Frederick Schwengel

From Conservapedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Frederick Delbert Schwengel
Fred Schwengel.jpg
Former U.S. Representative from Iowa's 1st Congressional District
From: January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1973
Predecessor John Schmidhauser
Successor Edward Mezvinsky
Former U.S. Representative from Iowa's 1st Congressional District
From: January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1965
Predecessor Thomas E. Martin
Successor John Schmidhauser
Former State Representative from Iowa
From: 1945–1955
Predecessor ???
Successor ???
Information
Party Republican
Spouse(s) Ethel Cassidy
Religion Baptist

Frederick Delbert “Fred” Schwengel (May 28, 1906 – April 1, 1993) was a Republican from Iowa who served as the state's U.S. representative from the 1950s to the 1970s, representing the 1st congressional district. He was previously a state representative for a decade.

U.S. House of Representatives

Schwengel was first elected to the House in 1954 and re-elected four times.[1] He was narrowly defeated in 1964 when his Democrat opponent John R. Schmidhauser rode President Lyndon Johnson's coattails to victory,[2] though re-emerged the next election cycle and continued to be re-elected several times.

Schwengel played a role in the creation of the Interstate Highway System. He was pro-civil rights, voting for the Civil Rights Acts of 1957,[3] 1960,[4] 1964,[5] and 1968.[6] Schwengel also supported soil and conservation programs.

While a devout Baptist, Schwengel opposed school prayer and helped defeat a constitutional amendment that would have restored it following the Supreme Court ruling Engel v. Vitale. He stated on the matter:

I think we'd lower the quality of prayer if we let the state write it.

He was defeated for re-election in 1972 by Democrat Edward Mezvinsky,[7] currently the father-in-law of Chelsea Clinton.

Quotes

I believe that moderation is a virtue--especially in a democracy of contending interests--and that extremism is a divisive vice ... I have come to the conclusion that moderation is to be recommended above all political philosophies because it alone recognizes the common fate and aspiration of all human beings; it alone understands the influence that drive people to extremes; and finally, moderation alone respects the sacredness of humanity.


A religious experience to be acceptable to God and to be worthy of the name must be a voluntary response to God. The power of government, in whatever form it may take, must not be used in an attempt to force people to be religious.

References

External links