States)), and served in the [Mediterranean](/source/Mediterranean_and_Middle_East_Theatre), [European](/source/European_Theater_of_Operations_United_States_Army), and [Pacific](/source/Asiatic-Pacific_Theater) [theaters](/source/Theater_(warfare)). Goff was on General [MacArthur](/source/Douglas_MacArthur)'s staff at the end of the war and was discharged as a [colonel](/source/Colonel_(United_States)) in 1946.[4] While in the military, he was awarded the [Legion of Merit](/source/Legion_of_Merit).[9]

## Congress

In [1946](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections,_1946#Idaho), Goff was elected to [Congress](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) as a Republican, narrowly defeating seven-term incumbent [Compton White](/source/Compton_I._White) of [Clark Fork](/source/Clark_Fork,_Idaho).[10] He served only one term, as White defeated him in [1948](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections,_1948#Idaho) and reclaimed the seat for a term.

U.S. House elections (Idaho's 1st district): Results 1946–1948 Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct 1946 Compton White (inc.) 36,509 49.4% Abe M. Goff 37,326 50.6% 1948 Compton White 46,846 51.8% Abe M. Goff (inc.) 41,404 45.7% Thomas B. Wood Progressive 2,176 2.4% ^

Source:[11] ^ 1948 election included 93 votes (0.1%) for [Socialist](/source/Socialist_Party_of_America) Party candidate Richard M. Shaefer.

## After Congress

After leaving the House, Goff ran for the U.S. Senate in 1950, but appointed incumbent [Henry Dworshak](/source/Henry_Dworshak) won the nomination in the August primary.[12][13] Goff served as [Idaho Republican Party](/source/Idaho_Republican_Party) Veterans Committee chairman in 1952.[14] He then took a number of government posts in Washington, D.C.: he was general counsel of the [Post Office Department](/source/United_States_Postal_Service), and later served on the [Interstate Commerce Commission](/source/Interstate_Commerce_Commission), from 1954 to 1967. After his terms ended, Goff [retired](/source/Retirement) to the [Palouse](/source/Palouse) in Idaho, working as a writer and lecturer in Moscow until his death in 1984.[4]

## Personal life

Goff married Florence Letitia Richardson (1892–1987) of Moscow in 1927. They were married for 57 years and are buried at Moscow Cemetery, east of the city. They had two children: Timothy Richardson Goff (1932–72) and Annie McGregor Goff (1935–2018).[1][7]

## References

1. ["Florence R. Goff, long of Moscow"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G5QrAAAAIBAJ&pg=6365%2C3664921). *Idahonian*. October 31, 1987. p. 5A.

1. ["Seniors"](https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1924/47). Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1924. p. 36.

1. ["Abe Goff, former congressman, dies"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1345&dat=19841127&id=vyEuAAAAIBAJ&pg=2994,2214889). *Spokane Chronicle*. Associated Press. November 27, 1984. p. 3.

1. ["Abe McGregor Goff, 84, Idaho political leader"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KYtfAAAAIBAJ&pg=5486%2C4065493). *Lewiston Morning Tribune*. November 27, 1984. p. 2B.

1. ["Football"](https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1924/119). Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1924. p. 108.

1. ["Beta Theta Pi"](https://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1924/254). Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1924. p. 236.

1. ["Abe Goff certain of one opponent – his daughter"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aLheAAAAIBAJ&pg=4944,2971788). *Lewiston Morning Tribune*. October 6, 1948. p. 12.

1. Kemple, Arlon (2026). [*Had Enough? The Congressional Class of 1946, the Continuity of Policy, and the Transience of Public Office*](https://arlonkemple.com). p. 112.

1. Devlin, Sherry (May 28, 1985). ["Family friends honor former congressman"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uvIzAAAAIBAJ&pg=3409,7797200). *Spokesman-Review*. p. A8.

1. ["Abe McGregor Goff prepares to serve Idaho in Congress"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MuNXAAAAIBAJ&pg=7441,1377706). *Spokane Daily Chronicle*. November 7, 1946. p. 3.

1. ["Office of the Clerk: Election statistics"](http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/). U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved March 11, 2013.

1. ["Latah voters give Abe Goff huge margin"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tK5eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ti8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=2783%2C3070691). *Lewiston Morning Tribune*. August 9, 1950. p. 16.

1. ["Clark holds Senate lead"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tK5eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ti8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1674%2C3077231). *Lewiston Morning Tribune*. Associated Press. August 10, 1950. p. 1.

1. *Idaho Statesman*, 27 Sept. 1952, p. 2

## External links

- [University of Idaho Library](http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/special-collections/Manuscripts/mg148.htm) – Abe McGregor Goff papers, 1915–1968
- [University of Idaho Library](http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/lcoh/people/goff_abe.html) – Abe Goff interviews – 1974 (audio, 3 hours)
- [Political Graveyard](http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/goff.html#984.92.26) – Abe McGregor Goff

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Abe Goff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abe_Goff) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abe_Goff?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.