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{{Short description|American Samoa politician (1919–1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{lead too long|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Peter Coleman
|name = Peter Coleman
|image = Peter Tali Coleman.jpg
|image = Peter Tali Coleman.jpg
|order = 43rd, 51st, and 53rd [[List of governors of American Samoa|Governor of American Samoa]]
|order = 1st & 3rd [[Governor of American Samoa]]
|lieutenant = [[Galea'i Peni Poumele|Galea'i Poumele]]<br>[[Gaioi Tufele Galeai|Gaioi Galeai]]
|lieutenant = [[Galea'i Peni Poumele|Galea'i Poumele]]<br />[[Gaioi Tufele Galeai|Gaioi Galeai]]
|term_start = January 2, 1989
|term_start = January 2, 1989
|term_end = January 3, 1993
|term_end = January 3, 1993
|predecessor = [[A. P. Lutali]]
|predecessor = A. P. Lutali
|successor = [[A. P. Lutali]]
|successor = [[A. P. Lutali]]
|lieutenant1 = [[Tufele Liamatua]]
|lieutenant1 = [[Tufele Liamatua]]
Line 13: Line 16:
|predecessor1 = [[H. Rex Lee|Rex Lee]]
|predecessor1 = [[H. Rex Lee|Rex Lee]]
|successor1 = [[A. P. Lutali]]
|successor1 = [[A. P. Lutali]]
⚫
|order2 = Appointed Governor of American Samoa
|term_start2 = October 15, 1956
|term_start2 = October 15, 1956
|term_end2 = May 24, 1961
|term_end2 = May 24, 1961
|predecessor2 = [[Richard Barrett Lowe|Richard Lowe]]
|predecessor2 = [[Richard Barrett Lowe|Richard Lowe]]
|successor2 = [[H. Rex Lee|Rex Lee]]
|successor2 = [[H. Rex Lee|Rex Lee]]
|office3 = [[High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands]]<br>{{small|Acting}}
|office3 = [[High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands]]<br />{{small|Acting}}
|term_start3 = July 1, 1976
|term_start3 = July 1, 1976
|term_end3 = July 9, 1977
|term_end3 = July 9, 1977
|predecessor3 = [[Edward E. Johnston]]
|predecessor3 = [[Edward E. Johnston]]
|successor3 = [[Adrian P. Winkel]]
|successor3 = [[Adrian P. Winkel]]
|office4 = Chairman of the [[Republican Party of American Samoa]]
|office4 = 1st [[Attorney General of American Samoa]]
|governor4 = [[Richard Barrett Lowe|Richard Lowe]]
|term_start4 = 1985
|term_start4 = June 1955
|term_end4 = 1988
|term_end4 = October 15, 1956
|predecessor4 = none, position established by Coleman
|predecessor4 = Position established
|successor4 =
|successor4 = [[Owen Aspinall]]
⚫
|office5 = [[Attorney General of American Samoa]]
|term_start5 = 1955
|term_end5 = 1956
|predecessor5 =
⚫
|successor5 = [[Owen Aspinall]]
|birth_date = {{birth date|1919|12|8}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|1919|12|8}}
|birth_place = {{nowrap|[[Pago Pago]], [[American Samoa]],}} [[United States|U.S.]]
|birth_place = {{nowrap|[[Pago Pago]], [[American Samoa]],}} U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|1997|4|28|1919|12|8}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|1997|4|28|1919|12|8}}
|death_place = [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|death_place = [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]], U.S.
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|spouse = Nora Stewart {{small|(1941–1997)}}
|spouse = {{marriage|[[Nora Stewart Coleman|Nora Stewart]]|1941|<!-- Omission per Template:Marriage instructions -->}}
|children = [[Amata Coleman Radewagen|Amata]]
|children = 13, including [[Amata Coleman Radewagen|Amata]]
|education = [[Georgetown University]] {{small|([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])}}
|education = [[Georgetown University]] {{small|([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])}}
|allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
|allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
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|battles = [[World War II]]
|battles = [[World War II]]
}}
}}
'''Peter Tali Coleman''' (December 8, 1919 &ndash; April 28, 1997) was an American Samoan politician and lawyer. Coleman was the first and only person of [[Samoan people|Samoan]] descent to be appointed [[governor of American Samoa]] between 1956 and 1961 and later became the territory's first and third popularly elected governor from 1978 to 1985 and 1989 to 1993, serving a total of three elected terms.<ref>Craig, Robert D. (2010). ''Historical Dictionary of Polynesia''. Scarecrow Press. Page 51. {{ISBN|9781461659389}}.</ref> In between, he had served in different administrative positions for Pacific islands.


Born to an American navy officer and a native mother in American Samoa, he grew up there and in [[Hawaii]] and participated in [[World War II]], before becoming a lawyer and then returning to American Samoa to practice law there. In 1955 he was briefly appointed by the Republican federal government as the first [[Attorney General of American Samoa]] and then became governor in 1956. During his first administration, Coleman chaired the convention that drafted the [[Constitution of American Samoa]], containing the bill of rights and providing protection for Samoans against alienation of their lands and loss of their culture. His administration also laid the foundation for the [[American Samoa Fono]] legislature and produced the official [[Seal of American Samoa|seal]] and [[flag of American Samoa]].<ref name="pireport.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2002/09/23/samoa-deputy-pm-misa-explores-solutions-government-corruption|title=SAMOA DEPUTY PM MISA EXPLORES SOLUTIONS TO GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION &#124; Pacific Islands Report|access-date=October 16, 2019|archive-date=October 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016225722/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2002/09/23/samoa-deputy-pm-misa-explores-solutions-government-corruption|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=E1029>{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/1997/5/22/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E1029-1|title = Congressional Record Extensions of Remarks Articles}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radewagen.house.gov/about/our-district|title = Our District|date = December 4, 2012}}</ref> When the Democrats overtook the federal government, he was replaced and appointed to different administrative positions for Pacific islands.
'''Peter Tali Coleman''' (December 8, 1919 &ndash; April 28, 1997) was the first person of [[Samoan people|Samoan]] descent to be appointed [[Governor of American Samoa]], and later became the territory's first popularly elected Governor.<ref>Craig, Robert D. (2010). ''Historical Dictionary of Polynesia''. Scarecrow Press. Page 51. {{ISBN|9781461659389}}.</ref> A member of the [[United States Republican Party|Republican Party]], he is the only U.S. governor whose service spanned five decades (1956–1961, 1978–1985 and 1989–1993) and one of the longest-serving governors of any jurisdiction in American history.<ref>https://radewagen.house.gov/about/full-biography</ref><ref>Gay, Roxane (2019). ''The Women of the 116th Congress: Portraits of Power''. The New York Times. Page 28. Abrams. ISBN 9781683357810.</ref> In 1955, Coleman became the first of Samoan ancestry to serve as [[Attorney General of American Samoa]].<ref>http://www.pireport.org/articles/2002/09/23/samoa-deputy-pm-misa-explores-solutions-government-corruption</ref>


He came back to American Samoa once more in 1977 to run for the first gubernatorial election of the territory. After American Samoans had finally approved electing their own governor in that year, he was elected the first and third governor in 1977, 1980, and 1988 over his Democratic rival [[A. P. Lutali]] each time, losing against him in 1992. He also was the founding chairman of the territory's [[Republican Party of American Samoa|Republican Party]], serving from 1985 to 1988.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/01/us/peter-coleman-77-governor-of-american-samoa.html|title = Peter Coleman, 77, Governor of American Samoa|newspaper = The New York Times|date = May 1997|last1 = Pace|first1 = Eric}}</ref> To this date he has been the only Republican governor ever of American Samoa.
He was the founding chairman of the territory's [[Republican Party of American Samoa|Republican Party]], serving from 1985 to 1988.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/01/us/peter-coleman-77-governor-of-american-samoa.html</ref> He is the only person in American Samoa history to have served as both appointed and elected Governor.<ref>Shaffer, Robert J. (2000). ''American Samoa: 100 Years Under the United States Flag''. Island Heritage. Pages 197 and 199. {{ISBN|9780896103399}}.</ref> During his first administration in the 1960s, Coleman chaired the convention which drafted the [[Constitution of American Samoa]] and his administration laid the foundation for the [[American Samoa Fono]] legislature. His administration also produced the official [[Seal of American Samoa|seal]] and [[flag of American Samoa]].<ref>http://www.pireport.org/articles/2002/09/23/samoa-deputy-pm-misa-explores-solutions-government-corruption</ref><ref>https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/1997/5/22/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E1029-1</ref><ref>https://radewagen.house.gov/about/our-district</ref>


Coleman’s career spanned over the entire last half of the 20th century. He was a recipient of the 1997 American Samoan Governor’s Humanitarian Award and gained the chiefly title Uifa’atali from his home village of Pago Pago.<ref>Craig, Robert D. (2002). ''Historical Dictionary of Polynesia''. Scarecrow Press. Page 43. {{ISBN|9780810842373}}.</ref> During his first term of office, a [[American Samoa Constitution|constitution]], containing the bill of rights and providing protection for Samoans against alienation of their lands and loss of their culture, was approved in 1960, and an [[Flag of American Samoa|American Samoa flag]] was adopted.<ref>Lal, Brij V. and Kate Fortune (2000). ''The Pacific Islands: An Encyclopedia, Volume 1. University of Hawaii Press''. Page 560. {{ISBN|9780824822651}}.</ref>
Coleman's career spanned over the entire second half of the 20th century. He is the only governor in the United States whose service spanned five decades and one of the longest-serving governors of any jurisdiction in American history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radewagen.house.gov/about/full-biography|title=Biography|date=December 11, 2012}}</ref><ref>Gay, Roxane (2019). ''The Women of the 116th Congress: Portraits of Power''. The New York Times. Page 28. Abrams. {{ISBN|9781683357810}}.</ref> He was a recipient of the 1997 American Samoan Governor's Humanitarian Award and gained the chiefly title Uifa’atali from his home village of Pago Pago.<ref>Craig, Robert D. (2002). ''Historical Dictionary of Polynesia''. Scarecrow Press. Page 43. {{ISBN|9780810842373}}.</ref> The Peter Tali Coleman Lecture on Pacific Public Policy has been a part of the Pacific Islands Project at [[Georgetown University]], where Coleman received his degree.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2000/05/12/georgetown-pacific-project-formally-established|title=GEORGETOWN PACIFIC PROJECT FORMALLY ESTABLISHED &#124; Pacific Islands Report|access-date=October 16, 2019|archive-date=October 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016232024/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2000/05/12/georgetown-pacific-project-formally-established|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.samoanews.com/regional/guams-underwood-peter-tali-coleman-lecture-pacific-public-policy|title = Guam's Underwood at Peter Tali Coleman Lecture of Pacific Public Policy|date = November 23, 2017}}</ref> In 1978, he received an [[Honorary Doctorate]] from [[Chaminade University of Honolulu]] and in 1970 one from the [[University of Guam]].<ref name="E1029"/>

In 1951, he was the first of [[Samoan people|Samoan ancestry]] to receive a law degree from an American university<ref>http://www.pireport.org/articles/2002/09/23/samoa-deputy-pm-misa-explores-solutions-government-corruption</ref> or from any university.<ref>https://www.congress.gov/crec/1998/04/01/CREC-1998-04-01-pt1-PgE545.pdf</ref> The Peter Tali Coleman Lecture on Pacific Public Policy has been a part of the Pacific Islands Project at Georgetown University, where Coleman received his degree.<ref>http://www.pireport.org/articles/2000/05/12/georgetown-pacific-project-formally-established</ref><ref>http://www.samoanews.com/regional/guams-underwood-peter-tali-coleman-lecture-pacific-public-policy</ref> In 1978, he received an [[Honorary Doctorate]] from [[Chaminade University of Honolulu]] and in 1970 from the [[University of Guam]].<ref>https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/1997/5/22/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E1029-1</ref>


==Background==
==Background==

===Early life and career===
===Early life and career===
Born and raised in [[Pago Pago]], American Samoa, Coleman attended the ''faifeau'' and Marist schools, before graduating from [[Saint Louis School]] in [[Honolulu, Hawaii]]. His parents were Navyman Patrick Dyke Coleman from [[Washington, DC]], and Amata Auma from the Uifaatali family. His family title, Uifaatali, was bestowed on him in 1977. Coleman later joined the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]], rising to the rank of [[Captain (land)|captain]] during [[World War II]]. He returned to the Samoan Islands in the early 1950s and practiced law in Pago Pago and in [[Apia]]. He received his law degree from [[Georgetown University]], and served in American Samoa both as a [[public defender]] and as the territory's [[Attorney General of American Samoa|attorney general]].<ref>Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). ''A History of American Samoa''. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 262. {{ISBN|9781573062992}}.</ref>
Born and raised in [[Pago Pago]], American Samoa, Coleman attended the ''faifeau'' and Marist schools, before graduating from [[Saint Louis School]] in [[Honolulu, Hawaii]]. His parents were Navyman Patrick Dyke Coleman from [[Washington, DC]], and Amata Auma from the Uifaatali family. His family title, Uifaatali, was bestowed on him in 1977. Coleman later joined the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]], rising to the rank of [[Captain (land)|captain]] during [[World War II]]. He returned to the Samoan Islands in the early 1950s and practiced law in Pago Pago and in [[Apia]]. He received his law degree from [[Georgetown University]] in 1951 and was the first person of [[Samoan people|Samoan ancestry]] to receive a law degree from an American university<ref name="pireport.org"/> or from any university.<ref name=E545>{{cite journal |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-1998-04-01/pdf/CREC-1998-04-01-pt1-PgE545-2.pdf |title=REFLECTIONS ON EASTER AND SPRING |journal=Congressional Record |date=April 1, 1998 |access-date=March 19, 2022}}</ref> He served in American Samoa both as a [[public defender]] and as the territory's [[Attorney General of American Samoa|attorney general]].<ref name="Sunia, Fofo I 2009 Page 262">Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). ''A History of American Samoa''. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 262. {{ISBN|9781573062992}}.</ref><ref name="pireport.org"/>


Coleman was appointed governor of [[American Samoa]] in 1956 by President [[Dwight Eisenhower]]. At the conclusion of his term, he served a variety of positions in the Pacific Islands, including district administrator for the [[Marshall Islands]], district administrator for the [[Marianas Islands]], and deputy high commissioner of the [[Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands]], where he also served as acting high commissioner for one year.
Coleman was appointed governor of [[American Samoa]] in 1956 by President [[Dwight Eisenhower]]. At the conclusion of his term, he served a variety of positions in the Pacific Islands, including district administrator for the [[Marshall Islands]], district administrator for the [[Marianas Islands]], and deputy high commissioner of the [[Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands]], where he also served as acting high commissioner for one year.


When the Republican Party lost the [[White House]] in 1960, Coleman was assigned as deputy high commissioner of the [[U.S. Trust Territories]]. He served 17 years in that post, returning in 1977 to run in the first gubernatorial election. Coleman was the first [[Samoan people|Samoan]] to become Governor in 1956 and the only one who served by appointment. In 1977, he also became the first elected Governor in American Samoa. He was reelected in 1980, lost the 1984 election, and was reelected once again in 1988.<ref>Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). ''A History of American Samoa''. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 262. {{ISBN|9781573062992}}.</ref>
When the Republican Party lost the [[White House]] in 1960, Coleman was assigned as deputy high commissioner of the [[U.S. Trust Territories]]. He served 17 years in that post, returning in 1977 to run in the first gubernatorial election. Coleman was the first [[Samoan people|Samoan]] to become Governor in 1956 and the only one who served by appointment. In 1977, he also became the first elected Governor in American Samoa. He was reelected in 1980, lost the 1984 election, and was reelected once again in 1988.<ref name="Sunia, Fofo I 2009 Page 262"/>


Coleman became the first popularly elected Samoan after defeating Democrat [[A. P. Lutali]] with 60% of the votes in a special runoff election held on November 23, 1977. The election was described by the ''[[New York Times]]'' as “a major step toward self-determination by island’s residents.” After having turned down the proposal to elect their own Governor in three plebiscites, American Samoans in 1977 had also overwhelmingly approved the measure in which allowed them to elect that official.<ref>“GOVERNOR IS ELECTED IN AMERICAN SAMOA: Peter Coleman Is the First to Be Picked by Ballot - Leaders Were Named By U.S. for 77 Years.” ''[[New York Times]]'' (Nov. 24, 1977). Page 38.</ref>
Coleman became the first popularly elected Samoan governor after defeating Democrat [[A. P. Lutali]] with 60% of the votes in a [[1977 American Samoan gubernatorial election|special runoff election]] held on November 22, 1977. The election was described by the ''[[New York Times]]'' as “a major step toward self-determination by island’s residents.” After having turned down the proposal to elect their own Governor in three plebiscites, American Samoans in 1977 had also overwhelmingly approved the measure which allowed them to elect that official.<ref>“GOVERNOR IS ELECTED IN AMERICAN SAMOA: Peter Coleman Is the First to Be Picked by Ballot - Leaders Were Named By U.S. for 77 Years.” ''[[New York Times]]'' (November 24, 1977). Page 38.</ref>


===Death and legacy===
===Death and legacy===
⚫
Peter Coleman and [[Nora Stewart Coleman|Nora Stewart]] of Honolulu were married in 1941. They had thirteen children, twenty-three grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.<ref name="Sunia, Fofo I 2009 Page 262"/> In 2014, his daughter [[Aumua Amata Radewagen]] was elected [[Delegate (United States Congress)|Delegate]] to represent [[American Samoa's at-large congressional district|American Samoa]] in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. She is the first woman to represent American Samoa in Congress.<ref>Gay, Roxane (2019). ''The Women of the 116th Congress: Portraits of Power''. The New York Times. Page 28. Abrams. {{ISBN|9781683357810}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/1st-woman-elected-as-American-Samoa-delegate-5873670.php|title=1st woman elected as American Samoa delegate|author=Fili Sagapolutele|date=November 5, 2014|publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=November 9, 2014}}</ref>
Coleman died in 1997 in Honolulu after a two-year struggle with [[liver cancer]].<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/01/us/peter-coleman-77-governor-of-american-samoa.html</ref>


Coleman died in 1997 in Honolulu after a two-year struggle with [[liver cancer]].<ref name="nytimes.com"/><ref name=hst>{{cite news |first=Mary |last=Adamski |title='Man of the Pacific' led American Samoa: Peter Coleman, 77, dies here after a two-year battle with cancer |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/97/04/29/news/story4.html |work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]] |publisher= |date=April 29, 1997 |access-date=January 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127034002/http://archives.starbulletin.com/97/04/29/news/story4.html |archive-date=January 27, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>
⚫
In 2014, his daughter [[Aumua Amata|Aumua Amata Radewagen]], was elected [[Delegate (United States Congress)|Delegate]] to represent [[American Samoa's at-large congressional district|American Samoa]] in the [[United States House of Representatives]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/1st-woman-elected-as-American-Samoa-delegate-5873670.php|title=1st woman elected as American Samoa delegate|author=Fili Sagapolutele|date=November 5, 2014|publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=November 9, 2014}}</ref> Peter T. Coleman and Nora Stewart of Honolulu were married in 1941. They had thirteen children, twenty-three grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.<ref>Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). ''A History of American Samoa''. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 262. {{ISBN|9781573062992}}.</ref>


Coleman’s legacy includes the effort to incorporate American Samoa in the [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] system and the recognition and promotion of tourism as an economic development strategy. He began to rebuild and expand the [[Tafuna Airport|Tafuna Airstrip]] to take jet planes. The policy for local autonomy moved further during his years as Governor.<ref>Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). ''A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council''. Pages 261 and 263. {{ISBN|9781573062992}}.</ref>
Coleman's legacy includes the effort to incorporate American Samoa in the [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] system and the recognition and promotion of tourism as an economic development strategy. He began to rebuild and expand the [[Tafuna Airport|Tafuna Airstrip]] to take jet planes. The policy for local autonomy moved further during his years as Governor.<ref>Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). ''A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council''. Pages 261 and 263. {{ISBN|9781573062992}}.</ref>


At the conclusion of Coleman’s three-year term, Coleman cited some of the achievements that made him proud. These included changes to the judiciary system with the addition of the district and village courts, the start of the Teacher Corps program, the addition of renal dialysis at [[LBJ Hospital (American Samoa)|LBJ Hospital]], and the completion of the [[Aua, American Samoa|Aua]]-Top Mle and [[Aoa, American Samoa|Aoa]]-[[Amouli, American Samoa|Amouli]] roads.<ref>Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). ''A History of American Samoa''. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 303. {{ISBN|9781573062992}}.</ref>
At the conclusion of Coleman's three-year term, Coleman cited some of the achievements that made him proud. These included changes to the judiciary system with the addition of the district and village courts, the start of the Teacher Corps program, the addition of renal dialysis at [[LBJ Hospital (American Samoa)|LBJ Hospital]], and the completion of the [[Aua, American Samoa|Aua]]-Top Mle and [[Aoa, American Samoa|Aoa]]-[[Amouli, American Samoa|Amouli]] roads.<ref>Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). ''A History of American Samoa''. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 303. {{ISBN|9781573062992}}.</ref>


Coleman was responsible for the territory's membership in the [[National Governors Association]] (NGA) and the Regional Western Governors Association.<ref>https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/1997/5/22/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E1029-1</ref>
Coleman was responsible for the territory's membership in the [[National Governors Association]] (NGA) and the Regional Western Governors Association.<ref name=E1029/>


==Political resume==
==Political resume==
Coleman's political career included:<ref>Adamski, M. (1997, Apr 29). 'Man of the pacific' led American Samoa: Peter Coleman, 77, dies here after a two-year battle with cancer. ''[[Honolulu Star]]''.</ref><ref>PETER TALI COLEMAN FIRST ELECTED GOVERNOR OF AMERICAN SAMOA: SOONER EDITION]. (1997, May 02). ''[[Pittsburgh Post]]''.</ref>
Coleman's political career included:<ref>Adamski, M. (April 29, 1997). 'Man of the pacific' led American Samoa: Peter Coleman, 77, dies here after a two-year battle with cancer. ''[[Honolulu Star]]''.</ref><ref>PETER TALI COLEMAN FIRST ELECTED GOVERNOR OF AMERICAN SAMOA: SOONER EDITION]. (May 2, 1997). ''[[Pittsburgh Post]]''.</ref>


*1940-45: U.S. Army infantry servicing in the [[Solomon Islands]], [[Vanuatu]], and [[Hawai'i]]<ref>https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/1997/5/22/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E1029-1</ref>
*1940-45: U.S. Army infantry servicing in the [[Solomon Islands]], [[Vanuatu]], and [[Hawai'i]]<ref name=E1029/>
*1946-47: Staff Secretary for Senator [[George H. Bender]]<ref>https://www.congress.gov/crec/1998/04/01/CREC-1998-04-01-pt1-PgE545.pdf</ref><ref>https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-1998-04-01/pdf/CREC-1998-04-01-pt1-PgE545-2.pdf</ref>
*1946-47: Staff Secretary for Senator [[George H. Bender]]<ref name=E545/>
*1951: Received a law degree from [[Georgetown University]], where he was a [[John Hay Whitney Foundation]] fellow
*1951: Received a law degree from [[Georgetown University]], where he was a [[John Hay Whitney Foundation]] fellow
*1951-52: Pacific area analyst at the [[Interior Department]] in Washington, DC
*1951-52: Pacific area analyst at the [[Interior Department]] in Washington, DC
*1952-55: Public Defender of American Samoa
*1955-56: [[Attorney General of American Samoa]]
*1955-56: [[Attorney General of American Samoa]]
*1956: Appointed governor of American Samoa, after serving as public defender (1952-55)
*1956: Appointed Governor of American Samoa
*1961: Appointed district administrator of the [[Marshall Islands]]
*1961: Appointed district administrator of the [[Marshall Islands]]
*1965: Named district administrator of the [[Mariana Islands]]
*1965: Named district administrator of the [[Mariana Islands]]
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*1980: Elected to a second term as Governor
*1980: Elected to a second term as Governor
*1980: Co-founded the [[Pacific Basin Development Council]]
*1980: Co-founded the [[Pacific Basin Development Council]]
*1982: Inducted into the U.S. Army Officers' Candidate School Hall of Fame in [[Fort Benning, GA]]<ref>https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/1997/5/22/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E1029-1</ref>
*1979: Inducted into the U.S. Army Officers' Candidate School Hall of Fame in [[Fort Benning, GA]]<ref name=E1029/>
*1985: Honorary Consul for the [[Republic of Nauru]]
*1985: Honorary Consul for the [[Republic of Nauru]]
*1985-88: Co-founding chairman of the [[Republican Party of American Samoa]]
*1985-88: Co-founding chairman of the [[Republican Party of American Samoa]]
Line 99: Line 98:
*1992: Chairman of American Samoa's [[1992 United States presidential election|Bush-Quayle 1992]] committee
*1992: Chairman of American Samoa's [[1992 United States presidential election|Bush-Quayle 1992]] committee
*1992: Honorary national chair of Asian Americans for Bush-Quayle '92
*1992: Honorary national chair of Asian Americans for Bush-Quayle '92
*1992-93: Chairman of the Offshore Governor's Forum<ref>https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/1997/5/22/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E1029-1</ref>
*1992-93: Chairman of the Offshore Governor's Forum<ref name=E1029/>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://starbulletin.com/97/04/29/news/story4.html Obituary in the ''Honolulu Star-Bulletin'']
* [http://starbulletin.com/97/04/29/news/story4.html Obituary in the ''Honolulu Star-Bulletin''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311094142/http://starbulletin.com/97/04/29/news/story4.html |date=March 11, 2007 }}
* [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE2DC1131F932A35756C0A961958260 New York Times: Peter Coleman, 77, Governor of American Samoa ]
* [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE2DC1131F932A35756C0A961958260 New York Times: Peter Coleman, 77, Governor of American Samoa ]
* [http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/May/19/ln/ln49p.html Honolulu Advertiser: Nora Stewart Coleman, 85, former first lady of American Samoa ]
* [http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/May/19/ln/ln49p.html Honolulu Advertiser: Nora Stewart Coleman, 85, former first lady of American Samoa ]


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[[Category:Governors of American Samoa]]
[[Category:Governors of American Samoa]]
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[[Category:Republican Party governors of American Samoa]]
[[Category:Republican Party (Northern Mariana Islands) politicians]]
[[Category:Republican Party (Northern Mariana Islands) politicians]]
[[Category:People from Pago Pago]]
[[Category:People from Pago Pago]]
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[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
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Latest revision as of 21:32, 25 December 2024

Peter Coleman
1st & 3rd Governor of American Samoa
In office
January 2, 1989 – January 3, 1993
LieutenantGalea'i Poumele
Gaioi Galeai
Preceded byA. P. Lutali
Succeeded byA. P. Lutali
In office
January 3, 1978 – January 3, 1985
LieutenantTufele Liamatua
Preceded byRex Lee
Succeeded byA. P. Lutali
Appointed Governor of American Samoa
In office
October 15, 1956 – May 24, 1961
Preceded byRichard Lowe
Succeeded byRex Lee
High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Acting
In office
July 1, 1976 – July 9, 1977
Preceded byEdward E. Johnston
Succeeded byAdrian P. Winkel
1st Attorney General of American Samoa
In office
June 1955 – October 15, 1956
GovernorRichard Lowe
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byOwen Aspinall
Personal details
Born(1919-12-08)December 8, 1919
Pago Pago, American Samoa, U.S.
DiedApril 28, 1997(1997-04-28) (aged 77)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
​
(m. 1941)​
Children13, including Amata
EducationGeorgetown University (BA, LLB)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Rank Captain
Battles/warsWorld War II

Peter Tali Coleman (December 8, 1919 – April 28, 1997) was an American Samoan politician and lawyer. Coleman was the first and only person of Samoan descent to be appointed governor of American Samoa between 1956 and 1961 and later became the territory's first and third popularly elected governor from 1978 to 1985 and 1989 to 1993, serving a total of three elected terms.[1] In between, he had served in different administrative positions for Pacific islands.

Born to an American navy officer and a native mother in American Samoa, he grew up there and in Hawaii and participated in World War II, before becoming a lawyer and then returning to American Samoa to practice law there. In 1955 he was briefly appointed by the Republican federal government as the first Attorney General of American Samoa and then became governor in 1956. During his first administration, Coleman chaired the convention that drafted the Constitution of American Samoa, containing the bill of rights and providing protection for Samoans against alienation of their lands and loss of their culture. His administration also laid the foundation for the American Samoa Fono legislature and produced the official seal and flag of American Samoa.[2][3][4] When the Democrats overtook the federal government, he was replaced and appointed to different administrative positions for Pacific islands.

He came back to American Samoa once more in 1977 to run for the first gubernatorial election of the territory. After American Samoans had finally approved electing their own governor in that year, he was elected the first and third governor in 1977, 1980, and 1988 over his Democratic rival A. P. Lutali each time, losing against him in 1992. He also was the founding chairman of the territory's Republican Party, serving from 1985 to 1988.[5] To this date he has been the only Republican governor ever of American Samoa.

Coleman's career spanned over the entire second half of the 20th century. He is the only governor in the United States whose service spanned five decades and one of the longest-serving governors of any jurisdiction in American history.[6][7] He was a recipient of the 1997 American Samoan Governor's Humanitarian Award and gained the chiefly title Uifa’atali from his home village of Pago Pago.[8] The Peter Tali Coleman Lecture on Pacific Public Policy has been a part of the Pacific Islands Project at Georgetown University, where Coleman received his degree.[9][10] In 1978, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Chaminade University of Honolulu and in 1970 one from the University of Guam.[3]

Background

[edit]

Early life and career

[edit]

Born and raised in Pago Pago, American Samoa, Coleman attended the faifeau and Marist schools, before graduating from Saint Louis School in Honolulu, Hawaii. His parents were Navyman Patrick Dyke Coleman from Washington, DC, and Amata Auma from the Uifaatali family. His family title, Uifaatali, was bestowed on him in 1977. Coleman later joined the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of captain during World War II. He returned to the Samoan Islands in the early 1950s and practiced law in Pago Pago and in Apia. He received his law degree from Georgetown University in 1951 and was the first person of Samoan ancestry to receive a law degree from an American university[2] or from any university.[11] He served in American Samoa both as a public defender and as the territory's attorney general.[12][2]

Coleman was appointed governor of American Samoa in 1956 by President Dwight Eisenhower. At the conclusion of his term, he served a variety of positions in the Pacific Islands, including district administrator for the Marshall Islands, district administrator for the Marianas Islands, and deputy high commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, where he also served as acting high commissioner for one year.

When the Republican Party lost the White House in 1960, Coleman was assigned as deputy high commissioner of the U.S. Trust Territories. He served 17 years in that post, returning in 1977 to run in the first gubernatorial election. Coleman was the first Samoan to become Governor in 1956 and the only one who served by appointment. In 1977, he also became the first elected Governor in American Samoa. He was reelected in 1980, lost the 1984 election, and was reelected once again in 1988.[12]

Coleman became the first popularly elected Samoan governor after defeating Democrat A. P. Lutali with 60% of the votes in a special runoff election held on November 22, 1977. The election was described by the New York Times as “a major step toward self-determination by island’s residents.” After having turned down the proposal to elect their own Governor in three plebiscites, American Samoans in 1977 had also overwhelmingly approved the measure which allowed them to elect that official.[13]

Death and legacy

[edit]

Peter Coleman and Nora Stewart of Honolulu were married in 1941. They had thirteen children, twenty-three grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.[12] In 2014, his daughter Aumua Amata Radewagen was elected Delegate to represent American Samoa in the United States House of Representatives. She is the first woman to represent American Samoa in Congress.[14][15]

Coleman died in 1997 in Honolulu after a two-year struggle with liver cancer.[5][16]

Coleman's legacy includes the effort to incorporate American Samoa in the Social Security system and the recognition and promotion of tourism as an economic development strategy. He began to rebuild and expand the Tafuna Airstrip to take jet planes. The policy for local autonomy moved further during his years as Governor.[17]

At the conclusion of Coleman's three-year term, Coleman cited some of the achievements that made him proud. These included changes to the judiciary system with the addition of the district and village courts, the start of the Teacher Corps program, the addition of renal dialysis at LBJ Hospital, and the completion of the Aua-Top Mle and Aoa-Amouli roads.[18]

Coleman was responsible for the territory's membership in the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Regional Western Governors Association.[3]

Political resume

[edit]

Coleman's political career included:[19][20]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Craig, Robert D. (2010). Historical Dictionary of Polynesia. Scarecrow Press. Page 51. ISBN 9781461659389.
  2. ^ a b c "SAMOA DEPUTY PM MISA EXPLORES SOLUTIONS TO GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION | Pacific Islands Report". Archived from the original on October 16, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Congressional Record Extensions of Remarks Articles".
  4. ^ "Our District". December 4, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Pace, Eric (May 1997). "Peter Coleman, 77, Governor of American Samoa". The New York Times.
  6. ^ "Biography". December 11, 2012.
  7. ^ Gay, Roxane (2019). The Women of the 116th Congress: Portraits of Power. The New York Times. Page 28. Abrams. ISBN 9781683357810.
  8. ^ Craig, Robert D. (2002). Historical Dictionary of Polynesia. Scarecrow Press. Page 43. ISBN 9780810842373.
  9. ^ "GEORGETOWN PACIFIC PROJECT FORMALLY ESTABLISHED | Pacific Islands Report". Archived from the original on October 16, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  10. ^ "Guam's Underwood at Peter Tali Coleman Lecture of Pacific Public Policy". November 23, 2017.
  11. ^ a b "REFLECTIONS ON EASTER AND SPRING" (PDF). Congressional Record. April 1, 1998. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  12. ^ a b c Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 262. ISBN 9781573062992.
  13. ^ “GOVERNOR IS ELECTED IN AMERICAN SAMOA: Peter Coleman Is the First to Be Picked by Ballot - Leaders Were Named By U.S. for 77 Years.” New York Times (November 24, 1977). Page 38.
  14. ^ Gay, Roxane (2019). The Women of the 116th Congress: Portraits of Power. The New York Times. Page 28. Abrams. ISBN 9781683357810.
  15. ^ Fili Sagapolutele (November 5, 2014). "1st woman elected as American Samoa delegate". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  16. ^ Adamski, Mary (April 29, 1997). "'Man of the Pacific' led American Samoa: Peter Coleman, 77, dies here after a two-year battle with cancer". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  17. ^ Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Pages 261 and 263. ISBN 9781573062992.
  18. ^ Sunia, Fofo I.F. (2009). A History of American Samoa. Amerika Samoa Humanities Council. Page 303. ISBN 9781573062992.
  19. ^ Adamski, M. (April 29, 1997). 'Man of the pacific' led American Samoa: Peter Coleman, 77, dies here after a two-year battle with cancer. Honolulu Star.
  20. ^ PETER TALI COLEMAN FIRST ELECTED GOVERNOR OF AMERICAN SAMOA: SOONER EDITION]. (May 2, 1997). Pittsburgh Post.
[edit]
Legal offices
New office Attorney General of American Samoa
1955–1956 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of American Samoa
1956–1961 		Succeeded by
Preceded by High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Acting
1976–1977 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of American Samoa
1978–1985 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of American Samoa
1989–1993
Party political offices
First Republican nominee for Governor of American Samoa
1977, 1980 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of American Samoa
1988, 1992 		Succeeded by
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