Jennings Randolph
Jennings Randolph | |
|---|---|
Frank L. Bowman | |
| Succeeded by | Melvin C. Snyder |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 8, 1902 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Mary Katherine Babb
(m. 1933; died 1981) |
| Education | Salem College |
Jennings Randolph (March 8, 1902 – May 8, 1998) was an American politician from West Virginia. A Democrat, he was most notable for his service in the United States House of Representatives from 1933 to 1947 and the United States Senate from 1958 to 1985. He was the last living member of the United States Congress to have served during the first 100 days of Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration. Randolph retired in 1985, and was succeeded by Jay Rockefeller.[1]
Early life and career
Randolph was born in Salem, West Virginia, the son of Idell (Bingham) and Ernest Fitz Randolph.[2] He was named after William Jennings Bryan.[3] Both his grandfather and father had been mayors of Salem.
He attended the public schools and graduated from the Salem Academy in 1920 and
In 1930 Randolph lost a bid for election to the
Randolph was defeated for re-election in the Republican landslide of 1946. He had a longtime association with Southeastern University in Washington, D.C., serving as a professor of public speaking there from 1935–1953, and dean of the School of Business Administration from 1952 to 1958. In February 1947 he became assistant to the president and director of public relations at Capital Airlines (later purchased by United Airlines) in Washington, giving up those positions in April 1958 to focus on his campaign for the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Senate
Randolph was elected in a
Legislation
Randolph voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1960,[5] 1964,[6] and 1968,[7] as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,[8] the Voting Rights Act of 1965,[9] and the confirmation of Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court.[10] On November 4, 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed environmental bills H.R. 2817 and H.R. 4297, singling Randolph out as the sole senator he wanted to thank for their passage.[11]
Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution
Randolph was best known for sponsoring eleven times an amendment to the
Equal Rights Amendment
On August 26, 1970, the fiftieth anniversary of the ratification of the
Randolph-Sheppard Act
While a member of the House of Representatives, Randolph was the main sponsor of the
Aeronautics legislation
An aviation enthusiast, he often flew more than once a day to visit constituents in West Virginia and to commute to Washington. He was the founder and first president of the Congressional Flying Club. He was a strong advocate for programs to advance air travel and airport development. In 1938 he sponsored the
Synthetic Liquid Fuels Act
In 1942 Randolph proposed a
Department of Peace
He introduced legislation to establish a Department of Peace in 1946 with the goal of strengthening America's capacity to resolve and manage international conflicts by both military and nonmilitary means. In the 1970s and 1980s he joined senators Mark Hatfield and Spark Matsunaga and Congressman Dan Glickman in efforts to create a national institution dedicated to peace. After he had announced his retirement from Congress in 1984, Randolph played a key role in the passage and enactment of the United States Institute of Peace Act. To guarantee its passage and funding, the legislation was attached to the Department of Defense Authorization Act of 1985. Approval of the legislation was in part a tribute to Randolph's long career in public service. The Jennings Randolph Program, which awards fellowships to enable outstanding scholars, policymakers, journalists, and other professionals from around the world to conduct research at the U.S. Institute of Peace, has been named in his honor.
Life outside Congress
- Randolph's early career is recounted in Napoleon Hill's self-help book, Think and Grow Rich. Hill gave the commencement address at Randolph's graduation from Salem College; Randolph was deeply moved and inspired by the address. Later, when Randolph was elected to Congress, he wrote to Hill, urging him to turn the speech into a printed book. The text of this letter appears in the book.
- Randolph married Mary Katherine Babb on February 18, 1933. She died of cancer on March 10, 1981, and the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center at West Virginia University is named for her.[14]
- Randolph wrote a book along with James A. Bell called "Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen... : A Practical Guide to Public Speaking," which was published in 1939.
- Randolph's son, .
- His grandson, Jay Randolph Jr., was the lead anchor of the PGA Tour Network on XM Satellite Radio, and hosted a sports talk show on St. Louis radio station KFNS before passing in 2022.[15]
- Jennings Randolph Lake, in Mineral County, West Virginia and Garrett County, Maryland, is named in his honor. The Jennings Randolph Bridge that carries U.S. Route 30 across the Ohio River between Chester, West Virginia, and East Liverpool, Ohio, also is named for him. In West Virginia, Interstate 79 is known as the Jennings Randolph Expressway.
- Randolph was de facto chairman of Agri-Energy Roundtable (AER), a nongovernmental organization (NGO) accredited by the United Nations, and led U.S. delegations to seven AER annual conferences in Geneva, Switzerland (1981–1987).
- Randolph was the winner of the George S. Bartlett Award for road transportation in 1971.[16]
Death
Randolph died in
References
- ^ See Christopher Price, "Peace and Progress: The Life and Political Contributions of Senator Jennings Randolph." West Virginia History 14.2 (2020): 1-27.
- ^ United States Congress (Aug 25, 1962). "Official Congressional Directory". U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved Aug 25, 2019 – via Google Books.
- ^ Current Biography Yearbook. Vol. 23. New York, NY: H. W. Wilson Company. 1963. p. 344.
- ^ Barone, Michael; Ujifusa, Grant (1987). The Almanac of American Politics 1988. p. 1271.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ "HR. 8601. PASSAGE OF AMENDED BILL".
- ^ "HR. 7152. PASSAGE".
- ^ "TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN SALE OR RENTAL OF HOUSING, AND TO PROHIBIT RACIALLY MOTIVATED INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON EXERCISING HIS CIVIL RIGHTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES".
- ^ "S.J. RES. 29. APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION BANNING THE POLL TAX AS PREREQUISITE FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS". GovTrack.us.
- ^ "TO PASS S. 1564, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965".
- ^ "CONFIRMATION OF NOMINATION OF THURGOOD MARSHALL, THE FIRST NEGRO APPOINTED TO THE SUPREME COURT". GovTrack.us.
- ^ Carter, Jimmy (November 4, 1977). "Bills Concerning the Environment Remarks on Signing H.R. 2817 and H.R. 4297 into Law". American Presidency Project.
- YouTube. Retrieved on 2013-07-24.
- ^ Senator Jennings Randolph of West Virginia Dies at 96 - New York Times. Nytimes.com (1998-05-09). Retrieved on 2013-07-24.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "St. Louis sportscaster, golf figure Jay Randolph Jr. dies at 53 after brief illness | stltoday.com".
- ^ "Bartlett Award | About TRB".
Further reading
- Price, Christopher. "Peace and Progress: The Life and Political Contributions of Senator Jennings Randolph." West Virginia History 14.2 (2020): 1-27.
External links
- United States Congress. "Jennings Randolph (id: R000046)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Jennings Randolph at Find a Grave
- Jennings Randolph Recognition Project (JRRP)
- Jennings Randolph Collection
- Appearances on C-SPAN
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| Note | *Name shortened from Reform in the Civil Service to Civil Service in 1925. | |
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