Richard Poff
| Richard Harding “Dick” Poff | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Former U.S. Representative from Virginia's 6th Congressional District From: January 3, 1953 – August 29, 1972 | |||
| Predecessor | Clarence Burton | ||
| Successor | Caldwell Butler | ||
| Information | |||
| Party | Republican | ||
| Spouse(s) | Jo Ann Topper (died 1978) Jean Murphy | ||
| Military Service | |||
| Allegiance | United States | ||
| Service/branch | United States Army | ||
| Service Years | 1943–1945 | ||
| Rank | First Lieutenant | ||
| Unit | Eighth Air Force | ||
| Battles/wars | World War II | ||
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross | ||
Richard Harding “Dick” Poff (October 19, 1923 – June 27, 2011) was a Republican from Virginia who served as a U.S. representative from the state's 6th congressional district for nearly two decades. He was one of only two Republicans to sign the Southern Manifesto in opposing school desegregation,[1] the other being Joel T. Broyhill from the 10th congressional district of the state. He would later renounce his segregationist stance,[2] which was perceived as being necessary in order to maintain his congressional political career.
U.S. House of Representatives
Poff won election to the United States House of Representatives in 1952,[3] riding the coattails of Dwight Eisenhower's landslide victory in the concurrent presidential election.[2] He would be re-elected nine times.[4]
He voted against the Civil Rights Acts of 1957,[5] 1960,[6] 1964,[7] 1968,[8] in addition to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.[9] However, he supported the 24th Amendment to outlaw the poll tax.[10] Despite openly opposing civil rights to maintain his political career, Poff apparently was popular even among black constituents in his district.[Citation Needed] He later regretted his segregationist record:[2]
| “ | I can only say that segregation is wrong today, it was wrong yesterday,” he said. “Segregation was never right. But it is one of the most lamentable frailties of mankind that when one’s wrong is most grievous, his self-justification is most passionate, perhaps in the pitiful hope that the fervor of his self-defense will somehow prove him right. But this doesn’t make it so. And he doesn’t fool himself. | ” |
He resigned from the House of August 29, 1972 to become a justice on the Virginia Supreme Court. Poff had missed 3% of all roll call votes during his tenure in Congress.[11]
Supreme Court nomination
Poff was nominated to the United States Supreme Court by President Richard Nixon to fill the vacancy left upon the death of Hugo Black, though ultimately withdrew himself from consideration due to concerns that he then would have to reveal his 12 year-old son was adopted.[2] The seat was ultimately filled by Lewis Powell.
His nomination garnered unexpected support from some civil rights advocates.[2]
References
- ↑ GPO-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf. Congressional Record. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Two references:
- Vitello, Paul (July 1, 2011). Richard H. Poff, Who Withdrew Court Bid, Dies at 87. The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- Brown, Emma (June 30, 2011). Richard H. Poff, Virginia congressman, dies at 87. The Washington Post. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ↑ VA District 6. Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ↑ Poff, Richard H.. Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ↑ HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ↑ HR 8601. PASSAGE.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ↑ H.R. 7152. PASSAGE.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ↑ TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR INTERFERENCE WITH CIVIL RIGHTS. INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON ENGAGED IN ONE OF THE 8 ACTIVITIES PROTECTED UNDER THIS BILL MUST BE RACIALLY MOTIVATED TO INCUR THE BILL'S PENALTIES.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ↑ TO PASS H.R. 6400, THE 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ↑ S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF POLL TAX AS A REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ↑ Rep. Richard Poff. GovTrack.us. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
