Dennis J. Roberts
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| Dennis Joseph Roberts | |
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| In office January 2, 1951 – January 6, 1959 |
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| Lieutenant | John S. McKiernan (1951-1956) Armand H. Cote (1957-1959) |
| Preceded by | John S. McKiernan |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Del Sesto |
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| In office January 1941 – January 1951 |
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| Preceded by | John F. Collins |
| Succeeded by | Walter H. Reynolds |
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| Born | April 8, 1903 Providence, Rhode Island |
| Died | June 30, 1994 (aged 91) Providence, Rhode Island |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Lawyer, Politician |
| Religion | Catholic |
Dennis Joseph Roberts (April 8, 1903 - June 30, 1994) was an American politician, member of the Democratic Party, who served as 63rd Governor of Rhode Island.
Born in a state capital, Providence, Roberts was a graduate of Fordham University in 1927 and Boston University Law School in 1930, following which he practiced law in Providence.
His political career began, when he was elected to the State Senate, where he served from 1935 to 1939. Later he became chairman of the State Democratic Party in 1938.
In addition, he was a delegate to the 1936, 1940, 1948 and 1960 Democratic National Conventions (first time as an alternate delegate).
Roberts was elected Mayor of Providence in 1940, and served until 1951, with an exception of time of absence when he joined US Navy during World War II. He rose to rank of Lieutenant Commander.
He was first elected for Governor in 1950 and was re-elected three times for each two-years term. He held this office from January 2, 1951 to January 6, 1959 for four terms.
While governor, he established a Department of Administration as a housekeeping agency for finance and other problems, as well as a Development Council to promote economic development in Rhode Island. He also reorganized the Department of Social Welfare to improve it's administration.
During 1956 Gubernatorial election he lost in plurality votes to Republican Christopher Del Sesto, but the United States Supreme Court had decided to invalid 5,000 civilian absentee and shut-in ballots cast prior to election day on the ground that a constitutional amendment required such votes to be cast on, rather than prior to, election day. This was leaving Roberts a winner.
He was, however, defeated by Del Sesto two years later.
In 1960 former Governor Roberts sought the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat but was defeated by Claiborne Pell, who won and served in the Senate until 1997. He later went on to chair the Rhode Island Constitutional Convention, where he proved controversial for recommending a unicameral state legislature.
Dennis Roberts died while in surgery for a ruptured aneurysm, in Rhode Island Hospital in Providence. He was a Catholic.
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| Preceded by John F. Collins |
Mayor of Providence 1941–1951 |
Succeeded by Walter H. Reynolds |
| Preceded by John S. McKiernan |
Governor of Rhode Island 1951–1959 |
Succeeded by Christopher Del Sesto |
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