Difference between revisions of "Jeremiah Denton"
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| − | {{ | + | {{Infobox officeholder |
| − | |name=Jeremiah Denton | + | |name=Jeremiah Andrew Denton, Jr. |
| − | |image= | + | |image=Jeremiah Denton of AL.jpg |
| − | | | + | |office=[[United States Senator]] for [[Alabama]] |
| − | | | + | |term_start=January 3, 1981 |
| − | | | + | |term_end=January 3, 1987 |
| − | | | + | |preceded=Donald Wilbur Stewart |
| − | + | |succeeded=[[Richard Shelby]] | |
| − | + | |birth_date=July 15, 1924 | |
| − | + | |birth_place=[[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]], Alabama | |
| − | + | |death_date=March 28, 2014<br>(aged 89) | |
| − | + | |death_place=Virginia Beach, [[Virginia]] | |
| − | + | |resting_place=[[Arlington National Cemetery]] | |
| − | + | |party=[[Republican Party|Republican]] | |
| − | }} | + | |spouse =(1) Kathryn Jane Maury Denton<br> (married 1946-2007, her death)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23073935/kathryn-jane-denton|title=Kathryn Maury Denton|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=October 27, 2021}}</ref><br> |
| + | (2) Mary Bordone Denton<br> (married 2010-2014, his death) | ||
| + | |children=Seven children from first marriage<br> | ||
| + | '''Parents''':<br> | ||
| + | Jeremiah, Sr., and Irene Steele Denton | ||
| + | |alma_mater=[[United States Naval Academy]] (Bachelor of Science)<br> | ||
| + | [[George Washington University]] ([[Master of Arts]]) | ||
| + | |religion=[[Roman Catholic]] | ||
| + | |branch=[[United States Navy]] | ||
| + | |rank=Rear Admiral | ||
| + | |serviceyears=1946–1977 | ||
| + | |battles=[[World War II]]<br> | ||
| + | [[Vietnam War]] | ||
| + | |awards=Navy Cross<br> | ||
| + | Defense Distinguished Service Medal<br> | ||
| + | Navy Distinguished Service Medal<br> | ||
| + | Silver Star<br> | ||
| + | Distinguished Flying Cross<br> | ||
| + | [[Bronze Star]]<br> | ||
| + | Air Medal<br> | ||
| + | Navy Commendation Medal<br> | ||
| + | [[Purple Heart]] Medal<br> | ||
| + | Combat Action Ribbon<br> | ||
| + | Prisoner of War Medal<br> | ||
| + | World War II Victory Medal}} | ||
| − | '''Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr.''' | + | '''Jeremiah Andrew Denton, Jr.''' (July 15, 1924 – March 28, 2014), was an [[United States|American]] politician and [[United States Navy]] rear admiral and aviator and prisoner of war in [[World War II]] and the [[Vietnam War]] who subsequently served from 1981 to 1987 as the first [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[United States Senator]] since [[Reconstruction]] in his native [[Alabama]]. Admiral Denton was also the first [[Roman Catholic]] elected to statewide office in Alabama.<ref name=destroyer/> |
| − | == | + | ==Military service== |
| − | + | A native of [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]], Denton endured nearly eight years of grueling conditions as a [[prisoner of war]] in [[North Vietnam]] after his plane was shot down in 1965. He was the first of the American [[POW]]s held captive and released in February 1973. Denton was compelled by his captors to participate in a 1966 televised propaganda interview which was broadcast in the United States. While answering questions, Denton blinked his eyes in [[Morse code]] to spell the word "T-O-R-T-U-R-E." This confirmed to Naval Intelligence that American POWs were being tortured by the [[Communism|communists]].<ref name=findagrave>Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr. (1924-2014) - Find A Grave Memorial, accessed October 26, 2021.</ref> | |
| − | In | + | In 1976, Denton wrote about his time as a captive in his book ''When Hell Was in Session.'' In 1979, the actor Hal Holbrook portrayed Denton in a film about his experiences.<ref name=findagrave/> He was the subject of the 2015 documentary ''Jeremiah'' produced by Alabama [[Public Broadcasting Service]].<ref>Alabama Public Television Documentaries |JEREMIAH| PBS, accessed October 27, 2021.[https://aptv.org/watch/alabama-public-television-documentaries/alabama-public-television-documentaries-jeremiah/]</ref> |
| − | == | + | ==Political life== |
| − | + | In 1980, Denton was elected to the U.S. Senate. First, he easily defeated Armistead Inge Selden, Jr. (1921-1985), a [[primary]] rival supported by the [[Republican Party|GOP]] establishment. Then Denton defeated [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] James Elisha "Jim" Folsom, Jr. (born 1949), with 50.2 percent of the vote. Folson was subsequently [[governor]] for two years and the son of former Governor James Folsom, Sr. (1908-1987). Folsom had unseated the short-term Senator Donald Wilbur Stewart, who had won the seat in a [[special election]] in 1978 over fellow Democrat Maryon Pittman Allen (1925-2018), the widow of [[conservative]] Democratic Senator [[James B. Allen]]. He was aided in his election by the presence of [[Ronald Reagan]] heading the Republican presidential ticket against [[Jimmy Carter]] of neighboring [[Georgia]], where Republican [[Mack Mattingly]] unseated Democrat [[Herman Talmadge]]. | |
| − | + | ||
| + | In the Senate, he concentrated on family issues and worked for passage in 1981 of the Adolescent Family Life Act, often derided by critics as the "Chastity bill."<ref>'Teen-age Chastity Bill' designed to care for pregnant girls - UPI Archives, accessed October 27, 2021.</ref> Denton established the Coalition for Decency, which proposed to clean up [[television]] by urging [[boycott]]s of sponsors that promoted sexual promiscuity.<ref name=destroyer/> He also focused on national security as the chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism.<ref>Document - [https://ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/document-statement-senator-jeremiah-denton-subcommittee-security Statement by Senator Jeremiah Denton Before the Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism, February 2, 1983], Office of Justice Programs (ojp.gov), accessed October 27, 2021.</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 1986, a heavily Democrat year, he was narrowly unseated by then Democrat and later [[Moderate Republican]] [[Richard Shelby]], who retired in January 2023.<ref name=destroyer/> In that same election, however, conservative Republican Harold Guy Hunt (1933-2009) won the governor's race, reversing a large defeat eight years earlier. | ||
| + | |||
| + | From 1978 to 1980, Denton was a consultant to [[Pat Robertson]], founder of the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]]. | ||
| + | During his time with CBN, both Denton and Robertson repeatedly expressed support for the [[Contras|Contra]] forces which fought the [[Sandinista]] communists in [[Nicaragua]].<ref name=destroyer>DDG-129 USS Jeremiah Denton Arleigh Burke class Destroyer (seaforces.org), accessed October 27, 2021.</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Death and legacy== | ||
| + | Denton died at the age of eighty-nine in Virginia Beach, [[Virginia]], and is interred at [[Arlington National Cemetery]].<ref name=findagrave/> The ''USS Jeremiah Denton'' (DDG 129) is named in his honor.<ref name=destroyer/> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | {{reflist}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Denton, Jeremiah}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Denton, Jeremiah}} | ||
| − | [[Category:United States Politicians]] | + | [[Category:Alabama]] |
| + | [[Category:Virginia]] | ||
| + | [[Category:United States Navy]] | ||
| + | [[Category:World War II]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Vietnam War]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Prisoners of war]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Former United States Senators]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Republicans]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Conservatives]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Catholics]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Catholic Politicians]] | ||
Latest revision as of 00:21, October 16, 2024
| Jeremiah Andrew Denton, Jr. | |
 | |
| In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Donald Wilbur Stewart |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Richard Shelby |
| Born | July 15, 1924 Mobile, Alabama |
| Died | March 28, 2014 (aged 89) Virginia Beach, Virginia |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | (1) Kathryn Jane Maury Denton (married 1946-2007, her death)[1] (2) Mary Bordone Denton |
| Children | Seven children from first marriage Parents: |
| Alma mater | United States Naval Academy (Bachelor of Science) |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Military Service
| |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1946–1977 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Navy Cross Defense Distinguished Service Medal |
Jeremiah Andrew Denton, Jr. (July 15, 1924 – March 28, 2014), was an American politician and United States Navy rear admiral and aviator and prisoner of war in World War II and the Vietnam War who subsequently served from 1981 to 1987 as the first Republican United States Senator since Reconstruction in his native Alabama. Admiral Denton was also the first Roman Catholic elected to statewide office in Alabama.[2]
Military service
A native of Mobile, Denton endured nearly eight years of grueling conditions as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam after his plane was shot down in 1965. He was the first of the American POWs held captive and released in February 1973. Denton was compelled by his captors to participate in a 1966 televised propaganda interview which was broadcast in the United States. While answering questions, Denton blinked his eyes in Morse code to spell the word "T-O-R-T-U-R-E." This confirmed to Naval Intelligence that American POWs were being tortured by the communists.[3]
In 1976, Denton wrote about his time as a captive in his book When Hell Was in Session. In 1979, the actor Hal Holbrook portrayed Denton in a film about his experiences.[3] He was the subject of the 2015 documentary Jeremiah produced by Alabama Public Broadcasting Service.[4]
Political life
In 1980, Denton was elected to the U.S. Senate. First, he easily defeated Armistead Inge Selden, Jr. (1921-1985), a primary rival supported by the GOP establishment. Then Denton defeated Democrat James Elisha "Jim" Folsom, Jr. (born 1949), with 50.2 percent of the vote. Folson was subsequently governor for two years and the son of former Governor James Folsom, Sr. (1908-1987). Folsom had unseated the short-term Senator Donald Wilbur Stewart, who had won the seat in a special election in 1978 over fellow Democrat Maryon Pittman Allen (1925-2018), the widow of conservative Democratic Senator James B. Allen. He was aided in his election by the presence of Ronald Reagan heading the Republican presidential ticket against Jimmy Carter of neighboring Georgia, where Republican Mack Mattingly unseated Democrat Herman Talmadge.
In the Senate, he concentrated on family issues and worked for passage in 1981 of the Adolescent Family Life Act, often derided by critics as the "Chastity bill."[5] Denton established the Coalition for Decency, which proposed to clean up television by urging boycotts of sponsors that promoted sexual promiscuity.[2] He also focused on national security as the chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism.[6]
In 1986, a heavily Democrat year, he was narrowly unseated by then Democrat and later Moderate Republican Richard Shelby, who retired in January 2023.[2] In that same election, however, conservative Republican Harold Guy Hunt (1933-2009) won the governor's race, reversing a large defeat eight years earlier.
From 1978 to 1980, Denton was a consultant to Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network. During his time with CBN, both Denton and Robertson repeatedly expressed support for the Contra forces which fought the Sandinista communists in Nicaragua.[2]
Death and legacy
Denton died at the age of eighty-nine in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is interred at Arlington National Cemetery.[3] The USS Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129) is named in his honor.[2]
References
- ↑ Kathryn Maury Denton. Findagrave.com. Retrieved on October 27, 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 DDG-129 USS Jeremiah Denton Arleigh Burke class Destroyer (seaforces.org), accessed October 27, 2021.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr. (1924-2014) - Find A Grave Memorial, accessed October 26, 2021.
- ↑ Alabama Public Television Documentaries |JEREMIAH| PBS, accessed October 27, 2021.[1]
- ↑ 'Teen-age Chastity Bill' designed to care for pregnant girls - UPI Archives, accessed October 27, 2021.
- ↑ Document - Statement by Senator Jeremiah Denton Before the Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism, February 2, 1983, Office of Justice Programs (ojp.gov), accessed October 27, 2021.
