J. Caleb Boggs

J. Caleb Boggs
United States Senator from Delaware
In office January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1973
Preceded by	J. Allen Frear, Jr.
Succeeded by	Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
Governor of Delaware
In office January 20, 1953 – December 30, 1960
Preceded by	Elbert N. Carvel
Succeeded by	David P. Buckson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware's At-large district
In office January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1953
Preceded by	Philip A. Traynor
Succeeded by	Herbert B. Warburton
Personal details
Born	May 15, 1909(1909-05-15) Cheswold, Delaware
Died	March 26, 1993(1993-03-26) (aged 83) Wilmington, Delaware
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Muir
Residence	Cheswold, Delaware
Alma mater	University of Delaware
Profession	lawyer
Religion	Methodist
Military service
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1941-1946
Unit	6th Armored Division
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Campaign Star (5) Legion of Merit Croix de Guerre Bronze Star Medal

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 veteran of World War II, and a member of the Republican Party, who served three terms as U.S. Representative from Delaware, two terms as Governor of Delaware, and two terms as U.S. Senator from Delaware. He was known by his middle name.

Early life and family

Boggs was born May 15, 1909 at Cheswold, Delaware, son of Edward Jefferson and Lettie Vaughn Boggs. He married Elizabeth Muir and had two children, Cale, Jr. and Marilu. The family 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 Medal with cluster.

United States Representative

Boggs was appointed Associate Judge of the Family Court of New Castle County in 1946. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1946, defeating incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Philip A. Traynor. He won election a total of three times, also defeating Democrats J. Carl McGuigan in 1948, and Henry M. Winchester in 1950. Boggs served in the U. S House from January 3, 1947 to January 3, 1953.

Governor of Delaware

Bogs was elected Governor of Delaware in 1952, defeating incumbent Democratic Governor Elbert N. Carvel, and won a second term in 1956, defeating Democrat J. H. Tyler McConnell. He served as Governor from January 20, 1953 to December 18, 1960, when he resigned to begin his U.S. Senate term.

United States Senator

Boggs was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1960, defeating incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator J. Allen Frear, Jr. by 1.4%, and becoming the only Republican to defeat an incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator that year. He was again elected to the U.S. Senate in 1966, defeating Democrat James M. Tunnell, Jr., son of the former U.S. Senator. He served two terms from January 3, 1961 to January 3, 1973. As U.S. Senator he supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Boggs lost his bid for a third term in 1972 to Democrat Joe Biden, a New Castle County Councilman. Boggs was a reluctant candidate that year, being persuaded to run only to help avoid a divisive primary election. Biden waged an energetic campaign and went on to defeat Boggs by approximately 1.4% of the votes cast. In his last years Boggs lived in Wilmington, Delaware where he continued the practice of law.

Death and legacy

Boggs died at Wilmington and is buried in the Old Presbyterian Cemetery in Dover, on the grounds of the Delaware State Museum. The J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building at 844 King Street in Wilmington, Delaware is named for him.

Among the many tributes received by his fellow Senators was the following from U.S. Senator Robert 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.

”

Delaware General Assembly (sessions while Governor)
Year	Assembly		Senate Majority	President pro tempore		House Majority	Speaker
1953–1954	117th		Republican	Thomas L. Johnson		Republican	Frank A. Jones
1955–1956	118th		Democratic	Charles G. Moore		Democratic	James R. Quigley
1957–1958	119th		Democratic	Lemuel Hickman		Democratic	Harry E. Mayhew
1959–1960	120th		Democratic	Allen J. Cook		Democratic	Sherman W. Tribbitt

Almanac

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and has four year terms. U.S. Representatives take office January 3 and have a two year term. U.S. Senators are popularly elected and also take office January 3, but have a six year term.

Public Offices
Office	Type	Location	Term began	Term ended	notes
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	January 3, 1947	January 3, 1949
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	January 3, 1949	January 3, 1951
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	January 3, 1951	January 3, 1953
Governor	Executive	Dover	January 20, 1953	January 15, 1957
Governor	Executive	Dover	January 15, 1957	December 30, 1960	resigned
U.S. Senator	Legislative	Washington	January 3, 1961	January 3, 1967
U.S. Senator	Legislative	Washington	January 3, 1967	January 3, 1973

United States Congressional service
Dates	Congress	Chamber	Majority	President	Committees	Class/District
1947–1948	80th	U.S. House	Republican	Harry S. Truman		at-large
1949–1950	81st	U.S. House	Democratic	Harry S. Truman		at-large
1951–1952	82nd	U.S. House	Democratic	Harry S. Truman		at-large
1961–1962	87th	U.S. Senate	Democratic	John F. Kennedy		class 2
1963–1964	88th	U.S. Senate	Democratic	John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson		class 2
1965–1966	89th	U.S. Senate	Democratic	Lyndon B. Johnson		class 2
1967–1968	90th	U.S. Senate	Democratic	Lyndon B. Johnson		class 2
1969–1970	91st	U.S. Senate	Democratic	Richard M. Nixon		class 2
1971–1972	92nd	U.S. Senate	Democratic	Richard M. Nixon		class 2

Election results
Year	Office		Subject	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%
1946	U.S. Representative		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	63,516	56%		Philip A. Traynor	Democratic	49,105	44%
1948	U.S. Representative		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	71,127	51%		J. Carl McGuigan	Democratic	68,909	49%
1950	U.S. Representative		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	73,313	57%		Henry M. Winchester	Democratic	56,091	43%
1952	Governor		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	88,977	52%		Elbert N. Carvel	Democratic	81,772	48%
1956	Governor		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	91,965	52%		J. H. Tyler McConnell	Democratic	85,047	48%
1960	U.S. Senator		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	98,874	51%		J. Allen Frear, Jr.	Democratic	96,090	49%
1966	U.S. Senator		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	97,268	59%		James M. Tunnell, Jr.	Democratic	67,263	41%
1972	U.S. Senator		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	112,844	49%		Joseph R. Biden, Jr.	Democratic	116,006	50%

References

• Cohen, Celia (2002). Only in Delaware, Politics and Politicians in the First State. Newark, Delaware: Grapevine Publishing. 
• Davis, Ned (2000). Charles L. Terry. Wilmington, Delaware: Delaware Heritage Press. ISBN 0-924177-15-X. 
• Hoffecker, Carol E. (2000). Honest John Williams. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press. 
• Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6. 
• Martin, Roger A. (1984). History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press. 
• Martin, Roger (1997). Elbert N. Carvel. Wilmington, Delaware: Delaware Heritage Press. ISBN 0-924117-08-7. 
• Munroe, John A. (1993). History of Delaware. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-493-5. 

Images

• Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery; Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover.

External links

• Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States
• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Delaware’s Governors
• Find a Grave
• The Political Graveyard

Places with more information

• Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 Market St, Wilmington, Delaware; (302) 655-7161
• University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Ave, Newark, Delaware; (302) 831-2965