Edward Brooke
Edward Brooke | |||
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Former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts From: January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1979 | |||
Predecessor | Leverett Saltonstall | ||
Successor | Paul Tsongas | ||
Former Attorney General of Massachusetts From: January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1967 | |||
Predecessor | Edward McCormack | ||
Successor | Ed Martin | ||
Information | |||
Party | Republican | ||
Spouse(s) | Remigia Ferrari-Scacco (div. 1979) Anne Brooke | ||
Religion | Episcopalian |
Edward William Brooke III (October 26, 1919 – January 3, 2015) was an American politician who served as a Republican Senator from Massachusetts. He was the first African American elected to the Senate by popular vote.
Brooke was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004. He died in 2015 at the age of 95 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Early life and career
Brooke was born in Washington, D.C. and attended public schools. He graduated from Howard University in 1941 and Boston University Law School in 1948. He served as a captain in the United States Army, serving in the European theatre.
Political career
He settled in Massachusetts and held offices in Boston before being elected Massachusetts attorney general in 1962 (re-elected in 1964). He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1966 and re-elected in 1972. He lost re-election 1978 to Democrat Paul Tsongas.
External links
- Edward William Brooke III bio via Biographical Directory of the United States Congress