J. Caleb Boggs

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J. Caleb Boggs
U. S. Senator from Delaware
January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1973
Preceded by	J. Allen Frear, Jr.
Succeeded by	Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
Governor of Delaware
January 20, 1953 – December 30, 1960
Preceded by	Elbert N. Carvel
Succeeded by	David P. Buckson
U. S. Representative from Delaware
January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1953
Preceded by	Philip A. Traynor
Succeeded by	Herbert B. Warburton
Born	May 15, 1909 Cheswold, Delaware
Died	March 26, 1993 (aged 83) Wilmington, Delaware
Residence	Claymont, Delaware
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Elizabeth Muir
Profession	lawyer
Religion	Methodist

James Caleb "Cale" Boggs (May 15, 1909 – March 26, 1993) was an American lawyer and politician from Claymont, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a veteran of World War II, and a member of the Republican Party, who served three terms as U.S. Representative from Delaware, two terms as Governor of Delaware, and two terms as U.S. Senator from Delaware. He was known by his middle name.

Contents 1 Early life and family 2 United States Representative 3 Governor of Delaware 4 United States Senator 5 Death and legacy 6 Almanac 7 References 7.1 Images 8 External links 8.1 Places with more information

[edit] Early life and family

Boggs was born May 15, 1909 at Cheswold, Delaware, son of Edward Jefferson and Lettie Vaughn Boggs. He married Elizabeth Muir and had two children, J. C., Jr. and Marilu. They were members of the Methodist Church. He graduated from the University of Delaware in 1931 and from Georgetown University Law School in 1937. In 1938 he was admitted to the Bar and began the practice of law at Dover, Delaware. During World War II, he served with the 6th Armored Division fighting in Normandy, the Rhineland, the Ardennes and central Europe. He earned five Campaign Stars, the Legion of Merit, the Croix de Guerre with palm and the Bronze Star with cluster.

[edit] United States Representative

Boggs was appointed Associate Judge of the Family Court of New Castle County in 1946. He was elected to the U.S. Representatives in 1946, defeating incumbent Democrat U.S. Representative Philip A. Traynor, and won election three times in all, also defeating Democrats J. Carl McGuigan 1948, and Henry M. Winchester in 1950. He served from January 3, 1947 to January 3, 1953.

[edit] Governor of Delaware

Boggs was elected Governor of Delaware in 1952, defeating incumbent Democratic Governor Elbert N. Carvel, and won a second term in 1956, defeating Democrat J. H. Tyler McConnell. He served as Governor from January 20, 1953 to December 18, 1960, when he resigned to begin his U.S. Senate term.

[edit] United States Senator

Boggs was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1960, defeating incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator J. Allen Frear, Jr., and becoming the only Republican to defeat an incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator that year. He was again elected to the U.S. Senate in 1966, defeating Democrat James M. Tunnell, Jr., son of the former U.S. Senator. He served two terms from January 3, 1961 to January 3, 1973.

Boggs lost his bid for a third term in 1972 to Democrat Joseph R. Biden, Jr., a New Castle County Councilman. As U.S. Senator he supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In his last years he lived in Wilmington, Delaware where he continued the practice of law.

[edit] Death and legacy

Boggs died March 26, 1993 in Wilmington, Delaware, aged 83, and is buried at the Old Presbyterian Cemetery, Dover, Delaware. The J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building at 844 King Street in Wilmington, is named for him.

Among the many tributes received by his fellow Senators was the following from U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia: "On an objective, senatorial level, Senator Boggs was a militant, but rational environmentalist. A co-sponsor of the National Air Quality Standards Act of 1970, Senator Boggs helped to win congressional approval of this bill, which was signed into law by President Nixon. Further, Cale Boggs was a co-sponsor and helped to write the Water Quality Act of 1965. In 1970, Senator Boggs helped to strengthen State authority to prohibit sewage and pesticide discharge into rivers and lakes and to provide for coordinated Federal attacks on river and lake pollution in the Water Quality Act of 1970.

"Through those and other vital contributions in education, medicine, agriculture, transportation, and other domestic concerns, Senator Boggs left an enviable record of legislation aimed at improving the quality of life of all Americans and at widening opportunities for all of our citizens. But, above all, Cale Boggs will probably be best remembered by his friends still serving in the Senate and by the people of Delaware as a friend, a man of warm humanity, and as a gentleman who sought ever to set people at ease through his common touch and deep consideration of other people's feelings. Cale Boggs was a man whose friendship one easily sought and, once secured, was long treasured."

Delaware General Assembly (sessions while Governor)
Year	Assembly		Senate Majority	President pro tempore		House Majority	Speaker
1953-1954	117th		Republican	Thomas L. Johnson		Republican	Frank A. Jones
1955-1956	118th		Democratic	Charles G. Moore		Democratic	James R. Quigley
1957-1958	119th		Democratic	Lemuel Hickman		Democratic	Harry E. Mayhew
1959-1960	120th		Democratic	Allen J. Cook		Democratic	Sherman W. Tribbitt

[edit] Almanac

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of January, and has a four year term. U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives take office January 3rd, and have six year terms and two year terms, respectively.

Public Offices
Office	Type	Location	Elected	Term began	Term ended	notes
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	1946	January 3, 1947	January 3, 1949
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	1948	January 3, 1949	January 3, 1951
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	1950	January 3, 1951	January 3, 1953
Governor	Executive	Dover	1952	January 20, 1953	January 15, 1957
Governor	Executive	Dover	1956	January 15, 1957	December 30, 1960	resigned
U.S. Senator	Legislative	Washington	1960	January 3, 1961	January 3, 1967
U.S. Senator	Legislative	Washington	1966	January 3, 1967	January 3, 1973

United States Congress service
Dates	Congress	Chamber	Majority	President	Committees	Class/District
1947-1949	80th	U.S. House	Republican	Harry S. Truman		at-large
1949-1951	81st	U.S. House	Democratic	Harry S. Truman		at-large
1951-1953	82nd	U.S. House	Democratic	Harry S. Truman		at-large
1961-1963	87th	U.S. Senate	Democratic	John F. Kennedy		class 2
1963-1965	88th	U.S. Senate	Democratic	John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson		class 2
1965-1967	89th	U.S. Senate	Democratic	Lyndon B. Johnson		class 2
1967-1969	90th	U.S. Senate	Democratic	Lyndon B. Johnson		class 2
1969-1971	91st	U.S. Senate	Democratic	Richard M. Nixon		class 2
1971-1973	92nd	U.S. Senate	Democratic	Richard M. Nixon		class 2

Election results
Year	Office		Subject	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%
1946	U.S. Representative		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	63,516	56%		Philip A. Traynor	Democratic	49,105	44%
1948	U.S. Representative		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	71,127	51%		J. Carl McGuigan	Democratic	68,909	49%
1950	U.S. Representative		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	73,313	57%		Henry M. Winchester	Democratic	56,091	43%
1952	Governor		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	88,977	52%		Elbert N. Carvel	Democratic	81,772	48%
1956	Governor		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	91,965	52%		J. H. Tyler McConnell	Democratic	85,047	48%
1960	U.S. Senator		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	98,874	51%		J. Allen Frear, Jr.	Democratic	96,090	49%
1966	U.S. Senator		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	97,268	59%		James M. Tunnell, Jr.	Democratic	67,263	41%
1972	U.S. Senator		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	112,844	49%		Joseph R. Biden, Jr.	Democratic	116,006	50%

[edit] References

• Sobel, Robert; J. Racino (1988). Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789-1978. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-930466-00-4. 
• Davis, Ned (2000). Charles L. Terry. Wilmington, Delaware: Delaware Heritage Press. 0-924177-15-X. 
• Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6. 
• Martin, Roger (1997). Elbert N. Carvel. Wilmington, Delaware: Delaware Heritage Press. 0-924117-08-7. 
• Munroe, John A. (1993). History of Delaware. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-493-5. 
• Martin, Roger A. (1984). History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press. 
• Hoffecker, Carol E. (2000). Honest John Williams. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press. 
• Cohen, Celia (2002). Only in Delaware, Politics and Politicians in the First State. Newark, Delaware: Grapevine Publishing. 

[edit] Images

• Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress [1]
• Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery [2] Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover.

[edit] External links

• Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress [3]
• Delaware’s Governors [4]
• National Governors Association Biography [5]
• Political Graveyard [6]

[edit] Places with more information

• Historical Society of Delaware [7] 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161
• University of Delaware Library [8] 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965

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