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Laurence Curtis

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Laurence Curtis
Curtis c. 1961
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 10th district
In office
January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1963
Preceded byChristian Herter
Succeeded byJoseph William Martin Jr.
Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts
In office
1947–1949
GovernorRobert F. Bradford
Preceded byJohn E. Hurley
Succeeded byJohn E. Hurley
Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 3rd Suffolk District
In office
1937–1941
Preceded byHenry Parkman Jr.
Succeeded byCharles John Innes
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
1933–1937
Member of the Boston City Council for Ward 5
In office
1930–1933
Preceded byHenry Parkman Jr.
Succeeded byHenry Lee Shattuck
Personal details
Born(1893-09-03)September 3, 1893
Boston, Massachusetts
DiedJuly 11, 1989(1989-07-11) (aged 95)
Boston, Massachusetts
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
SpouseHelen
Residence(s)Newton, Massachusetts
Alma materHarvard Law School
Harvard University
OccupationLawyer
AwardsCitation Star
Military service
AllegianceUnited States United States
Branch/serviceUnited States United States Navy

Laurence Curtis (September 3, 1893 – July 11, 1989) was an American attorney and Republican Party politician from Massachusetts.

Early life, military service, and education

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Laurence Curtis was born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 3, 1893. He graduated from Groton School in 1912 and from Harvard University in 1916.

Military career

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He served in the Foreign Diplomatic Service. Upon graduation from college, he was commissioned as an officer in the Navy and was injured during an aviation training crash on a flying boat in Newport News, Virginia,[1] resulting in the loss of a leg. He served out the rest of his time in the military in Pensacola, Florida. He was awarded the Citation Star. He was later State Commander and National Senior Vice Commander of the Disabled American Veterans.

He returned to Harvard Law School and graduated in 1921.

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He was admitted to the Massachusetts bar the same year and commenced practice in Boston. He was secretary to United States Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. He served as assistant United States attorney in Boston

Political career

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Curtis as a member of Massachusetts House circa 1935.

Curtis was elected to the Boston City Council in 1929. He succeeded Henry Parkman Jr. in the then-strongly Republican fifth ward, which includes the wealthy Back Bay and Beacon Hill neighborhoods. He represented the area in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1933 to 1937 and the Massachusetts Senate from 1937 to 1941.

In 1946, Curtis was elected Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts. He defeated former Treasurer Fred J. Burrell in the Republican primary and incumbent Treasurer John E. Hurley in the general election.[2][3] However, Curtis lost re-election to Hurley in the historic wave election of 1948, when the Democratic Party swept all six state offices. Hurley sought a re-match and defeated Curtis by over 230,000 votes.[4]

In 1950, Curtis was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. He won the nomination relatively easily with 46% of the vote over a five-man field, including anti-communist activist Robert W. Welch Jr. and State Senator Harris S. Richardson.[5] Though he was the leading Republican candidate on the ballot,[6] Curtis lost the general election to incumbent Charles F. Sullivan as Republicans failed to erase the Democratic gains of 1948.[7]

U.S. Representative

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In 1952, Curtis initially sought election as Governor, calling for a "wholesale clean-up of conditions at the State House that have destroyed the hope of a square deal for Massachusetts citizens."[6] However, U.S. Representative Christian Herter was drafted by the party establishment for the race instead. Curtis initially vowed to remain in the race before withdrawing, endorsing Herter, and running for Herter's House seat with party support.[6][8]

Curtis was elected to the four succeeding Congresses. He voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960,[9][10] but voted present on the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.[11]

1962 United States Senate campaign

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Main article: 1962 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts

In 1962, he declined to run for a sixth term in favor of seeking the United States Senate seat left vacant by John F. Kennedy's election to the White House. However, he lost the Republican nomination to George C. Lodge.

After his 1962 loss, Curtis resumed the practice of law. He unsuccessfully sought election to the House three more times in 1968, 1970, and 1972.

Personal life and death

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After he retired from office, Curtis was a resident of Newton, Massachusetts until his death in Boston on July 11, 1989. He was buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Harvard Alumni Bulletin. "Laurence Curtis, 2d, '16", volume 20, number 1, September 27, 1917, page 258. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  2. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1946. p. 145.
  3. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1946. p. 4.
  4. ^ Massachusetts Election Statistics 1948. p. 3.
  5. ^ Election Statistics; The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1950.
  6. ^ a b c "Herter Pushed for Governor; Laurence Curtis Announces Candidacy for GOP Nomination". The Berkshire County Eagle. 6 Feb 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 20 Aug 2022.
  7. ^ Election Statistics; The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1950.
  8. ^ Harris, John (8 Feb 1952). "Herter to Run for Governor". The Boston Globe. p. 1. Retrieved 20 Aug 2022.
  9. ^ "HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957". GovTrack.us.
  10. ^ "HR 8601. PASSAGE".
  11. ^ "S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF POLL TAX AS A REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS". GovTrack.us.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts
1942 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Fred J. Burrell
 Republican nominee for Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts
1946, 1948
Preceded by Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
1950 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts
January 1947 – January 1949 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 10th congressional district
January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1963 		Succeeded by
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