Difference between revisions of "John McClellan"
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| serviceyears=1917–1919 | | serviceyears=1917–1919 | ||
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| battles=[[World War I]]}} | | battles=[[World War I]]}} | ||
'''John Little McClellan''' (February 25, 1896 – November 28, 1977) was a [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] member of the [[United States Senate]] from [[Arkansas]], with service extending from 1943 until his death, He was generally considered a [[conservative]] member of his party though he voted to censure his colleague, [[Joe McCarthy]] of [[Wisconsin]], in 1954 in opposition to the investigations of [[communist]] infiltration of the U.S. government. Nearly thirty-five years in office, McClellan is thus far the longest-serving senator in Arkansas history.<ref name=arkansas>{{cite web|publisher=The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture|title=John Little McClellan (1896–1977)|publisher=Encyclopediaofarkansas.net|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=1708|accessdate=October 2, 2012}}</ref> | '''John Little McClellan''' (February 25, 1896 – November 28, 1977) was a [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] member of the [[United States Senate]] from [[Arkansas]], with service extending from 1943 until his death, He was generally considered a [[conservative]] member of his party though he voted to censure his colleague, [[Joe McCarthy]] of [[Wisconsin]], in 1954 in opposition to the investigations of [[communist]] infiltration of the U.S. government. Nearly thirty-five years in office, McClellan is thus far the longest-serving senator in Arkansas history.<ref name=arkansas>{{cite web|publisher=The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture|title=John Little McClellan (1896–1977)|publisher=Encyclopediaofarkansas.net|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=1708|accessdate=October 2, 2012}}</ref> | ||
| − | A native of Sheridan in Grant County, McClellan was named for former Arkansas Governor John Sebastian Little. He graduated from high school at the age of twelve and studied law in his father's office and was admitted to the Arkansas bar when he was only seventeen. He served during [[World War I]] and thereafter practice law in Malvern in Hot Spring County. From 1935 to 1939, McClellan was a member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] for Arkansas' since disbanded 6th congressional district. As a House member, he voted against [[U.S. President]] [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]'s attempt in 1937 to enlarge the composition of the [[United States Supreme Court]]. In 1938, he challenged incumbent Senator Hattie Carraway, but he lost by some eight thousand votes in the Democratic primary. From 1939 to 1943, he practiced law in [[Camden, Arkansas|Camden]] in Ouachita County, Arkansas. He rebounded politically in 1942 to win his state's other Senate seat, which he held until his death. For much of his tenure, his senatorial colleague was [[J. William Fulbright]] of Fayetteville. In 1956, he and Fulbright joined other southern colleagues in signing the [[Southern Manifesto]], which opposed racial integration. | + | A native of Sheridan in Grant County, McClellan was named for former Arkansas Governor John Sebastian Little. He graduated from high school at the age of twelve and studied law in his father's office and was admitted to the Arkansas bar when he was only seventeen. He served during [[World War I]] and thereafter practice law in Malvern in Hot Spring County. From 1935 to 1939, McClellan was a member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] for Arkansas' since disbanded 6th congressional district. As a House member, he voted against [[U.S. President]] [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]'s attempt in 1937 to enlarge the composition of the [[United States Supreme Court]]. In 1938, he challenged incumbent Senator Hattie Carraway, but he lost by some eight thousand votes in the Democratic [[primary]]. From 1939 to 1943, he practiced law in [[Camden, Arkansas|Camden]] in Ouachita County, Arkansas. He rebounded politically in 1942 to win his state's other Senate seat, which he held until his death. For much of his tenure, his senatorial colleague was [[J. William Fulbright]] of Fayetteville. In 1956, he and Fulbright joined other southern colleagues in signing the [[Southern Manifesto]], which opposed racial integration. |
McClellan served as chairman of the Senate Committee on Government Operations for twenty-two years and as chairman of the [[Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations]] for eighteen years. When he became chair in 1955, he hired [[Robert F. Kennedy]] as the Committee's chief counsel. McClellan conducted more investigations than any other Senator including in areas such as organized crime, labor racketeering, fraudulent defense contracting, and campus unrest in the 1960s.<ref name=arkansas/> McClellan's investigation of entrepreneur [[Billie Sol Estes]] drew national headlines.<ref name=arkansas/> | McClellan served as chairman of the Senate Committee on Government Operations for twenty-two years and as chairman of the [[Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations]] for eighteen years. When he became chair in 1955, he hired [[Robert F. Kennedy]] as the Committee's chief counsel. McClellan conducted more investigations than any other Senator including in areas such as organized crime, labor racketeering, fraudulent defense contracting, and campus unrest in the 1960s.<ref name=arkansas/> McClellan's investigation of entrepreneur [[Billie Sol Estes]] drew national headlines.<ref name=arkansas/> | ||
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McClellan was the co-author of the 1976 Copyright Act, which was the first revision to that law in many decades.<ref name=arkansas/> | McClellan was the co-author of the 1976 Copyright Act, which was the first revision to that law in many decades.<ref name=arkansas/> | ||
| − | McClellan rarely faced a serious | + | McClellan rarely faced a serious challengers. He and two other colleagues, [[Allen J. Ellender]] of [[Louisiana]] and [[Richard Russell]] of [[Georgia]] ran unopposed in 1966. In his last election in 1972, he defeated U.S. Representative [[David Pryor]], also of Camden, in a closely-contested party primary. McClellan then dispatched a rare [[Republican Party|Republican]] challenge from the [[veterinarian]] and [[business]]man [[Wayne Babbitt]]. |
In 1955, McClellan was a "mystery guest" on the [[CBS]] game program ''What's My Line?''. | In 1955, McClellan was a "mystery guest" on the [[CBS]] game program ''What's My Line?''. | ||
Revision as of 18:00, March 6, 2021
| John Little McClellan | |
 | |
United States Senator
for Arkansas | |
| In office January 3, 1943 – November 28, 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Lloyd Spencer |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Kaneaster Hodges, Jr. (Interim for David Pryor) |
United States Representative for Arkansas' since defunct 6th congressional district
| |
| In office January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1939 | |
| Preceded by | David D. Glover |
| Succeeded by | William F. Norrell |
| Born | February 25, 1896 Sheridan, Grant County, Arkansas |
| Died | November 28, 1977 (aged 81) Little Rock, Arkansas]], U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democrat |
Military Service
| |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917–1919 |
| Rank | First Lieutenant |
| Unit | Army Signal Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
John Little McClellan (February 25, 1896 – November 28, 1977) was a Democratic member of the United States Senate from Arkansas, with service extending from 1943 until his death, He was generally considered a conservative member of his party though he voted to censure his colleague, Joe McCarthy of Wisconsin, in 1954 in opposition to the investigations of communist infiltration of the U.S. government. Nearly thirty-five years in office, McClellan is thus far the longest-serving senator in Arkansas history.[1]
A native of Sheridan in Grant County, McClellan was named for former Arkansas Governor John Sebastian Little. He graduated from high school at the age of twelve and studied law in his father's office and was admitted to the Arkansas bar when he was only seventeen. He served during World War I and thereafter practice law in Malvern in Hot Spring County. From 1935 to 1939, McClellan was a member of the United States House of Representatives for Arkansas' since disbanded 6th congressional district. As a House member, he voted against U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's attempt in 1937 to enlarge the composition of the United States Supreme Court. In 1938, he challenged incumbent Senator Hattie Carraway, but he lost by some eight thousand votes in the Democratic primary. From 1939 to 1943, he practiced law in Camden in Ouachita County, Arkansas. He rebounded politically in 1942 to win his state's other Senate seat, which he held until his death. For much of his tenure, his senatorial colleague was J. William Fulbright of Fayetteville. In 1956, he and Fulbright joined other southern colleagues in signing the Southern Manifesto, which opposed racial integration.
McClellan served as chairman of the Senate Committee on Government Operations for twenty-two years and as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations for eighteen years. When he became chair in 1955, he hired Robert F. Kennedy as the Committee's chief counsel. McClellan conducted more investigations than any other Senator including in areas such as organized crime, labor racketeering, fraudulent defense contracting, and campus unrest in the 1960s.[1] McClellan's investigation of entrepreneur Billie Sol Estes drew national headlines.[1]
McClellan was the co-author of the 1976 Copyright Act, which was the first revision to that law in many decades.[1]
McClellan rarely faced a serious challengers. He and two other colleagues, Allen J. Ellender of Louisiana and Richard Russell of Georgia ran unopposed in 1966. In his last election in 1972, he defeated U.S. Representative David Pryor, also of Camden, in a closely-contested party primary. McClellan then dispatched a rare Republican challenge from the veterinarian and businessman Wayne Babbitt.
In 1955, McClellan was a "mystery guest" on the CBS game program What's My Line?.
McClellan suffered many personal tragedies in his life, having lost to death his second wife and his three sons. He is interred at Roselawn Memorial Park in Little Rock.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 John Little McClellan (1896–1977). Encyclopediaofarkansas.net. Retrieved on October 2, 2012.