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U.S. Senate Approves Jewish Candidate As Governor of Virgin Islands

March 29, 1961
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The Senate approved by voice vote yesterday the nomination of Ralph Paiewonsky as Governor of the Virgin Islands. He is the third Jewish Governor of the Islands. Several Senators of both parties spoke in the nominee’s behalf. Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey, Minnesota Democrat, praised the nominee and said the appointment was particularly popular in the Islands.

The new Governor’s family first arrived in the Virgin Islands from Russia in 1870 and started a small dry goods store. The new Governor was born in Saint Thomas, one of the Islands, 53 years ago and received part of his education in Brooklyn and at New York University. The family controls a distillery which makes half of the famous Virgin Islands rum, motion picture theatres, stores and extensive real estate holdings.

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