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'''Edwin Leard “Big Ed”'''<ref name=nytimes>The Associated Press (November 30, 2002). [https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/30/us/edwin-mechem-90-a-governor-of-new-mexico.html Edwin Mechem, 90, a Governor of New Mexico]. ''Associated Press'' via ''The New York Times''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref><ref name=alamogordonews>Simonich, Milan (December 24, 2011). [https://web.archive.org/web/20141010180517/http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_19615338 Bill to name courthouse for Edwin Mechem]. ''Alamogordo Daily News'' via ''Internet Archive''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> '''Mechem''' (July 2, 1912 – November 27, 2002) was an [[FBI]] agent and [[Republican]] from [[New Mexico]] who served as the state's governor and U.S. senator, previously being a state representative. He was later appointed by President [[Richard Nixon]] to a district court in 1970.

'''Edwin Leard “Big Ed”'''<ref name=nytimes>The Associated Press (November 30, 2002). [https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/30/us/edwin-mechem-90-a-governor-of-new-mexico.html Edwin Mechem, 90, a Governor of New Mexico]. ''Associated Press'' via ''The New York Times.'' Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref><ref name=alamogordonews>Simonich, Milan (December 24, 2011). [https://web.archive.org/web/20141010180517/http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_19615338 Bill to name courthouse for Edwin Mechem]. ''Alamogordo Daily News'' via ''Internet Archive''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> '''Mechem''' (July 2, 1912 – November 27, 2002) was an [[FBI]] agent and [[Republican PartyRepublican}]] from [[New Mexico]] who served as the state's [[governor]] and [[U.S. Senator]], previously being a state representative. He was later appointed [[U.S. President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]] to a district court in 1970.

==Early life and education==

==Early life and education==

Mechem was born in southern New Mexico and grew up attending schools in [[Las Cruces]] and Alamagordo. He later went to New Mexico A&M University, where he belonged to the Alpha Delta Theta Fraternity.

Mechem was born in southern New Mexico and grew up attending schools in [[Las Cruces]] and Alamogordo. He later went to New Mexico A&M University, where he belonged to the Alpha Delta Theta Fraternity.

Working as a land surveyor in his early career, he later attended the [[University of Arkansas]] and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1939. Mechem also worked as for the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] during the early 1940s before being elected to public office.

Working as a land surveyor in his early career, he later attended the [[University of Arkansas]] and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1939. Mechem also worked as for the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] during the early 1940s before being elected to public office.

===Governor of New Mexico===

===Governor of New Mexico===

Mechem successfully ran for governor in 1950,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=173704 NM Governor]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> and was re-elected in 1952.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=173705 NM Governor]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> After a failed Senate bid in 1954,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=91487 NM US Senate]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> he was elected governor again in 1956,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=173707 NM Governor]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> defeating Democrat incumbent John Field Simms, Jr.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/12/archives/john-f-simms-58-exgovernor-dies-new-mexico-democrat-won-with.html JOHN F. SIMMS, 58, EX‐GOVERNOR, DIES]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> Very narrowly defeated for re-election in 1958,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=173708 NM Governor]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> he ran yet again and won in 1960.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174477 NM Governor]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref>

Mechem successfully ran for governor in 1950,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=173704 NM Governor]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> and was re-elected in 1952.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=173705 NM Governor]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> After a failed Senate bid in 1954,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=91487 NM US Senate]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> he was elected governor again in 1956,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=173707 NM Governor]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> having defeated [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] incumbent John Field Simms, Jr.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/12/archives/john-f-simms-58-exgovernor-dies-new-mexico-democrat-won-with.html JOHN F. SIMMS, 58, EX‐GOVERNOR, DIES]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> Very narrowly defeated for re-election in 1958,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=173708 NM Governor]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> he ran yet again and won in 1960.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174477 NM Governor]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref>

As governor, Mechem worked to investigate the murder of Ovida "Cricket" Coogler, a waitress from Las Cruces.<ref name=alamogordonews/> However, the case was never solved.

As governor, Mechem worked to investigate the murder of Ovida "Cricket" Coogler, a waitress from Las Cruces.<ref name=alamogordonews/> However, the case remains unsolved.

===U.S. Senate===

===U.S. Senate===

After the death of incumbent Democrat senator Dennis Chavez, Gov. Mechem appointed himself to fill the vacant seat.

After the death of incumbent Democrat senator Dennis Chavez, Gov. Mechem appointed himself to fill the vacant seat.

Mechem was one of six Senate Republicans (the others being [[Barry Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]], [[Bourke Hickenlooper]] of [[Iowa]], [[Milward Simpson]] of [[Wyoming]], [[Norris Cotton]] of [[New Hampshire]], and [[John Tower]] of [[Texas]]) who voted against the final passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]].<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/s409 HR. 7152. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> He asserted that his objections were towards the sections of the legislation regarding fair employment and public accommodations.<ref>[https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0619.html Civil Rights Bill Passed, 73-27; Johnson Urges All To Comply; Dirksen Berates Goldwater]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved May 23, 2021.</ref> Mechem ran for a full Senate term that year, losing in the general election to Joseph M. Montoya by nine percentage points.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=29031 NM US Senate]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref>

Mechem was one of six Senate Republicans (the others being [[Barry Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]], [[Bourke Hickenlooper]] of [[Iowa]], [[Milward Simpson]] of [[Wyoming]], [[Norris Cotton]] of [[New Hampshire]], and [[John Tower]] of [[Texas]]) who voted against the final passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]].<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/s409 HR. 7152. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> He asserted that his objections were towards the sections of the legislation regarding fair employment and public accommodations.<ref>[https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0619.html Civil Rights Bill Passed, 73-27; Johnson Urges All To Comply; Dirksen Berates Goldwater]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved May 23, 2021.</ref> Mechem ran for a full Senate term that year but lost the [[general election]] by nine percentage points to the [[liberal]] Democrat Joseph M. Montoya.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=29031 NM US Senate]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref>

He missed 10% of all roll call votes during his short Senate tenure.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/edwin_mechem/407612 Sen. Edwin Mechem]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref>

He missed 10 percent of all roll call votes during his short Senate tenure.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/edwin_mechem/407612 Sen. Edwin Mechem]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref>

===District court===

===District court===