J. Caleb Boggs

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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 member of the Republican Party, who served as U. S. Representative from Delaware, Governor of Delaware and U. S. Senator from Delaware.

Contents

1 Early life and family
2 Political career
3 Death and legacy
4 Public offices

4.1 Election results

5 References

5.1 Images

6 External links

6.1 Places with more information

Early life and family

Boggs was born May 15, 1909 at Cheswold, Delaware, son of Edward Jefferson & 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.

Political career

Boggs was appointed Associate Judge of the Family Court of New Castle County in 1946. He then served three terms in the U.S. House from January 3, 1947 to January 3, 1953, first winning election in 1946 by defeating incumbent U.S. Representative Philip A. Traynor. In 1952 he was elected Governor of Delaware by defeating incumbent Democratic Governor Elbert N. Carvel and was reelected in 1956 by defeating J. H. Tyler McConnell. He served two terms as Governor from January 20, 1953 to December 18, 1960 when he resigned to begin his U.S. Senate term.

In 1960 he was elected to the U.S. Senate by defeating incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator J. Allen Frear, Jr., becoming the only Republican to defeat an incumbent Democratic Senator that year. He was reelected in 1966, but lost his bid for re-election in 1972 to New Castle County Councilman Joseph R. Biden, Jr.. He served two terms in the U.S. Senate from January 3, 1961 to January 3, 1973. 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.

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."

"|Preceded by:
Philip A. Traynor

|width="30%" align="center" rowspan=""|Succeeded by:
Joseph R. Biden, Jr. |-

Public offices

Elections are held the first week of November. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and has a four year term. U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives take office the first week of January for terms of six years and two years respectively.

Election results

References

Pickett, Russell S. [U.S. & Delaware History].

Images

U.S. Congress (2005). [Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress].
State of Delaware. [Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery]. Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover.

External links

U.S. Congress (2005). [Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress]. Retrieved December 24, 2005.
Kestenbaum, Lawrence. [The Political Graveyard].

Places with more information

[University of Delaware Library] 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965.
[Newark Free Library] 750 Library Ave.,Newark Delaware (302) 731-7550.
[Corbit-Calloway Memorial Library] 2nd and High St. Odessa Delaware (302) 378-8838.
[Historical Society of Delaware] 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161.

United States Congress
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	State of Delaware • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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