Sign in
Bennett Champ Clark
Photo: US gov, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons12

Bennett Champ Clark

American politician and judge (1890–1954)

Joel Bennett Clark (January 8, 1890 – July 13, 1954), better known as Bennett Champ Clark, was a Democratic United States senator from Missouri from 1933 until 1945, and was later a circuit judge of the District of Columbia Circuit. He was a leading isolationist in foreign policy.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Bennett Champ Clark (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Jan 8, 1890, died Jul 13, 1954.1

About

During the Thirties, Clark opposed a number of New Deal measures such as tax reform, the NRA, and the AAA, and by 1937 had become (according to one historian) “one of the organizers of the conservative coalition in Congress.” Nevertheless, Clark identified himself with liberalism, and during his senate career publicly supported New Deal initiatives aimed at providing social security, promoting homebuilding, and improving working conditions.

From Wikipedia’s article on Bennett Champ Clark, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2

Companies

Early life and education

  • Date not recordedEastern High School3
  • Date not recordedGeorge Washington University3
  • Date not recordedUniversity of Missouri3

Clark was born into a political family; his father was Champ Clark, who served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. His mother was Genevieve Davis (Bennett) Clark. Clark's sister, Genevieve Clark Thomson was also active in politics as a women's suffrage activist.

Clark was born in Bowling Green, Missouri, and was raised and educated in Bowling Green and Washington, D.C. He was a graduate of Washington, D.C.'s Eastern High School. Clark graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912 and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. In 1914, he graduated from the George Washington University Law School with a Bachelor of Laws. In addition to Phi Beta Kappa, Clark's other academic affiliations included Order of the Coif, Delta Sigma Rho, Delta Tau Delta, and Phi Delta Phi.

Clark became parliamentarian of the United States House of Representatives in 1913, while still in law school. He served until 1917, when he resigned in order to join the United States Army for World War I. In 1916, he was chosen to serve as parliamentarian of that year's Democratic National Convention.

From Wikipedia’s article on Bennett Champ Clark (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

Occupation: judge, lawyer, politician.7

  • 1943 to 1945United States senator5
  • 1941 to 1943United States senator5
  • 1939 to 1941United States senator5
  • 1937 to 1939United States senator5
  • 1935 to 1937United States senator5
  • 1933United States senator5
  • 1919Chairperson, Paris Caucus5 6
  • Date not recordedFounded American Legion4
  • Date not recordedJudge of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit5

In 1919, Clark began practicing law in St. Louis, Missouri. In the 1920s he researched and authored a biography of John Quincy Adams, and was active in politics as a campaign speaker for Democratic candidates in Missouri. In 1928 he considered running for the United States Senate seat of the retiring James A. Reed, but decided not to make the race.

Clark was a delegate to the 1928 Democratic National Convention. He served again as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention of 1936. He was a delegate again in 1940, and served as a delegate to the party's national convention in 1944. In 1944, Clark made the speech nominating Harry S. Truman for vice president.

From Wikipedia’s article on Bennett Champ Clark (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

  • BornJan 8, 1890, Bowling Green8
  • DiedJul 13, 1954, Gloucester9
  • CitizenshipUnited States10

In 1922, Clark married Miriam Marsh, the daughter of Wilbur W. Marsh. They were the parents of three children, Champ, Marsh, and Kimball. Miriam Clark died in 1943, and in 1945 Clark married British actress Violet Heming. The ceremony took place at the Berryville, Virginia home of Clark's sister, and President Truman served as best man.

From Wikipedia’s article on Bennett Champ Clark (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12