entry from 1972 Almanac of American Politics

[kcguy]

I was watching CSPAN this morning, and an author was talking about his biography of the late Congressman Gerry Studds.  (The first thing I learned was that his name was pronounced "Gehry" and not "Jerry".)

For some of us who are older, Studds is best remembered as "the first openly gay member of Congress".  (If you don't count people like Jon Hinson, that is, but most of us don't.)

Anyhow, I went to the Almanac to look at Studds's future district, and I found the entry to be funny from a modern perspective.  (Bold face added.)

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[smoltchanov]

Well, MA-09, which(more or less)  can be considered  a "heir" to that MA-12, is still the "most Republican" (or - "least Democratic") district of Massachussetts. Not that it means too much NOW. But the history of Democratic victories there began exactly in 1972 with first Studds victory....

[muon2]

I moved into MA in 1979, and Barnstable and Nantucket were considered Pub areas at that time. They went for Reagan in both 1980 and 1984 while I lived in nearby Middlesex and occasionally visited the Cape. Barnstable even voted for Bush over favorite son Dukakis in 1988. When I moved there, plenty of Watergate era bumper stickers still said "Don't blame me, I'm from Massachusetts" given MA bucking the 49 state sweep. Yet Barnstable and Nantucket were for Nixon in 72.

The political shift happened in the early 90's as it did in areas in many northern states. Barnstable gave 46% to Clinton in 92 as the rest split between Bush and Perot. After that Barnstable has given from 51-56% for the Dem in presidential races. But that's about 6-8% more Pub than MA as a whole.

[Figueira]

The base of Cape Cod is still pretty solidly Republican.

Of course, Silvio O. Conte's district was probably another rather conservative district back then, and is now solidly Democratic.

[smoltchanov]

The base of Cape Cod is still pretty solidly Republican.

Of course, Silvio O. Conte's district was probably another rather conservative district back then, and is now solidly Democratic.

I wouldn't call district yu mention, and Conte in particular, even remotely conservative even then. This district could elect moderate-liberal Republican (Conte) then (not now) - that's true. But even then it wasn't a conservative.

[Figueira]

The base of Cape Cod is still pretty solidly Republican.

Of course, Silvio O. Conte's district was probably another rather conservative district back then, and is now solidly Democratic.

I wouldn't call district yu mention, and Conte in particular, even remotely conservative even then. This district could elect moderate-liberal Republican (Conte) then (not now) - that's true. But even then it wasn't a conservative.

Fine, Republican, not conservative.

[Mr.Phips]

The base of Cape Cod is still pretty solidly Republican.

Of course, Silvio O. Conte's district was probably another rather conservative district back then, and is now solidly Democratic.

Conte's district actually went for McGovern in 1972.  It was not a conservative district.

[Bidenworth2020]

where did you get the almanac?

[kcguy]

I must have gotten it at a "Friends of the Library" book sale.  It still has the Dewey tag on the binding.  I also have the 1978 and 1984, plus some random, more recent ones that I bought in a bookstore.

[VPH]

I must have gotten it at a "Friends of the Library" book sale.  It still has the Dewey tag on the binding.  I also have the 1978 and 1984, plus some random, more recent ones that I bought in a bookstore.

I live for $1 paperback $2 hardcover "Friends of the Library" sales in Wichita. Have bought so many political books like that.

[tschandler]

I'm curious what the Alabama 4th is like.

[Mr.Phips]

I'm curious what the Alabama 4th is like.

It was 78%-22% for Nixon.

[tschandler]

I meant the description of it.  I

[kcguy]

I'm curious what the Alabama 4th is like.

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[tschandler]

So that isn't my district now then.  I'm curious about the ones in North Alabama, Dekalb/Marshall/Madison/Jackson counties etc.

[VPH]

What's the one for Kansas' 4th District?

[kcguy]

So that isn't my district now then.  I'm curious about the ones in North Alabama, Dekalb/Marshall/Madison/Jackson counties etc.

Two of those counties are in the 7th and the other two are in the 8th.  I'll do the 7th.

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[kcguy]

What's the one for Kansas' 4th District?

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[VPH]

What's the one for Kansas' 4th District?

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I actually didn't know many workers were from the South. Guess it makes sense with some of the anecdotal stuff I had heard. Also really does explain why Haysville and Derby were Democratic downballot for so long.

[jimrtex]

Martin's successor in Congress was Tom Bevill, a Wallace floor leader in the Alabama House.  Bevill won handily in 1966 and has won by overwhelming margins in succeeding elections.  He is unlikely to be defeated in the foreseeable future.

Bevill served 30 years, until 1996, often without a Republican opponent.

In 1996, Robert Aderholt won the seat with 49.89% of the vote (and a Libertarian taking 1.81 of the vote). Since that narrow victory, he has expanded his margin, and has often been elected without a Democrat opponent.

Alabamian elections have shown a strong personal element. There were three longtime Republicans first elected in the 1964 Goldwater election, who served 10 to 14 terms. After they left office the seats were susceptible to Democrat challenge. Had Martin run for re-election in 1966, it is possible that he would have served as long.

[RBH]

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As someone who had Grandparents who moved from Arkansas to Wichita in the 50s, I can confirm that tidbit. (anecdote alert)

Shriver lost to Dan Glickman in 1976 with a result where most of the votes came from Sedgwick, but the candidates split it 50/50 and Glickman won thanks to a 59/40 result in Reno County (Hutchinson).

[Fuzzy Says: "Abolish NPR!"]

Studds' district was the only one in Massachusetts to go for Nixon, if I recall correctly.

Massachusetts had three (3) GOP Representatives during 1971-73.  Besides Keith, there was Silvio Conte and Margaret (Peggy) Heckler.  Both of those folks had relatively liberal, anti-Vietnam War records, although they were staunchly pro-life, as were all of Massachusetts' Democrats (all of them Roman Catholic until Studds was elected).

Keith wasn't really that conservative.  He voted with the bi-partisan liberal majority to expand the size of the Rules Committee in the early 1960s; this move preempted Rules Chairman Howard Smith (D-VA) from bottling up Civil Rights legislation.  Keith joked that he was going to vote for the measure because he had his "conservative weeks" and his "liberal weeks" and the vote on expanding the Rules Committee would come in his "liberal week".  Keith was a supporter of Civil Rights legislation; he was a regular Republican who supported Nixon and his Vietnam policy, and this was the bulk of why he got the "conservative" label. 

[Mr.Phips]

Studds' district was the only one in Massachusetts to go for Nixon, if I recall correctly.

Massachusetts had three (3) GOP Representatives during 1971-73.  Besides Keith, there was Silvio Conte and Margaret (Peggy) Heckler.  Both of those folks had relatively liberal, anti-Vietnam War records, although they were staunchly pro-life, as were all of Massachusetts' Democrats (all of them Roman Catholic until Studds was elected).

Keith wasn't really that conservative.  He voted with the bi-partisan liberal majority to expand the size of the Rules Committee in the early 1960s; this move preempted Rules Chairman Howard Smith (D-VA) from bottling up Civil Rights legislation.  Keith joked that he was going to vote for the measure because he had his "conservative weeks" and his "liberal weeks" and the vote on expanding the Rules Committee would come in his "liberal week".  Keith was a supporter of Civil Rights legislation; he was a regular Republican who supported Nixon and his Vietnam policy, and this was the bulk of why he got the "conservative" label. 

Heckler was pro-life?

[tschandler]

Martin's successor in Congress was Tom Bevill, a Wallace floor leader in the Alabama House.  Bevill won handily in 1966 and has won by overwhelming margins in succeeding elections.  He is unlikely to be defeated in the foreseeable future.

Bevill served 30 years, until 1996, often without a Republican opponent.

In 1996, Robert Aderholt won the seat with 49.89% of the vote (and a Libertarian taking 1.81 of the vote). Since that narrow victory, he has expanded his margin, and has often been elected without a Democrat opponent.

Alabamian elections have shown a strong personal element. There were three longtime Republicans first elected in the 1964 Goldwater election, who served 10 to 14 terms. After they left office the seats were susceptible to Democrat challenge. Had Martin run for re-election in 1966, it is possible that he would have served as long.

It's a shame the two decent politicians of that era are overshadowed by Wallace.  Martin and Bill Baxley were political polar opposites but neither dabbled in racial politics directly.  Martin's lasting legacy is what he did for Conservation in Alabama.