Wallace F. Bennett
Wallace F. Bennett | |
---|---|
United States Senator from Utah | |
In office January 3, 1951 – December 20, 1974 | |
Preceded by | Elbert D. Thomas |
Succeeded by | Jake Garn |
Personal details | |
Born | Wallace Foster Bennett November 13, 1898 Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
Died | December 19, 1993 Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. | (aged 95)
Resting place | Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37.92″N 111°51′28.8″W / 40.7772000°N 111.858000°W |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Frances Marion Grant |
Children | 5, including Bob |
Alma mater | University of Utah |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Rank | Second lieutenant |
Battles/wars | World War I |
Wallace Foster Bennett (November 13, 1898 – December 19, 1993) was an American businessman and politician. A member of the
Early life and education
Wallace Bennett was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to John Foster and Rosetta Elizabeth (née Wallace) Bennett.[2] His grandparents were English immigrants who came to the United States in 1868.[3] He received his early education at local public schools and graduated from LDS High School in 1916.[4] He then enrolled at the University of Utah, where he majored in English and won a varsity letter in debate.[4]
Bennett, a member of the university's
Family
In 1922, Bennett married Frances Marion Grant, the youngest daughter of Heber J. Grant (who served as President of the LDS Church from 1918 to 1945).[2] The couple had three sons, Wallace, David, and Robert; and two daughters, Rosemary and Frances.[2]
Frances served for a time as a member of the Primary General Board of the LDS Church.[7]
Business career
In 1920, Bennett returned to Salt Lake City and became an office clerk at Bennett's Paint and Glass Company, which his father had established.[6] He was later advanced to cashier, production manager, and sales manager.[4] He became secretary-treasurer of the company in 1929 and, after his father's death in 1938, became president and general manager.[6] He served in that position until 1950, when he became chairman of the board.[3] In 1938, the company completed what Bennett described as the most modern paint manufacturing plant in the West.[4]
In addition to his work in his family's business, Bennett organized a Ford dealership, the Bennett Motor Company, and served as its president from 1939 to 1950.[6] He also served as president of the Cardon Jewelry Company and of the National Glass Distributors Association; vice-president of Glayton Investment Company and of the National Paint, Varnish and Lacquer Association; and director of Zion's Savings Bank and Trust Company, the Utah Oil Refining Company, and the Utah Home Fire Insurance Company.[4] In 1949, he was elected president of the National Association of Manufacturers.[6] He spent his year-long tenure as president traveling the country and preached "the partnership of the men who put up the money, the men who do the work, and the men who tie the whole thing together."[4]
He hosted a daily one-hour program, The Observatory Hour, on
US Senate
In March 1950, Bennett announced his candidacy for a seat in the
Silver problem
In the late 1950s, the US Treasury became a begrudging supplier of silver at $0.905 an ounce. Bennett warned that the lack of supply for the high demand would cause the deficit to fall on the Treasury Stocks. By 1961, the Treasury Stocks had unnecessarily been depleted. In 1963, the government had only 30 million ounces of free silver, but the annual coinage requirement for the United States was more than 75 million ounces. The price of silver per ounce was now $1.2929, but if the United States bought extra silver, the price would go above $1.29. The Silver Purchase Act of 1963 was supported by Bennett and repealed "existing silver purchase requirements and the transfer of tax of silver bullion."[10] It also allowed the Federal Reserve to issue $1 and $2 notes to replace "silver certificates or the denominations thus making 1.6 billion ounces of silver available to the United States Treasury."[10]
Bennett spoke at the Convention of the American Mining Congress in 1963 that declared the coin and silver problem had reached a catastrophic level. His views were faced with much criticism. Two years later, to function properly, the Treasury proposed a new set of coins. Bennett joined forces with the administration and worked on a solution, the Coinage Act of 1965, which he got through Congress to be enacted into law.[10]
Leadership
During his 23 years in the Senate, Bennett earned a reputation as a
Bennett declined to seek re-election in 1974 and resigned on December 20 of that year to let his elected successor, Jake Garn, take office early and gain seniority.[12]
Later life
After his departure from the Senate, Bennett returned to Salt Lake City, resumed his business pursuits, and served on a variety of boards.[5] When his son Robert was elected to his former Senate seat in 1992, the elder Bennett said, "Bob and I have made Utah history. We are the first father and son combination to be elected to the U.S. Senate in this state."[1]
Bennett died at his home in Salt Lake City at the age of 95.[2] He is buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b Donovan, Chris (2006-06-16). "Father's Day for the Senate's 'Legacy Caucus'". NBC News.
- ^ a b c d "DEATH: WALLACE FOSTER BENNETT". Deseret News. 1993-12-20.
- ^ a b c d e f The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. I. James T. White & Company. 1964.
- ^ a b c d e f g Current Biography. H. W. Wilson Company. 1950.
- ^ a b c d "BENNETT, Wallace Foster, (1898 - 1993)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ^ OCLC 30473917
- ^ Ronald Walker, "Jedediah and Heber", Ensign, 1979
- ^ a b Brune, Lester H. (1996). The Korean War: Handbook of the Literature and Research. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press.
- ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1950" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.
- ^ a b c d Douth, George (1972). Leaders in Profile: The United States Senate. New York, New York: Sperr & Douth, Inc.
- ^ a b c Siracusa, Joseph M. (2004). The Kennedy Years. New York: Facts On File, Inc.
- ^ a b "Wallace Bennett, Ex-Senator, 95; Utah Republican Served 24 Years". The New York Times. 1993-12-20.
- ^ "HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957". GovTrack.us.
- ^ "HR. 8601. PASSAGE OF AMENDED BILL".
- ^ "HR. 7152. PASSAGE".
- ^ "TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN SALE OR RENTAL OF HOUSING, AND TO PROHIBIT RACIALLY MOTIVATED INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON EXERCISING HIS CIVIL RIGHTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES".
- ^ "TO PASS S. 1564, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965".
- ^ "CONFIRMATION OF NOMINATION OF THURGOOD MARSHALL, THE FIRST NEGRO APPOINTED TO THE SUPREME COURT". GovTrack.us.
- ^ "S.J. RES. 29. APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION BANNING THE POLL TAX AS PREREQUISITE FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS". GovTrack.us.
- ^ "TO PASS H.J. RES. 208. -- Senate Vote #533 -- Mar 22, 1972".
Sources
- Bennett, Wallace F. Faith and Freedom: The Pillars of American Democracy, New York: Scribner, 1950.
- Bennett, Wallace F. Why I Am A Mormon, New York: T. Nelson, 1958.
External links
- United States Congress. "Wallace F. Bennett (id: B000384)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Media related to Wallace F. Bennett at Wikimedia Commons
- A film clip "Longines Chronoscope with Sen. Wallace F. Bennett (May 19, 1952)" is available for viewing at the Internet Archive
- Guide to Wallace F. Bennett papers, MSS 20 at the L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University
- Digitized items from the Wallace F. Bennett papers at L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University