Charles E. Potter
Charles E. Potter | |
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United States Senator from Michigan | |
In office November 5, 1952 – January 3, 1959 | |
Preceded by | Blair Moody |
Succeeded by | Philip Hart |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 11th district | |
In office August 26, 1947 – November 4, 1952 | |
Preceded by | Fred Bradley |
Succeeded by | Victor A. Knox |
Personal details | |
Born | Charles Edward Potter October 30, 1916 Lapeer, Michigan, U.S. |
Died | November 23, 1979 Washington, D.C., U.S. | (aged 63)
Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Lorraine Eddy
(m. 1939; div. 1960)Betty Bryant Wismer (m. 1960) |
Children | 1 |
Alma mater | Eastern Michigan University |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 1942–1946 |
Rank | ![]() |
Unit | US 28th Infantry Division |
Awards | ![]() ![]() |
Charles Edward Potter (October 30, 1916 – November 23, 1979) was a U.S. Representative and a U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan.
Early life[]
Potter was born in Lapeer, Michigan and attended the public schools there. He received an AB degree from Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 1938. He worked as an administrator of Bureau of Social Aid in Cheboygan County, Michigan, 1938–1942. In 1942, he enlisted as a private in the United States Army with combat service in the European Theater of Operations with the US 28th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded at Colmar, Alsace, France, in 1945, resulting in the loss of both legs. He was discharged from the service as a major in 1946.
He was awarded the Silver Star twice, the French Croix de Guerre, and the U.S. Purple Heart. After the war, he was engaged as a vocational rehabilitation representative for the with the United States Labor Department until his resignation in 1947.
Congress[]
Potter was elected on August 26, 1947, as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives from Michigan's 11th congressional district for the 80th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Fred Bradley. He was reelected to the two succeeding Congresses and served from August 26, 1947 until his resignation November 4, 1952.
He was elected to the United States Senate in 1952 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Arthur H. Vandenberg, replacing Blair Moody, who had been appointed to the post. He served the remainder of Vandenberg's term, from November 5, 1952, to January 3, 1953. He was also elected in 1952 for the term commencing January 3, 1953, defeating Moody in both elections. He served until January 3, 1959, having been defeated for reelection to a second term in 1958 by Philip Hart.
Potter voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.[1]
During his tenure, he served as the only member of the Subcommittee on Korean War Atrocities, investigating war crimes committed during the Korean War.[2]
Later career[]
After leaving Congress, Potter engaged as an industrial consultant and international securities executive. In his 1965 memoir, Days of Shame, he outlined the battle between moderate Republicans and Democrats to contend with Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy. Potter was a close confidante of President Dwight D. Eisenhower on this and other issues.
Potter was a Methodist and a member of American Legion, Amvets, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Eagles, Elks, Kiwanis, and the American Battle Monuments Commission. He resided in Queenstown, Maryland, until his death at Walter Reed Army Hospital, Washington, D.C. at the age of sixty-three.
Charles E. Potter is interred in Section 30 of Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer, Virginia.
Bibliography[]
- Potter, Charles E. Days of Shame. New York: Coward-McCann, 1965.
See also[]
Notes[]
- ^ "HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957". GovTrack.us.
- ^ Potter, Charles E. (December 3, 1953). "Korean War Atrocities" (PDF, online). United States Senate Subcommittee on Korean War Atrocities of the Permanent Subcommittee of the Investigations of the Committee on Government Operations. US GPO. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
References[]
- United States Congress. "Charles E. Potter (id: P000460)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-02-05
- The Political Graveyard
External links[]
- Arlington National Cemetery
- A film clip "Longines Chronoscope with Charles E. Potter" is available at the Internet Archive
- 1916 births
- 1979 deaths
- United States senators from Michigan
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Michigan
- Michigan Republicans
- United States Army officers
- United States Army personnel of World War II
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Eastern Michigan University alumni
- American amputees
- Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
- Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)
- American politicians with physical disabilities
- Republican Party United States senators
- American Methodists
- 20th-century American writers
- Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- 20th-century American politicians
- People from Lapeer, Michigan
- Maryland Republicans