William Robert Anderson was born in Bakerville, Tennessee on June 17, 1921. He graduated from Columbia Military Academy in 1939. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1942 from the United States Naval Academy. He served in the Unites States Navy from 1942 until 1962.
Anderson was a candidate for Tennessee Governor in 1962. He lost to Frank G. Clement. He was elected to Congress in 1964, 1966, 1968, and 1970. As Congressman Robinson concerned himself with naval affairs and energy resources. He criticized U.S. involvement in Vietnam, as well as some of the actions of J. Edgar Hoover. He was defeated in his re-election campaign of 1972. Anderson later worked with the Jimmy Carter campaign. After retiring from Congress, Anderson worked as a private business and executive, helping to found the Public Office Corporation.
This collection consists of papers from Anderson’s career in Congress. Material from his unsuccessful bid for re-election in 1972 is included. There is material from Anderson’s service on Jimmy Carter’s Presidential campaign of 1976. These is also a collection of personal records from the 1970s and 1980s. The papers are stored in approximately 15 linear feet of boxes.