Bob Bartlett

For other people with similar names, see Edward Bartlett (disambiguation) and Robert Bartlett (disambiguation).

Bob Bartlett
United States Senator from Alaska
In office January 3, 1959 – December 11, 1968
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Ted Stevens
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Alaska Territory's at-large district
In office January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1959
Preceded by	Anthony Dimond
Succeeded by	Ralph Rivers (Representative)
Personal details
Born	(1904-04-20)April 20, 1904 Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Died	December 11, 1968(1968-12-11) (aged 64) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Vide Gaustad
Alma mater	University of Washington, Seattle University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Edward Lewis Bartlett (April 20, 1904 – December 11, 1968), known as Bob Bartlett, was an Alaska politician and a member of the Democratic Party.

Career

Bartlett was born in Seattle to Edward C. and Ida Florence (née Doverspike) Bartlett. After attending the University of Washington from 1922 to 1924, Bartlett graduated from the University of Alaska in 1925, then began his career in politics. A reporter for the Fairbanks Daily News until 1933, he accepted the position of secretary to Delegate Anthony Dimond of Alaska. Three years later he became the chairman of the Unemployment Compensation Commission of Alaska.

On January 30, 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him secretary of the Alaska Territory. Beginning in 1945, Bartlett served as the delegate from Alaska to the 79th and the six succeeding Congresses. Continuing his civic service, he was president of the Alaska Tuberculosis Association and served as a member of the Alaska War Council. He labored constantly for statehood; upon Alaska's admission to the Union in 1959 he became the first senator from Alaska and served until 1968.

Bartlett possessed the reputation of a quiet man of achievement. The Library of Congress estimates that he had more bills passed into law than any other member in congressional history. Before statehood, he was writing legislation (sponsored by other congressional representatives), such as the Alaska Mental Health Enabling Act of 1956. Some of his bills included the Radiation Safety Bill and the Bartlett Act, requiring all federally funded buildings to be accessible to the handicapped.

Death

Bartlett died following heart surgery on December 11, 1968, at Cleveland Clinic Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. He was buried in Northern Lights Memorial Park, Fairbanks, Alaska. Ted Stevens was appointed to replace him on December 24, 1968.

Legacy

In 1971, the state of Alaska commissioned Felix de Weldon to create a bronze statue of Bartlett which resides in the National Statuary Hall Collection at the United States Capitol.

A substantial number of buildings, place names and more have been named after Bartlett in Alaska over the years. The most notable of these include Bartlett Regional Hospital (originally St. Ann's Hospital, and known for a time as Bartlett Memorial Hospital), the hospital serving Juneau, Alaska, as well as Bartlett High School in Anchorage and Bartlett Hall at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1950–99)

External links

• United States Congress. "Bob Bartlett (id: B000201)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• The "Architect of Alaskan Statehood"
• Bartlett Regional Hospital home page