Mennen Williams

G. Mennen Williams
Mennen in August 1953
United States Ambassador to the Philippines
In office June 17, 1968 – April 7, 1969
President	Lyndon B. Johnson Richard M. Nixon
Preceded by	William McCormick Blair, Jr.
Succeeded by	Henry A. Byroade
41st Governor of Michigan
In office January 1, 1949 – January 1, 1961
Lieutenant	John W. Connolly (1949-1951) William C. Vandenberg (1951-1953) Clarence A. Reid (1953-1955) Philip A. Hart (1955-1959) John B. Swainson (1959-1961)
Preceded by	Kim Sigler
Succeeded by	John Swainson
Personal details
Born	Gerhard Mennen Williams February 23, 1911 Detroit, Michigan
Died	February 2, 1988 (aged 76) Detroit, Michigan
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Nancy Lace Quirk
Alma mater	University of Michigan

Gerhard Mennen "Soapy" Williams (February 23, 1911 – February 2, 1988) was the 41st Governor of Michigan, elected in 1948 and serving six two-year terms in office. He later served as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs under President John F. Kennedy and Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.

As assistant secretary of state, his remark that "what we want for the Africans is what they want for themselves," reported in the press as "Africa for the Africans," sparked controversy at the time.

Williams was described by the Chicago Tribune as a political reformer who "helped forge the alliance between Democrats, blacks and union voters in the late 1940s that began a strong liberal tradition in Michigan."

Gerhard Mennen Williams was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Henry P. Williams and Elma Mennen. His mother came from a prominent family; her father, Gerhard Heinrich Mennen, was the founder of the Mennen brand of men's personal care products. Because of this, Williams acquired the popular nickname "Soapy."

Williams attended the Salisbury School in Connecticut, an exclusive Episcopal preparatory school. He graduated from Princeton University in 1933 and received a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. While at law school, Williams became affiliated with the Democratic Party, departing from his family's strong ties to the Republican Party.

Williams met Nancy Quirk on a blind date while attending the university. She was the daughter of D. L. Quirk and Julia (Trowbridge) Quirk, a prominent Ypsilanti family involved in banking and paper milling. Her brother, Daniel Quirk, was later mayor of Ypsilanti [1]. The couple married in 1937 and had three children; a son, G. Mennen Williams Jr., and two daughters, Nancy Ketterer III and Wendy Stock Williams.