Art Fletcher--An African American Republican

Most people know that I'm a die hard Democrat, but I remember a Republican that is worth noting.   1968, Art Fletcher ran for Washington Lt Governor against the Democratic incumbent John  Cherberg,  narrowly losing.  He was the first African American to run for statewide office, and to this day, the closest to winning. At one time, a Pasco City Councilman, he would be eventually tapped to be assistant Secretary of Labor by the Nixon Administration.  He later was assistant ambassador to the UN. .
Fletcher would go on to serve in subsequent Republican presidential administrations.  He was a political ally of three term Washington governor Dan Evans.  He is noted as the "Father of Affirmative Action" and is credited for coining the slogan of the United Negro College Fund, "a mind is a terrible thing to waste".  Fletcher died in 2005.