Thomas Ellsworth Martin
| Thomas E. Martin | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Former U.S. Senator from Iowa From: January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1961 | |||
| Predecessor | Guy Mark Gillette | ||
| Successor | Jack Richard Miller | ||
| Former U.S. Representative from Iowa's 1st Congressional District From: January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1955 | |||
| Predecessor | Edward C. Eicher | ||
| Successor | Frederick Schwengel | ||
| Information | |||
| Party | Republican | ||
| Spouse(s) | Dorris Jeanette Brownlee | ||
| Military Service | |||
| Allegiance | United States | ||
| Rank | First Lieutenant | ||
| Battles/wars | World War I | ||
Thomas Ellsworth Martin (January 18, 1893 – June 27, 1971), usually referred to as Thomas E. Martin, was a Republican from Iowa who served as the state's U.S. representative and senator from the late 1930s to the early 1960s. He is particularly known for having shifted his position on foreign aid during his long congressional tenure.
Contents
Early life and career
Martin was born in Melrose, Iowa (located in Monroe County) and attended public schools. After graduating from Albia High School, he attended the State University of Iowa and graduated from the latter with a degree in accounting in 1916.
During World War I, Martin served in the 35th Infantry. Following the war, he moved to Iowa City and taught military tactics/science at the State University of Iowa for two years. After obtaining a law degree, he was admitted to the bar and became an attorney. Martin was also involved in a number of civic activities.
Political career
U.S. House of Representatives
Martin was elected to the House of Representatives in the 1938 midterms, defeating Democrat James P. Goffney by sixteen percentage points.[1] He would be re-elected seven times before retiring to successfully seek election to Iowa's Class II Senate seat.[2]
On July 27, 1953, Martin was among the forty-nine establishment/Moderate Republicans who voted against a resolution to re-enact the House Select Committee to Investigate Tax-Exempt Foundations and Comparable Organizations.[3] It still managed to pass by a 209–163 vote, with support from the large majority of mostly conservative Republicans and some Southern Democrats. Of the Iowa congressional delegation, only Martin voted "nay" on the measure.
U.S. Senate
Martin was elected to the Senate in 1954,[4] defeating incumbent Democrat Guy Gillette by just under five percentage points.[5] While the race initially appeared to be in Gillette's favor, Martin traveled over 150,000 miles throughout the state in a strong campaign which proved to be effective. He attributed his general election victory to support from farmers and President Dwight Eisenhower's ending of the Korean War.[4]
Martin, like his conservative Republican colleague Bourke B. Hickenlooper, voted for the Civil Rights Acts of 1957[6] and 1960.[7]
Despite fiercely opposing foreign aid in the House, Martin supported such during his Senate tenure, noting its importance for the Eisenhower Administration's foreign policy and emphasizing his support for the president.
Martin became the subject of controversy in 1959 after it was unearthed that his immediate family had been on his staff payroll and that his own payroll was higher than that of his senior colleague Hickenlooper. While initially refusing to provide any answers, he made a disclosure after being criticized by the Des Moines Register. He did not run for re-election in 1960 and was succeeded by fellow Republican Jack R. Miller.
See also
- George A. Wilson, former Republican governor of Iowa
References
- ↑ IA District 1 Race - Nov 08, 1938. Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ↑ Candidate - Thomas E. Martin. Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ↑ H RES 217. RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO CON- DUCT A FULL AND COMPLETE INVESTIGATION AND STUDY OF EDUCA- TIONAL AND PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATIONS AND OTHER COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE EXEMPT FROM FED. INCOME TAXATION.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ex‐Senator Martin of Iowa, 78, Dies. Associated Press via The New York Times. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ↑ IA US Senate Race - Nov 02, 1954. Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ↑ HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ↑ HR. 8601. PASSAGE OF AMENDED BILL.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
