Thank you for suggesting John Hewitt, W.R. Rodgers and Mervyn Wall. I didn't know about them. John Hewitt was too left-wing, and I think Wall would be a better choice than Rodgers, so he became President of the Council of Ireland in October 1959.
Keeping the British Liberal Party flag flying high
- Thread starter pipisme
- Start date
Thank you for suggesting John Hewitt, W.R. Rodgers and Mervyn Wall. I didn't know about them. John Hewitt was too left-wing, and I think Wall would be a better choice than Rodgers, so he became President of the Council of Ireland in October 1959.
As he lived into his nineties he certainly wouldn't be too old. McLaverty could be considered again in the future. He's not as well known as some of the others but has the important virtue that both North and South can lay a degree of claim upon him.
I have been thinking some more about who was chosen to be the President of the Council of Ireland in October 1959. There were seven names before the Council, namely [in alphabetical order]: Sam Hanna Bell, John Hewitt, Patrick Kavanagh, Edward MacLysaght, Sean O'Faolain, W.R. Rodgers and Mervyn Wall. Kavanagh attracted a good deal of support and would have been chosen if he did not have a drink problem. The Fianna Fail members proposed O'Faolain but Fine Gael, Labour and the Progressive Unionists rejected him. The Labour members proposed Hewitt but he was turned down by the other members. Bell and Rodgers were seriously considered but it was felt that their time had not yet come. In the end it was a choice between MacLysaght and Wall. Both were excellent candidates but the Council chose MacLysaght because he was more distinguished of the two and the older man. Wall would have his opportunity another time.
Last edited:
The case of Brown v. Board of Education was argued before the Supreme Court of the United States in the spring of 1953. The Court did not come to a decision so it was re-argued in the fall of that year at the request of Associate Justice Felix Frankfurter who wanted consensus around an opinion that segregation was illegal. [1] The Chief Justice was Robert H. Jackson. [2] President James Farley had appointed him to the post and was confirmed by the Senate in July 1941, following the death of Charles Evan Hughes. Jackson did not approve of segregation but was opposed to judicial activism. On 30 March 1954 he suffered a massive heart attack and was in hospital until early June 1954. The court made its decision in Brown v. Board of Education on 16 July 1954 that segregation in public schools violates the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because separate facilities are inherently unequal. The decision was by 7 votes to 2 votes with Jackson and Associate Justice Stanley F. Reed in the minority.
[1]This was as in OTL see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_v_Board_of_Education
[2] Here is his entry on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_H._Jackson
[1]This was as in OTL see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_v_Board_of_Education
[2] Here is his entry on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_H._Jackson
Last edited:
Following the death of Robert Jackson on 9 October 1954, President Kerr appointed Associate Justice Thomas Campbell Clark as Chief Justice. [1]
The Civil Rights Act 1960 outlawed discrimination on the grounds of race or national origin in housing, employment and public accomodations.
[1] Here is his entry on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_C._Clark.
The Civil Rights Act 1960 outlawed discrimination on the grounds of race or national origin in housing, employment and public accomodations.
[1] Here is his entry on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_C._Clark.
Last edited:
The composition of the House of Representatives and Senate after the mid term elections on 4 November 1958 was as follows [after elections on 6 November 1956]:
House of Representatives:
Republican Party: 164 [220]
Social Democratic Party: 145 [97]
Democratic Party: 126 [118]
----------------
Total: 435 [435]
----------------
Senate:
Democratic Party: 53 [51]
Republican Party: 26 [32]
Social Democratic Party: 17 [13]
---------------
Total: 96 [96]
---------------
House of Representatives:
Republican Party: 164 [220]
Social Democratic Party: 145 [97]
Democratic Party: 126 [118]
----------------
Total: 435 [435]
----------------
Senate:
Democratic Party: 53 [51]
Republican Party: 26 [32]
Social Democratic Party: 17 [13]
---------------
Total: 96 [96]
---------------
What causes the considerable increase in the SocDem representation in the House? Where is it coming from geographically?
Left wing Democrat voters and congressmen switching to the Social Democrats. The increase in that party's representation in the House is in cities such as Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York, Pittsburgh and San Francisco; also districts with a large African American population.
Must be some interesting discussions and fretting over how the Democratic Party earned third place in the House but an increased majority in the Senate
Robert Kerr is the President. The post from Nov.14 should read Robert Jackson and President Kerr.
Indeed Cylon No. 14, but it seems a logical outcome of support concentrated in East Coast and liberal urban areas, while rural and southern areas continue to vote Democrat and white urban and western areas Republican. And it's the Republicans that should really be worried. Not holding the House in the midterms and losing ground in the Senate is going to be a big blow to them, even though Republicans might have received a plurality of popular support in the USA during the House elections. The liberal SocDems are now showing they can take votes from both parties, and the Democrats should be worried about caucusing together when the House is hung.
Indeed Cylon No. 14, but it seems a logical outcome of support concentrated in East Coast and liberal urban areas, while rural and southern areas continue to vote Democrat and white urban and western areas Republican. And it's the Republicans that should really be worried. Not holding the House in the midterms and losing ground in the Senate is going to be a big blow to them, even though Republicans might have received a plurality of popular support in the USA during the House elections. The liberal SocDems are now showing they can take votes from both parties, and the Democrats should be worried about caucusing together when the House is hung.
Last edited:
I have corrected the post from November 14 to read Robert Jackson and President Kerr.
Although the Catholic Worker newspaper did not endorse any candidates in the elections, several who worked for the paper campaigned for Social Democrat candidates and two former staff members were elected.
John Cort was elected Social Democrat senator from New York state. A graduate of Harvard, he was responsible for the formation of the Catholic Association of Trade Unionists. He was active in the National Maritime Union strike in 1936-37. He was a former editor of the Catholic Worker. Julia Porcelli was elected representative from the 22nd District of New York. From the age of eighteen she had ran the Catholic Worker women's house of hospitality and the children's camps, as well as working in the office. [1]
[1] Information about Cort and Porcelli is taken from Loaves and Fishes by Dorothy Day. .Edition published by Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York, 1997.
Although the Catholic Worker newspaper did not endorse any candidates in the elections, several who worked for the paper campaigned for Social Democrat candidates and two former staff members were elected.
John Cort was elected Social Democrat senator from New York state. A graduate of Harvard, he was responsible for the formation of the Catholic Association of Trade Unionists. He was active in the National Maritime Union strike in 1936-37. He was a former editor of the Catholic Worker. Julia Porcelli was elected representative from the 22nd District of New York. From the age of eighteen she had ran the Catholic Worker women's house of hospitality and the children's camps, as well as working in the office. [1]
[1] Information about Cort and Porcelli is taken from Loaves and Fishes by Dorothy Day. .Edition published by Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York, 1997.
Last edited:
The representation of each state in the US Senate by political party after the 1958 elections was as follows [Dem=Democratic, Rep = Republican, Soc Dem = Social Democratic]:
Alabama - Dem = 2
Arizona - Dem = 1, Rep =1
Arkansas - Dem = 2
California - Dem =1, Soc Dem = 1
Connecticut - Dem =1, Rep=1
Delaware - Dem =1, Rep =1
Florida - Dem = 2
Georgia - Dem = 2
Idaho - Dem = 1, Rep =1
Illinois - Dem = 1, Soc Dem =1
Indiana - Dem = 1, Rep = 1
Iowa - Dem = 1, Rep =1
Kansas - Rep = 2
Kentucky - Dem = 2
Louisiana - Dem =2
Maine - Dem =1, Rep =1
Maryland - Dem =2
Massachusetts - Rep =1, Soc Dem =1
Michigan - Rep =1, Soc Dem =1
Minnesota - Soc Dem =2
Mississippi - Dem =2
Missouri - Dem =2
Montana - Dem =1, Rep =1
Nebraska - Rep =2
Nevada - Dem =2
New Hampshire - Rep =2
New Jersey - Dem =1, Rep =1
New Mexico - Dem =1, Soc Dem =1
New York - Dem =1, Soc Dem =1
North Carolina - Dem =2
North Dakota - Rep =2
Ohio - Dem =2
Oklahoma - Soc Dem =2
Oregon - Rep =1, Soc Dem =1
Pennsylvania - Dem =2
Rhode Island - Dem =2
South Carolina - Dem =2
South Dakota - Dem =1, Rep =1
Tennessee - Dem =1, Soc Dem =1
Texas - Dem =2
Utah - Dem =1, Rep =1
Vermont - Rep =2
Virginia - Dem =2
Washington - Dem =1, Soc Dem =1
West Virginia - Dem =1, Soc Dem =1
Wisconsin - Soc Dem =2
Wyoming - Dem =1, Rep =1
----------------------------------------
Total - Dem =53, Rep =26, Soc Dem = 17
----------------------------------------
Alabama - Dem = 2
Arizona - Dem = 1, Rep =1
Arkansas - Dem = 2
California - Dem =1, Soc Dem = 1
Connecticut - Dem =1, Rep=1
Delaware - Dem =1, Rep =1
Florida - Dem = 2
Georgia - Dem = 2
Idaho - Dem = 1, Rep =1
Illinois - Dem = 1, Soc Dem =1
Indiana - Dem = 1, Rep = 1
Iowa - Dem = 1, Rep =1
Kansas - Rep = 2
Kentucky - Dem = 2
Louisiana - Dem =2
Maine - Dem =1, Rep =1
Maryland - Dem =2
Massachusetts - Rep =1, Soc Dem =1
Michigan - Rep =1, Soc Dem =1
Minnesota - Soc Dem =2
Mississippi - Dem =2
Missouri - Dem =2
Montana - Dem =1, Rep =1
Nebraska - Rep =2
Nevada - Dem =2
New Hampshire - Rep =2
New Jersey - Dem =1, Rep =1
New Mexico - Dem =1, Soc Dem =1
New York - Dem =1, Soc Dem =1
North Carolina - Dem =2
North Dakota - Rep =2
Ohio - Dem =2
Oklahoma - Soc Dem =2
Oregon - Rep =1, Soc Dem =1
Pennsylvania - Dem =2
Rhode Island - Dem =2
South Carolina - Dem =2
South Dakota - Dem =1, Rep =1
Tennessee - Dem =1, Soc Dem =1
Texas - Dem =2
Utah - Dem =1, Rep =1
Vermont - Rep =2
Virginia - Dem =2
Washington - Dem =1, Soc Dem =1
West Virginia - Dem =1, Soc Dem =1
Wisconsin - Soc Dem =2
Wyoming - Dem =1, Rep =1
----------------------------------------
Total - Dem =53, Rep =26, Soc Dem = 17
----------------------------------------
When the new House of Representatives met in early January 1959 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. - Social Democrat New York 16th District was elected Speaker with Democrat votes. Joseph Martin (Massachusetts 4th District) was the Republican leader and Sam Rayburn (Texas 4th District was the Democratic leader.
In the Senate Lyndon Baines Johnson (Texas) continued in office as the Majority Leader, while William Knowland (California) having retired as Minority Leader, his pace was taken by Everett Dirksen (Illinois).
In the Senate Lyndon Baines Johnson (Texas) continued in office as the Majority Leader, while William Knowland (California) having retired as Minority Leader, his pace was taken by Everett Dirksen (Illinois).
Well, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. went corrupt iotl, but having a black speaker is a very important benchmark. Would southern Democrats vote for him?
Having looked at previous posts of mine, I have discovered that William Knowland was elected Vice-President of the United States in 1956, and after the 1958 elections there were no Republican senators from Illinois. Therefore Leverett Saltonstall [Massachusetts] continued in office as Minority Leader and Estes Kefauver [Tennesee] as Social Democrat leader.
Last edited:
Only a minority did, but that was enough votes for Powell to be elected Speaker.
In the congressional elections Joseph Kennedy Jr. was re-elected as Democrat congressman for the 11th District of Massachusetts. Among the Social Democrat senators were Dennis Chavez [New Mexico], Eugene McCarthy [Minnesota] and Wayne Morse [Oregon]. Edmund Muskie [Democrat] was elected as a senator from Maine. There were gubernatorial elections in 34 states. Here are the party allegiances of the governors elected for each state. [D=Democrat, R=Republican, SD=Social Democrat]
Alabama - D; Alaska - D; Arizona - D; Arkansas - D; California - SD [Pat Brown, Richard Nixon was the defeated Republican candidate]; Colorado - D; Connecticut - D; Georgia - D; Idaho - D; Iowa - R; Kansas - R; Maine - R; Maryland - D; Massachusetts - D; Michigan - SD [G. Mennen Williams]; Minnesota - SD [Orville Freeman]; Nebraska - D; Nevada - D; New Hampshire - R; New Mexico - D; New York - R [Nelson Rockefeller]; North Dakota - SD [John F. Lord]; Ohio - D; Oklahoma - D; Oregon - D; Pennsylvania - R; Rhode Island - R; South Carolina - D; South Dakota - D; Tennessee - D; Texas - D; Vermont - R; Wisconsin - SD; Wyoming - R.
Before running for governor of California, Richard Nixon was a congressman from a district in California.
Alabama - D; Alaska - D; Arizona - D; Arkansas - D; California - SD [Pat Brown, Richard Nixon was the defeated Republican candidate]; Colorado - D; Connecticut - D; Georgia - D; Idaho - D; Iowa - R; Kansas - R; Maine - R; Maryland - D; Massachusetts - D; Michigan - SD [G. Mennen Williams]; Minnesota - SD [Orville Freeman]; Nebraska - D; Nevada - D; New Hampshire - R; New Mexico - D; New York - R [Nelson Rockefeller]; North Dakota - SD [John F. Lord]; Ohio - D; Oklahoma - D; Oregon - D; Pennsylvania - R; Rhode Island - R; South Carolina - D; South Dakota - D; Tennessee - D; Texas - D; Vermont - R; Wisconsin - SD; Wyoming - R.
Before running for governor of California, Richard Nixon was a congressman from a district in California.
Last edited: