J. Caleb Boggs
J. Caleb Boggs | |
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United States Senator from Delaware | |
In office January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1973 | |
Preceded by | J. Allen Frear Jr. |
Succeeded by | Joe Biden |
Chair of the National Governors Association | |
In office June 25, 1959 – June 26, 1960 | |
Preceded by | LeRoy Collins |
Succeeded by | Stephen McNichols |
62nd Governor of Delaware | |
In office January 20, 1953 – December 30, 1960 | |
Lieutenant |
John W. Rollins David P. Buckson |
Preceded by | Elbert N. Carvel |
Succeeded by | David P. Buckson |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware's at-large district | |
In office January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1953 | |
Preceded by | Philip A. Traynor |
Succeeded by | Herbert B. Warburton |
Associate Judge of the New Castle County Family Court | |
In office November 9, 1942 – January 3, 1947 | |
Preceded by | Billy Bickson |
Succeeded by | Johnathan Taylor |
Personal details | |
Born |
James Caleb Boggs May 15, 1909 Cheswold, Delaware, U.S. |
Died |
March 26, 1993 83) Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. | (aged
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Muir |
Education |
University of Delaware, Newark (BA) Georgetown University (LLB) |
Military service | |
Allegiance |
|
Service/branch |
|
Years of service | 1941–1946 |
Unit | 6th Armored Division |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards |
Campaign Stars (5) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Croix de Guerre |
James Caleb "Cale" Boggs (May 15, 1909 – March 26, 1993) was an American lawyer and politician from Claymont in New Castle County, Delaware. He was known by his middle name.
He was a veteran of World War II, and a member of the Republican Party, who served three terms as U.S. Representative from Delaware, two terms as Governor of Delaware, and two terms as U.S. Senator from Delaware.
Early life and family
Boggs was born on May 15, 1909 at Cheswold, Delaware, the son of Edward Jefferson and Lettie Vaughn Boggs. He married Elizabeth Muir and had two children, Cale, Jr. and Marilu. The family were members of the Methodist Church.
He graduated from the University of Delaware in 1931 and from Georgetown University Law School in 1937. In 1938 he was admitted to the Bar and began the practice of law at Dover, Delaware.
During World War II, he served with the 6th Armored Division fighting in Normandy, the Rhineland, the Ardennes and central Europe. He earned five Campaign Stars, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Croix de Guerre with palm from France.
United States Representative
Boggs was appointed Associate Judge of the Family Court of New Castle County in 1946. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1946, defeating incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Philip A. Traynor. He won election a total of three times, also defeating Democrats J. Carl McGuigan in 1948, and Henry M. Winchester in 1950. Boggs served in the U. S House from January 3, 1947 to January 3, 1953.
Governor of Delaware
Boggs was elected Governor of Delaware in 1952, defeating incumbent Democratic Governor Elbert N. Carvel, and won a second term in 1956, defeating Democrat J. H. Tyler McConnell. He served as governor from January 20, 1953, to December 30, 1960, when he resigned because of his upcoming U.S. Senate term.
United States Senator
Boggs was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1960, defeating incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator J. Allen Frear, Jr. by 1.4 percentage points, and becoming the only Republican to defeat an incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator that year. He was again elected to the U.S. Senate in 1966, defeating Democrat James M. Tunnell, Jr., son of the former U.S. Senator. He served two terms from January 3, 1961 to January 3, 1973. As U.S. Senator he supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Boggs lost his bid for a third term in 1972 to Democrat Joe Biden, then a New Castle County Councilman. Boggs was a reluctant candidate that year, being persuaded to run only to help avoid a divisive primary election. Biden waged an energetic campaign and went on to defeat Boggs by approximately 1.4 percentage points. In his last years Boggs lived in Wilmington, Delaware where he continued the practice of law.
Death and legacy
Boggs died at Wilmington and is buried in the Old Presbyterian Cemetery in Dover, on the grounds of the Delaware State Museum. The J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building at 844 King Street in Wilmington, Delaware is named for him.
Among the many tributes received by his fellow senators was the following from U.S. Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia:
On an objective, senatorial level, Senator Boggs was a militant, but rational environmentalist. A co-sponsor of the National Air Quality Standards Act of 1970, Senator Boggs helped to win congressional approval of this bill, which was signed into law by President Nixon. Further, Cale Boggs was a co-sponsor and helped to write the Water Quality Act of 1965. In 1970, Senator Boggs helped to strengthen State authority to prohibit sewage and pesticide discharge into rivers and lakes and to provide for coordinated Federal attacks on river and lake pollution in the Water Quality Act of 1970.
Through those and other vital contributions in education, medicine, agriculture, transportation, and other domestic concerns, Senator Boggs left an enviable record of legislation aimed at improving the quality of life of all Americans and at widening opportunities for all of our citizens. But, above all, Cale Boggs will probably be best remembered by his friends still serving in the Senate and by the people of Delaware as a friend, a man of warm humanity, and as a gentleman who sought ever to set people at ease through his common touch and deep consideration of other people's feelings. Cale Boggs was a man whose friendship one easily sought and, once secured, was long treasured.
Delaware General Assembly (sessions while Governor) | |||||||||||
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Year | Assembly | Senate Majority | President pro tempore |
House Majority | Speaker | ||||||
1953–1954 | 117th | Republican | Thomas L. Johnson | Republican | Frank A. Jones | ||||||
1955–1956 | 118th | Democratic | Charles G. Moore | Democratic | James R. Quigley | ||||||
1957–1958 | 119th | Democratic | Lemuel Hickman | Democratic | Harry E. Mayhew | ||||||
1959–1960 | 120th | Democratic | Allen J. Cook | Democratic | Sherman W. Tribbitt | ||||||
Almanac
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and has four-year terms. U.S. Representatives take office January 3 and have a two-year term. U.S. Senators are popularly elected and also take office January 3, but have a six-year term.
Public Offices | ||||||
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Office | Type | Location | Term began | Term ended | notes | |
U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | January 3, 1947 | January 3, 1949 | ||
U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | January 3, 1949 | January 3, 1951 | ||
U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | January 3, 1951 | January 3, 1953 | ||
Governor | Executive | Dover | January 20, 1953 | January 15, 1957 | ||
Governor | Executive | Dover | January 15, 1957 | December 30, 1960 | resigned | |
U.S. Senator | Legislative | Washington | January 3, 1961 | January 3, 1967 | ||
U.S. Senator | Legislative | Washington | January 3, 1967 | January 3, 1973 |
United States Congressional service | ||||||
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Dates | Congress | Chamber | Majority | President | Committees | Class/District |
1947–1948 | 80th | U.S. House | Republican | Harry S. Truman | at-large | |
1949–1950 | 81st | U.S. House | Democratic | Harry S. Truman | at-large | |
1951–1952 | 82nd | U.S. House | Democratic | Harry S. Truman | at-large | |
1961–1962 | 87th | U.S. Senate | Democratic | John F. Kennedy | class 2 | |
1963–1964 | 88th | U.S. Senate | Democratic | John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson |
class 2 | |
1965–1966 | 89th | U.S. Senate | Democratic | Lyndon B. Johnson | class 2 | |
1967–1968 | 90th | U.S. Senate | Democratic | Lyndon B. Johnson | class 2 | |
1969–1970 | 91st | U.S. Senate | Democratic | Richard M. Nixon | class 2 | |
1971–1972 | 92nd | U.S. Senate | Democratic | Richard M. Nixon | class 2 |
Election results | |||||||||||
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Year | Office | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
1946 | U.S. Representative | J. Caleb Boggs | Republican | 63,516 | 56% | Philip A. Traynor | Democratic | 49,105 | 44% | ||
1948 | U.S. Representative | J. Caleb Boggs | Republican | 71,127 | 51% | J. Carl McGuigan | Democratic | 68,909 | 49% | ||
1950 | U.S. Representative | J. Caleb Boggs | Republican | 73,313 | 57% | Henry M. Winchester | Democratic | 56,091 | 43% | ||
1952 | Governor | J. Caleb Boggs | Republican | 88,977 | 52% | Elbert N. Carvel | Democratic | 81,772 | 48% | ||
1956 | Governor | J. Caleb Boggs | Republican | 91,965 | 52% | J. H. Tyler McConnell | Democratic | 85,047 | 48% | ||
1960 | U.S. Senator | J. Caleb Boggs | Republican | 98,874 | 51% | J. Allen Frear, Jr. | Democratic | 96,090 | 49% | ||
1966 | U.S. Senator | J. Caleb Boggs | Republican | 97,268 | 59% | James M. Tunnell, Jr. | Democratic | 67,263 | 41% | ||
1972 | U.S. Senator | J. Caleb Boggs | Republican | 112,844 | 49% | Joseph R. Biden, Jr. | Democratic | 116,006 | 50% |
References
- Cohen, Celia (2002). Only in Delaware, Politics and Politicians in the First State. Newark, Delaware: Grapevine Publishing.
- Davis, Ned (2000). Charles L. Terry. Wilmington, Delaware: Delaware Heritage Press. LCCN 00133337. OCLC 47186751.
- Hoffecker, Carol E. (2000). Honest John Williams. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press.
- Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
- Martin, Roger A. (1984). History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press.
- Martin, Roger (1997). Elbert N. Carvel. Wilmington, Delaware: Delaware Heritage Press. ISBN 0-924117-08-7.
- Munroe, John A. (1993). History of Delaware. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-493-5.
Images
- Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery; Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover.
External links
- Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States
- Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Delaware’s Governors
- Find a Grave
- The Political Graveyard
U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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Preceded by Philip A. Traynor |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware's at-large congressional district 1947–1953 |
Succeeded by Herbert B. Warburton |
Party political offices | ||
Preceded by Hyland George |
Republican nominee for Governor of Delaware 1952, 1956 |
Succeeded by John W. Rollins |
Preceded by Herbert B. Warburton |
Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Delaware (Class 2) 1960, 1966, 1972 |
Succeeded by James H. Baxter Jr. |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by Elbert N. Carvel |
Governor of Delaware 1953–1960 |
Succeeded by David P. Buckson |
Preceded by LeRoy Collins |
Chair of the National Governors Association 1959–1960 |
Succeeded by Stephen McNichols |
U.S. Senate | ||
Preceded by J. Allen Frear Jr. |
U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Delaware 1961–1973 Served alongside: John Williams, William V. Roth Jr. |
Succeeded by Joe Biden |