William E. Miller - Life and Career

Life and Career

Miller was born in Lockport, New York, of Irish and German ancestry, the son of Edward J. Miller, a factory floor sweeper., and Elizabeth Hinch, who owned a small millinery shop . Miller attended the University of Notre Dame and Albany Law School. He served in the United States Army during World War II, and later helped prosecute German war criminals at the Nuremberg trials. Miller was appointed district attorney of Niagara County, New York in 1948, by Governor Thomas E. Dewey. Miller served in the United States House of Representatives from 1951 to 1965 and was chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1961 to 1964.

Following the defeat of the Goldwater-Miller ticket, Miller returned to his hometown of Lockport, where he resumed his law practice. He also appeared in one of the first "Do you know me?" commercials for American Express. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

He and his wife Stephanie had three daughters and one son. His youngest daughter, Stephanie Miller, was a stand-up comedian in the 1980s, CNBC and late night TV host in the 1990's and is now a nationally syndicated liberal radio talk show host based on the West Coast. His son, William E. Miller, Jr. ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the House of Representatives in 1992 and 1994 to represent New York's 29th district.