Changes

In the 1946 Senate race in [[Mississippi]], incumbent Democrat racist demagogue [[Theodore Gilmore Bilbo]] threatened and intimidated blacks during his re-election campaign, leading to calls for him being blocked from taking his Senate seat following the general election.<ref name=senate.gov>[https://www.cop.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/contested_elections/126Theodore_Bilbo.htm The Election Case of Theodore G. Bilbo of Mississippi (1947)]. ''United States Senate''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> The Senate GOP in that midterm cycle had just gained a majority, and, amidst petitions filed against Bilbo, moved to halt the latter.<ref name=bilbo.pdf>Fleegler, Robert L. [http://www.mississippihistory.org/sites/default/files/bilbo.pdf Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism, 1938-1947]. ''Mississippi Historical Society''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> However, prior to the start of the new Congress on January 3, 1947, the Senate committees were still controlled by the Democratic Party, including one which the case was referred to. It consisted of five members, three being Southern Democrats ([[Allen J. Ellender]] of Louisiana, Burnet Maybank of [[South Carolina]], and Elmer Thomas of [[Oklahoma]]) and two being conservative Republicans ([[Bourke Hickenlooper]] of [[Iowa]] and [[Styles Bridges]] of [[New Hampshire]]).<ref name=bilbo.pdf/> Ellender, the chair of the committee, defended the racist voter suppression as a result of "tradition" rather than Bilbos' rhetoric,<ref name=senate.gov/> and the committee voted 3–2 on party lines to clear Bilbo.<ref name=bilbo.pdf/> However, the GOP-led 80th Congress still budged in refusal to seat Bilbo. Overton then introduced two motions that would allow Bilbo to be seated as investigations continued; this was due to the fact that ''expelling'' a ''seated'' senator required an unobtainable two-thirds majority rather than merely a simple majority.<ref name=bilbo.pdf/> Both motions were tabled, with all Republicans and less than half of Democrats voting to kill the Overton motions.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/80-1947/s2 S RES 1. WHITE MOTION THAT THE OATH OF OFFICE BE ADMINIS- TERED TO BREWSTER. TAFT MOTION TO TABLE OVERTON MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE THE NAME OF BILBO.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/80-1947/s1 S RES 1. RESOLUTION TO REFER TO RULES COMMITTEE BILBO'S CLAIM TO A SENATE SEAT. OVERTON AMEND. TO PERMIT OATH TO BE ADMINISTERED TO BILBO. TAFT MOTION TO TABLE BOTH RESOLUTION AND AMEND.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> Bilbo ultimately did not take his seat due to health issues, and ultimately died of mouth cancer later in 1947 following decades of spewing virulent, demagogic racism.

In the 1946 Senate race in [[Mississippi]], incumbent Democrat racist demagogue [[Theodore Gilmore Bilbo]] threatened and intimidated blacks during his re-election campaign, leading to calls for him being blocked from taking his Senate seat following the general election.<ref name=senate.gov>[https://www.cop.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/contested_elections/126Theodore_Bilbo.htm The Election Case of Theodore G. Bilbo of Mississippi (1947)]. ''United States Senate''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> The Senate GOP in that midterm cycle had just gained a majority, and, amidst petitions filed against Bilbo, moved to halt the latter.<ref name=bilbo.pdf>Fleegler, Robert L. [http://www.mississippihistory.org/sites/default/files/bilbo.pdf Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism, 1938-1947]. ''Mississippi Historical Society''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> However, prior to the start of the new Congress on January 3, 1947, the Senate committees were still controlled by the Democratic Party, including one which the case was referred to. It consisted of five members, three being Southern Democrats ([[Allen J. Ellender]] of Louisiana, Burnet Maybank of [[South Carolina]], and Elmer Thomas of [[Oklahoma]]) and two being conservative Republicans ([[Bourke Hickenlooper]] of [[Iowa]] and [[Styles Bridges]] of [[New Hampshire]]).<ref name=bilbo.pdf/> Ellender, the chair of the committee, defended the racist voter suppression as a result of "tradition" rather than Bilbos' rhetoric,<ref name=senate.gov/> and the committee voted 3–2 on party lines to clear Bilbo.<ref name=bilbo.pdf/> However, the GOP-led 80th Congress still budged in refusal to seat Bilbo. Overton then introduced two motions that would allow Bilbo to be seated as investigations continued; this was due to the fact that ''expelling'' a ''seated'' senator required an unobtainable two-thirds majority rather than merely a simple majority.<ref name=bilbo.pdf/> Both motions were tabled, with all Republicans and less than half of Democrats voting to kill the Overton motions.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/80-1947/s2 S RES 1. WHITE MOTION THAT THE OATH OF OFFICE BE ADMINIS- TERED TO BREWSTER. TAFT MOTION TO TABLE OVERTON MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE THE NAME OF BILBO.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/80-1947/s1 S RES 1. RESOLUTION TO REFER TO RULES COMMITTEE BILBO'S CLAIM TO A SENATE SEAT. OVERTON AMEND. TO PERMIT OATH TO BE ADMINISTERED TO BILBO. TAFT MOTION TO TABLE BOTH RESOLUTION AND AMEND.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved July 23, 2021.</ref> Bilbo ultimately did not take his seat due to health issues, and ultimately died of mouth cancer later in 1947 following decades of spewing virulent, demagogic racism.

===Death in office===

====Death in office====

Overton was admitted to Bethesda Naval Hospital for a stomach obstruction in 1948; an emergency surgery performed on him proved to be of little help, and he died on May 14.<ref name=knoxvillefocus/> He is interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery, located in the city of Pineville.

Overton was admitted to Bethesda Naval Hospital for a stomach obstruction in 1948; an emergency surgery performed on him proved to be of little help, and he died on May 14.<ref name=knoxvillefocus/> He is interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery, located in the city of Pineville.