Walter Judd

Walter Henry Judd (September 25, 1898, Rising City, Nebraska – February 13, 1994, Mitchellville, Maryland) was an American politician best known for his battle in Congress (1943–63) to define the conservative position on China as all-out support for the Nationalists under Chiang Kai-sheck and opposition to the Communists under Mao. After the Nationalists fled to Formosa (Taiwan) in 1949 Judd redoubled his support.

After serving in the United States Army in World War I, he earned his medical degree at the University of Nebraska in 1923, then was Traveling Secretary for the Student Volunteer Movement. He was a medical missionary in China, 1925–31 and 1934–1938, with a stint at the Mayo Clinic in between.

He came back to the United States to urge Americans not to be isolationists but to support China against Japanese aggression. Elected to the U.S. Congress from Minnesota in 1942, where he became a powerful voice in support of China. He served for 20 years from 1943 until 1963 in the 78th, 79th, 80th, 81st, 82nd, 83rd, 84th, 85th, 86th, and 87th congresses.

In the early 1950s Judd helped organize the Committee of One Million, a citizens' group dedicated to keeping the People's Republic of China out of the United Nations.

Judd gave the keynote address at the 1960 Republican National Convention in Chicago. In 1962, Judd was defeated for reelection by liberal Democrat Donald M. Fraser. In 1964 Judd's name was placed in nomination at the Republican National Convention for President and he received a smattering of votes. In 1981, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the nation's highest civilian award). He was an outspoken anti-communist and critic of U.S. rapprochement with China at the expense of the Republic of China on Taiwan. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he was actively involved in the Council Against Communist Aggression in Washington DC. He was known for his eloquent oratory and expertise in US foreign policy. He died in 1994.

He was the last person to attempt to run for president on a major party ticket to be born in the 19th century, though he did not make it past the primaries. While this is technically still possible, it is extremely unlikely, since a candidate would be at least 111.

Walter Judd Freedom Award

The Fund for American Studies, an educational and internship program that works in partnership with Georgetown University, annually presents the The Walter Judd Freedom Award in cooperation with the Center for International Relations to recognize individuals who have advanced the cause of freedom in the United States and abroad. Past recipients have included former United States President Ronald Reagan, Jack Kemp, Jeane Kirkpatrick, and George J. Viksnins, Emeritus Professor at Georgetown University.

References

• Edwards, Lee. Missionary for Freedom: The Life and Times of Walter Judd (New York: Paragon, 1990).
• Yanli, Gao. "Judd's China: a missionary congressman and US-China policy," Journal of Modern Chinese History, December 2008, Vol. 2 Issue 2, pp 197–219

External links

• Walter Judd at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Background
• Publications
• Congress info
• The Papers of Walter Judd are available for research use at the Minnesota Historical Society.
• Oral History Interview, Truman Library [1]
• The Walter Henry Judd Papers, 1922-1988 at the Hoover Institution Archives.
• The Lee Edwards papers at the Hoover Institution Archives contains information and oral histories about Judd.
• Booknotes interview with Lee Edwards on Missionary for Freedom: The Life and Times of Walter Judd, September 2, 1990.

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Oscar Youngdahl	United States Representative from Minnesota's 5th congressional district 1943 – 1963	Succeeded by Donald M. Fraser