W. Thacher Longstreth

W. Thacher Longstreth (1920-2003) was a Republican member of the Philadelphia City Council known as much for his influence as his quirky personal style. Longstreth was a graduate of Princeton University. Longstreth was an eighth-generation Philadelphian born to William C. and Nella (née Thacher) Longstreth, whose Quaker upbringing led to his early support of Earth Day. His family lived in Haverford, Pennsylvania and was affluent until the Stock M... more

W. Thacher Longstreth (1920-2003) was a Republican member of the Philadelphia City Council known as much for his influence as his quirky personal style. Longstreth was a graduate of Princeton University. Longstreth was an eighth-generation Philadelphian born to William C. and Nella (née Thacher) Longstreth, whose Quaker upbringing led to his early support of Earth Day. His family lived in Haverford, Pennsylvania and was affluent until the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Thacher was also a cousin of President Herbert Hoover and his maternal grandmother, Ella Hoover Thacher was the president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union for many years. In 1970, he led the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and spear-headed the drive to hold the event in Philadelphia. That event became one of the biggest Earth Day events in the nation. He was the Republican nominee for Mayor of Philadelphia in 1955, losing to Richardson Dilworth, and again in 1971, losing to Frank Rizzo. During his tenure in... less