why the mass exodus of congressional dems in 1976? (paging smolty)

[freepcrusher]

it seems that in 1975-1976, just as dems were enjoying newfound dominance in congress, a lot of longtime dems left office. Did some of it have to do with not liking the new rules that Phillip Burton instigated?

I'll put them in three categories

Dethronees:
Wright Patman (first elected in 1928) - dethroned as chairman of the Banking committee. Announced his retirement in 1975 but died before he could finish his term

Wilbur Mills (first elected in 1938) - dethroned as Ways and Means chair. Retired from office.

Eddie Hebert (first elected in 1940) - dethroned as Armed Services chair. Retired from office

Lost Renomination:
Ray Madden (first elected in 1942) - he was chair of the Rules committee and unlike the others, was not stripped of his chairmanship. He was, however, the oldest member of congress in 1976 (84) and that's probably why he lost renomination

Otto Passman (first elected in 1946) - he was No 4 democrat on Appropriations. He I think had ethics issues (Korea thing or what not) and lost renomination

Retired
Joe Evins (first elected in 1946) - he was the No 5 democrat on Appropriations and just up and retired. The guy who took his seat was Al Gore. Ironically, Evins avoided a primary battle with his father in 1952 when the state went down a seat and he (Gore Sr) agreed to challenge McKellar.

Thomas Morgan (first elected in 1944) - he was chair of the House Foreign Affairs committee and although he never grabbed attention headlines like Fulbright did, was never challenged for his chairmanship either.

Robert Jones (first elected in 1947) - he was from the TVA district and was a typical populist, pork-barreling politician who was fairly liberal by Alabama standards (though his ACU ratings were in the 40s and 50s). When John Blatnik retired in 74, he was given the chairmanship of the Public Works committee. Maybe he had waited so long for it only to realize it wasn't what it was cracked up to be?

So, including speaker Albert, thats nine democrats with 30ish years of seniority all leaving office. Anyone think the change between the 94th and 95th congress was a power vacuum in the sense that a lot of old bulls left office and created a lot of openings for craven pols?

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

The idea that a lot of the 'old bulls' weren't also themselves 'craven pols' is certainly a new and interesting one.

[smoltchanov]

IMHO - mostly yes. After Burton's reform no seniority guaranteed chairmanship automatically. Hebert and Passman were old-style conservatives from Louisiana with substantial baggage, and, in case of Passman, had energetic young opponent (Huckaby).  Patman, though more of old-style populist, was getting old, and the same - about Madden, who also had young and good opponent (Adam Benjamin). Evins could anticipate Gore's desires, and decide not to compete.

So, in MOST cases - probably, yes..

[Indy Texas]

Wilbur Mills had some pretty obvious personal baggage problems that would have been such low hanging fruit for late night TV these days that it's just sad.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Wilbur Mills had some pretty obvious personal baggage problems that would have been such low hanging fruit for late night TV these days that it's just sad.

Hahahaha, yes...



Oh, and these old guys were bastards as well. Don't be fooled by the dress sense and the country mannerisms (which were often affected)...

[freepcrusher]

IMHO - mostly yes. After Burton's reform no seniority guaranteed chairmanship automatically. Hebert and Passman were old-style conservatives from Louisiana with substantial baggage, and, in case of Passman, had energetic young opponent (Huckaby).  Patman, though more of old-style populist, was getting old, and the same - about Madden, who also had young and good opponent (Adam Benjamin). Evins could anticipate Gore's desires, and decide not to compete.

So, in MOST cases - probably, yes..

what about Jones, Albert and Morgan. They were all left alone by Burton and in the case of Jones, he was older than some freshman are (64).

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Because most of the Dems, from the South came in under rules of Revolt of 1910, when Cannon was speaker, and his power was taken away and put in the hands of commitee chairs. And most of these congressional Dems, who came in during FDR was being replaced by JFK dems.

Dems changed the rules and put power back in Speakership. But, now they have to deal with Speaker Boehner.

[smoltchanov]

IMHO - mostly yes. After Burton's reform no seniority guaranteed chairmanship automatically. Hebert and Passman were old-style conservatives from Louisiana with substantial baggage, and, in case of Passman, had energetic young opponent (Huckaby).  Patman, though more of old-style populist, was getting old, and the same - about Madden, who also had young and good opponent (Adam Benjamin). Evins could anticipate Gore's desires, and decide not to compete.

So, in MOST cases - probably, yes..

what about Jones, Albert and Morgan. They were all left alone by Burton and in the case of Jones, he was older than some freshman are (64).

Difficult to say exactly. Morgan had very low visibility AFAIK, and was neither very energetic, nor ideologically cohesive. Albert, probably, got from existing system everything it could give (including speakership) and (may be) came to the conclusion then regular meetings with constituents and travels gradually become too much burden for him. Jones? May be as you said. In fact - many "oldtimers", even renominated under new system, could be not especially happy with it and decide not to take chances for long-term future..

[pbrower2a]

They were old and their time was up. That's what happens when seniority at the expense of all else gives opportunity.  One eventually can't cheat biological reality, most obviously the limit of the lifespan.   

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Oh you people are so boring.

[smoltchanov]

Oh you people are so boring.

Well, no one promised to entertain somebody....

[Türkisblau]

When you're old and a lot of young'uns from 1974 are making things hard for you, it's a good time to retire or lose to them in a primary.