Miller, William Edward (1914-1983), was the Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States in the 1964 election. Senator Barry M. Goldwater and Miller were defeated by a Democratic ticket headed by President Lyndon B. Johnson and Hubert H. Humphrey.
Miller, a New Yorker, served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1951 to 1965 and was Republican national chairman from 1961 to 1964. He gained a reputation as a tough debater and campaigner. Miller headed his party’s congressional campaign committee in 1960. The Republicans gained 22 seats in the House, even though their presidential candidate, Richard M. Nixon, was defeated. Republican leaders gave Miller much credit for the victories. Miller also became known for his barbed comments about Democrats. Goldwater indicated this was one reason he chose Miller as his running mate.
Miller was born on March 22, 1914, in Lockport, New York. He attended the University of Notre Dame and Albany Law School. He served in the Army during World War II (1939-1945), and later helped prosecute German war criminals at the Nuremberg trials. Miller entered politics when Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York appointed him district attorney of Niagara County in 1948. Miller died on June 24, 1983.
