Norris Cotton

Norris Cotton
United States Senator from New Hampshire
In office November 8, 1954 – December 31, 1974
Preceded by	Robert W. Upton
Succeeded by	Louis C. Wyman
In office August 8, 1975 – September 18, 1975
Preceded by	Louis C. Wyman
Succeeded by	John A. Durkin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire's 2nd district
In office January 3, 1947 – November 7, 1954
Preceded by	Sherman Adams
Succeeded by	Perkins Bass
Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
In office 1923 1943–1947
Personal details
Born	Norris Henry Cotton (1900-05-11)May 11, 1900 Warren, Grafton County New Hampshire, USA
Died	February 24, 1989(1989-02-24) (aged 88) Lebanon, Grafton County New Hampshire, USA
Resting place	School Street Cemetery Lebanon, Grafton County New Hampshire, USA
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Ruth Isaacs Cotton Eleanor Coolidge Brown Cotton
Parent(s)	Henry Lang Cotton Elizabeth (Moses) Cotton
Alma mater	Wesleyan University The George Washington University
Profession	Lawyer Politician

Norris H. Cotton (May 11, 1900 – February 24, 1989) was an American Republican politician and a United States Representative as well as United States Senator from the state of New Hampshire.

Early life

Cotton was born on a farm in Warren, New Hampshire, and was educated at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and Wesleyan University in Connecticut. While in college, he served as a clerk to the New Hampshire State Senate. He also served as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 1923 as one of the youngest legislators in history. He became a lawyer after attending The George Washington University Law School and practiced law in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Career

Cotton was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives again in 1943, and served as majority leader that year and as Speaker during 1945-1947.

In 1946 Cotton was elected to the United States House of Representatives from New Hampshire for the first time. He served until 1954 when he ran for a seat in the United States Senate from New Hampshire in a special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Charles W. Tobey. He was elected to a full term in 1956, reelected twice and served in the Senate until 1975.

One of his most controversial votes came when he was the only senator from New England to vote against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. However, Cotton would vote for later civil rights acts such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968. He was a prominent leader of his party in the Senate, chairing the Senate Republican Conference from 1973 to 1975. He did not run for reelection in 1974. Three days before his final term ran out Cotton resigned to allow the governor to appoint Louis C. Wyman.

Cotton was reappointed to the Senate in August 1975 after the election of his successor was contested. The closest Senate election in history, it went through two recounts at the state level, followed by protracted debate on the Senate floor, until both candidates agreed to a special election. Cotton served as a temporary senator until the September 1975 special election, the result of which was not challenged. Cotton returned to Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Death and legacy

Cotton died on February 24, 1989, (age 88 years, 289 days) in Lebanon. He is interred at School Street Cemetery, Lebanon, Grafton County, New Hampshire.

The comprehensive cancer center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon is named for him, and the federal building in Manchester, New Hampshire, also bears his name. There is a historical marker in Warren, New Hampshire, which was unveiled in 2012, and says his rise from humble beginnings embodies the American way of life.

Family life

Son of Henry Lang and Elizabeth Moses Cotton, he married Ruth Isasaacs on May 11, 1927, and the couple had no children. Ruth died in 1978 and he married Eleanor Coolidge Brown in 1980.

External links

• United States Congress. "Norris Cotton (id: C000802)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• U.S. Senate Historical Office, "Closest Election in Senate History", retrieved November 15, 2006.
• Norris Cotton at Find a Grave