Changes

'''James Ray Caldwell''', known as '''Jim R. Caldwell''' (born 1936), is a retired [[Church of Christ]] minister in [[Tulsa]], [[Oklahoma]], who was a [[Republican]] member of the Arkansas State Senate from 1969 to 1978, the first member of his party to sit in the legislative upper chamber in the 20th century. His first two years as a senator corresponded with the second two-year term of [[Winthrop Rockefeller]], the first Arkansas Republican governor since [[Reconstruction]]. Caldwell acted as a point man for Rockefeller in the state Senate.

'''James Ray Caldwell''', known as '''Jim R. Caldwell''' (born 1936), is a retired [[Church of Christ]] minister in [[Tulsa]], [[Oklahoma]], who was a [[Republican Party|Republican]] member of the Arkansas State Senate from 1969 to 1978, the first member of his party to sit in the legislative upper chamber in the 20th century. His first two years as a senator corresponded with the second two-year term of [[Winthrop Rockefeller]], the first [[Arkansas]] Republican [[governor]] since [[Reconstruction]]. Caldwell acted as a point man for Rockefeller in the state Senate.

   

   

==Background==

==Background==

Caldwell was born in Dardanelle in Yell County in west central [[Arkansas]] to Reece E. Caldwell (1912-1971) and the former Oval Ermice Greene (1914-2000). He attended the first eleven years of school there but finished his senior year at Central High School in Tulsa. In 1958, he obtained a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in general studies from the Church of Christ-affiliated Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas. He received a [[Master of Science]] from [[Southern Methodist University]] in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], and pursued doctoral studies at the private University of Tulsa but did not complete the terminal degree. He was called to the ministry in 1956 . As a state senator, he was the  minister at the Southside Church of Christ in Rogers in Benton County in northwestern Arkansas. By happenstance, he began after-dinner speaking before various church and civic groups. For eight years before his return to Arkansas from Oklahoma, Caldwell served on stand-by in the Oklahoma Air National Guard. He and his wife, the former Laferne Muller, have four daughters.<ref name=statement>Statement of James Ray Caldwell, Tulsa, [[Oklahoma]], April 2010</ref>

Caldwell was born in Dardanelle in Yell County in west central Arkansas to Reece E. Caldwell (1912-1971) and the former Oval Ermice Greene (1914-2000). He attended the first eleven years of school there but finished his senior year at Central High School in Tulsa. In 1958, he obtained a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in general studies from the Church of Christ-affiliated Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas. He received a [[Master of Science]] from [[Southern Methodist University]] in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], and pursued doctoral studies at the private University of Tulsa but did not complete the terminal degree. He was called to the ministry in 1956 . As a state senator, he was the  minister at the Southside Church of Christ in Rogers in Benton County in northwestern Arkansas. By happenstance, he began after-dinner speaking before various church and civic groups. For eight years before his return to Arkansas from Oklahoma, Caldwell served on stand-by in the Oklahoma Air National Guard. He and his wife, the former Laferne Muller, have four daughters.<ref name=statement>Statement of James Ray Caldwell, Tulsa, [[Oklahoma]], April 2010.</ref>

==Arkansas legislative politics==

==Arkansas legislative politics==

A [[Democrat]]-turned-Republican, Caldwell was first elected to the Senate from Benton and Carroll counties in 1968, when he unseated the Democratic incumbent Russell Elrod (1904-1985) of Siloam Springs. In 1972 and 1974, Caldwell topped two other Democrats, Bill Nelson of Rogers and Rex Bolin, an insurance agent from Bentonville, to secure a two-year and  four-year term, respectively.<ref>State of Arkansas, Membership list, Arkansas State Senate</ref>

A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]]-turned-Republican, Caldwell was first elected to the Senate from Benton and Carroll counties in 1968, when he unseated the Democratic incumbent Russell Elrod (1904-1985) of Siloam Springs. In 1972 and 1974, Caldwell topped two other Democrats, Bill Nelson of Rogers and Rex Bolin, an insurance agent from Bentonville, to secure a two-year and  four-year term, respectively.<ref>State of Arkansas, Membership list, Arkansas State Senate</ref>

In the 1969 legislative session, Caldwell followed Rockefeller’s lead in supporting the legalization of the sale of mixed drinks when approved through local-option elections. As a minister, Caldwell lectured against the use of liquor, but as a legislator he deemed the issue best settled locally.<ref>Cathy K. Urwin, ''Agenda for Reform: Winthrop Rockefeller as Governor of Arkansas, 1967-71'' (Fayetteville, Arkansas: [[University of Arkansas]] Press, 1991), p. 122</ref>  

In the 1969 legislative session, Caldwell followed Rockefeller’s lead in supporting the legalization of the sale of mixed drinks when approved through local-option elections. As a minister, Caldwell lectured against the use of liquor, but as a legislator he deemed the issue best settled locally.<ref>Cathy K. Urwin, ''Agenda for Reform: Winthrop Rockefeller as Governor of Arkansas, 1967-71'' (Fayetteville, Arkansas: [[University of Arkansas]] Press, 1991), p. 122</ref>  

   

   

Like legislative colleagues [[Danny L. Patrick]] of Madison County and [[Jim Sheets]] of Benton County and the GOP functionary Len Blaylock of Perry County, Caldwell recalls having become personally friendly with Orval Faubus, whom he met in 1970 during the unsuccessful Rockefeller reelection campaign. According to Caldwell, the former governor asked him in the early 1990s to preach Faubus' funeral. However, upon Faubus’ death on December 14, 1994, Caldwell deferred to sitting Governor Jim Guy Tucker, who asked to deliver the main address as Faubus’ body lay in state at the Arkansas capitol.<ref>''Arkansas Outlook'', October 1975</ref>

Like legislative colleagues [[Danny L. Patrick]] of Madison County and [[Jim Sheets]] of Benton County and the GOP functionary Len Blaylock of Perry County, Caldwell recalls having become personally friendly with Orval Faubus, whom he met in 1970 during the unsuccessful Rockefeller reelection campaign. According to Caldwell, the former governor asked him in the early 1990s to preach Faubus' funeral. However, upon Faubus’ death on December 14, 1994, Caldwell deferred to sitting Governor Jim Guy Tucker, who asked to deliver the main address as Faubus’ body lay in state at the Arkansas capitol.<ref>''Arkansas Outlook'', October 1975</ref>

==Later years==

==Later years==

   

   

Caldwell did not seek reelection in 1978 and was succeeded by the Democrat, later Republican convert, Kim D. Hendren of Gravette in Benton County.<ref>Kim Hendren (born 1938) is a brother-in-law of former U.S. Senator [[Tim Hutchinson]] and former U.S. Representative [[Asa Hutchinson]]. Hendren himself lost a bid in 2010 for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.</ref> At some point thereafter, Caldwell, like legislative colleague [[George E. Nowotny, Jr.]], of Fort Smith, relocated to Oklahoma, and their paths never crossed while both were residing in Tulsa. Each lost contact with former colleagues in Arkansas.<ref>Statement of James R. Caldwell, Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 2010; Statement of George E. Nowotny, Jr. of Tulsa, June 2009</ref> Stricken with Parkinson’s disease, Caldwell in 2010 was writing an autobiography of his ministry and political career entitled ''Behind Closed Doors.''<ref name=statement/>

Caldwell did not seek reelection in 1978 and was succeeded by the Democrat, later Republican convert, [[Kim D. Hendren]] of Gravette in Benton County.<ref>Kim Hendren (born 1938) is a brother-in-law of former U.S. Senator [[Tim Hutchinson]] and former U.S. Representative [[Asa Hutchinson]]. Hendren himself lost a bid in 2010 for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.</ref> At some point thereafter, Caldwell, like legislative colleague [[George E. Nowotny, Jr.]], of Fort Smith, relocated to Oklahoma, and their paths never crossed while both were residing in Tulsa. Each lost contact with former colleagues in Arkansas.<ref>Statement of James R. Caldwell, Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 2010; Statement of George E. Nowotny, Jr. of Tulsa, June 2009.</ref> Stricken with Parkinson’s disease, Caldwell in 2010 was writing an autobiography of his ministry and political career entitled ''Behind Closed Doors.''<ref name=statement/>

In 2003, Caldwell was honored at a dinner by then Governor [[Mike Huckabee]] for Caldwell's role in sponsoring legislation during the 1970s to expand the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences at Little Rock.<ref name=statement/> Journalist Douglas Smith, formerly of the ''Arkansas Gazette'', described Caldwell as “liberally-minded. I thought highly of him."<ref>Statement of Douglas Smith, Little Rock, Arkansas, December 12, 2011</ref>   

In 2003, Caldwell was honored at a dinner by then Governor [[Mike Huckabee]] for Caldwell's role in sponsoring legislation during the 1970s to expand the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences at Little Rock.<ref name=statement/> Journalist Douglas Smith, formerly of the ''Arkansas Gazette'', described Caldwell as “liberally-minded. I thought highly of him."<ref>Statement of Douglas Smith, Little Rock, Arkansas, December 12, 2011.</ref>   

Rockefeller had few members of his own party to guide his programs through the legislature. Eleven Rockefeller [[veto]]es were overridden, far more than for other Arkansas governors.<ref>Diane Divers Blair (1938-2000) and Jay L. Barth (born 1939), ''Arkansas Government and Politics'', 2nd ed. ([[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]], [[Nebraska]]:  University of Nebraska Press, 2005), p. 71</ref> He was at the beckoning of Democrats, who ultimately determined the fate of his programs. One of those Democrats, House Speaker [[Sterling R. Cockrill]], provided assistance to Rockefeller and in 1970 even joined the Republican Party and ran for lieutenant governor when Maurice L. "Footsie" Britt decided against seeking a third term.<ref>“The Conscience of an Arkansan,” Pamphlet from the 1970 campaignof Sterling Cockrill for Lieutenant Governor</ref>

Rockefeller had few members of his own party to guide his programs through the legislature. Eleven Rockefeller [[veto]]es were overridden, far more than for other Arkansas governors.<ref>Diane Divers Blair (1938-2000) and Jay L. Barth (born 1939), ''Arkansas Government and Politics'', 2nd ed. ([[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]], [[Nebraska]]:  University of Nebraska Press, 2005), p. 71.</ref> He was at the beckoning of Democrats, who ultimately determined the fate of his programs. One of those Democrats, House Speaker [[Sterling R. Cockrill]], provided assistance to Rockefeller and in 1970 even joined the Republican Party and ran for lieutenant governor when Maurice L. "Footsie" Britt decided against seeking a third term.<ref>“The Conscience of an Arkansan,” Pamphlet from the 1970 campaignof Sterling Cockrill for Lieutenant Governor</ref>

   

   

The Arkansas GOP found it difficult to function without Rockefeller’s financial asupport.  As time passed, one might conclude that the state GOP had made only minimal progress in its political mission though some of the “good government” programs that it had championed were adopted under Rockefeller and in subsequent administrations beginning with his immediate successor, [[Dale Bumpers]]. In time, the GOP moved beyond Rockefeller’s legacy to reflect the pattern of Republican growth in most other southern states, more conservative and less moderate than Rockefeller and Caldwell had championed in Arkansas.<ref>Blair and Barth, ''Arkansas Politics and Government'', pp. 71-72</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/wr-the-progressive/Content?oid=2177478|title=Ernest Clifton Dumas, "WR, the progressive"|publisher=arktimes.com|accessdate=June 3, 2012}}</ref>

The Arkansas GOP found it difficult to function without Rockefeller’s financial asupport.  As time passed, one might conclude that the state GOP had made only minimal progress in its political mission though some of the “good government” programs that it had championed were adopted under Rockefeller and in subsequent administrations beginning with his immediate successor, [[Dale Bumpers]]. In time, the GOP moved beyond Rockefeller’s legacy to reflect the pattern of Republican growth in most other southern states, more conservative and less moderate than Rockefeller and Caldwell had championed in Arkansas.<ref>Blair and Barth, ''Arkansas Politics and Government'', pp. 71-72</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/wr-the-progressive/Content?oid=2177478|title=Ernest Clifton Dumas, "WR, the progressive"|publisher=arktimes.com|accessdate=June 3, 2012}}</ref>

==References==

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Arkansas]]

[[Category:Arkansas]]

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Republican Party]]

[[Category:State Senators]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Oklahoma]]

[[Category:Oklahoma]]

[[Category:Clergy]]

[[Category:Clergy]]