Harris B. McDowell, Jr.
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| Harris B. McDowell, Jr. | |
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| U.S. Representative from Delaware | |
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| Born | February 10, 1906 Middletown, Delaware |
| Died | November 1988 Middletown, Delaware |
| Residence | Middletown, Delaware |
| Political party | Democratic |
Harris Brown McDowell, Jr. (February 10, 1906 – November 1988) was an American farmer and politician from Middletown, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and five terms as U. S. Representative from Delaware.
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[edit] Early life and family
McDowell was born February 10, 1906 near Middletown, Delaware. He attended the public schools of Middletown, and graduated from Beacom Business College in Wilmington. He lived in Middletown, was engaged in farming, also in the insurance and real estate business, and was a member of the State Board of Agriculture from 1937 until 1940.
[edit] Political career
McDowell served in the State House during the 1941/42 session and then in the State Senate for the 1943/44 and 1945/46 sessions. During those years he was a director of Interstate Milk Producers Cooperative and member of Delaware Farm Bureau from 1941 until 1948. He served as Secretary of State for Delaware during Governor Elbert N. Carvel's first term, from 1949 until 1953 and was a member of New Castle County Zoning Commission in 1953 and 1954.
McDowell was elected to the U.S. Representatives in 1954, defeating Republican Lillian I. Martin. During this term, he served with the Democratic majority in the 84th Congress. He lost his bid for a second term in 1956 to Republican Harry G. Haskell, Jr.. McDowell then was elected again to the U.S. Representatives in 1958, defeating incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Harry G. Haskell, Jr., and won election three more times, also defeating Republicans James T. McKinstry in 1960, Wilmer F. Williams in 1962, and James H. Snowden in 1964. During these terms, he served with the Democratic majority in the 86th, 87th, 88th, and 89th Congress. Finally, he lost bids for a sixth term in 1968 and 1970 to William V. Roth, Jr., then a Wilmington lawyer. His support of President Lyndon Johnson's war policies may have contributed to his defeat. In all, he served twice, once from January 3, 1955 until January 3, 1957, and again from January 3, 1959 until January 3, 1967, during the administrations of U.S. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson.
[edit] Death and legacy
McDowell died November 1988 in Middletown, Delaware and is buried in the Forest Cemetery there. His son, Harris B. McDowell, III, is now the Majority Leader in the Delaware State Senate.
| Political Offices | ||
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| Preceded by: Herbert B. Warburton |
U.S. Representative from Delaware (at-large) January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1957 |
Succeeded by: Harry G. Haskell, Jr. |
| Preceded by: Harry G. Haskell, Jr. |
U.S. Representative from Delaware (at-large) January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1967 |
Succeeded by: William V. Roth, Jr. |
[edit] Public offices
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. U.S. Representatives take office January 3rd, and have two year terms.
| Office | Type | Location | Elected | Took Office | Left Office | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Representative | Legislature | Dover | 1940 | January 3, 1941 | January 3, 1943 | |
| State Senator | Legislature | Dover | 1942 | January 3, 1943 | January 3, 1947 | |
| U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | 1954 | January 3, 1955 | January 3, 1957 | |
| U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | 1958 | January 3, 1959 | January 3, 1961 | |
| U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | 1960 | January 3, 1961 | January 3, 1963 | |
| U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | 1962 | January 3, 1963 | January 3, 1965 | |
| U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | 1964 | January 3, 1965 | January 3, 1967 |
[edit] Election results
| Year | Office | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | U.S. House | Harris B. McDowell, Jr. | Democratic | 79,201 | 55% | Lillian I. Martin | Republican | 65,035 | 45% | ||
| 1956 | U.S. House | Harris B. McDowell, Jr. | Democratic | 84,644 | 48% | Harry G. Haskell, Jr. | Republican | 91,538 | 52% | ||
| 1958 | U.S. House | Harris B. McDowell, Jr. | Democratic | 76,797 | 50% | Harry G. Haskell, Jr. | Republican | 76,099 | 50% | ||
| 1960 | U.S. House | Harris B. McDowell, Jr. | Democratic | 98,227 | 50% | James T. McKinstry | Republican | 96,337 | 50% | ||
| 1962 | U.S. House | Harris B. McDowell, Jr. | Democratic | 81,166 | 53% | Wilmer F. Williams | Republican | 71,934 | 47% | ||
| 1964 | U.S. House | Harris B. McDowell, Jr. | Democratic | 112,361 | 57% | James H. Snowden | Republican | 86,254 | 43% | ||
| 1966 | U.S. House | Harris B. McDowell, Jr. | Democratic | 72,142 | 44% | William V. Roth, Jr. | Republican | 90,961 | 56% | ||
| 1968 | U.S. House | Harris B. McDowell, Jr. | Democratic | 82,993 | 41% | William V. Roth, Jr. | Republican | 117,827 | 59% |
[edit] References
- Martin, Roger (1997). Elbert N. Carvel. Wilmington, Delaware: Delaware Heritage Press. 0-924117-08-7.
- Hoffecker, Carol E. (2000). Honest John Williams. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press.
- Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, Delaware: Roger A. Martin.
- Cohen, Celia (2002). Only in Delaware, Politics and Politicians in the First State. Newark, Delaware: Grapevine Publishing.
[edit] External links
- Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress [1]
- Delaware’s Members of Congress [2]
- Political Graveyard [3]
[edit] Places with more information
- Historical Society of Delaware [4] 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161
- University of Delaware Library [5] 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965
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