Charles A. Halleck
Encyclopedia
Charles Abraham Halleck was a Republican
leader of the United States House of Representatives
from the second district of Indiana
.
Halleck was born near DeMotte
, in Jasper County
, Indiana, the son of Abraham and Lura (née Luce) Halleck. He served in the Infantry of the United States Army
, during World War I
. After military service, Halleck attended Indiana University
at Bloomington
. In 1924 Halleck was admitted to the bar and began practicing in Rensselaer
. From 1924 and 1934 he was the Prosecuting Attorney for the thirteenth district court.
Following the death of the congressman-elect Frederick Landis
in 1935, Halleck replaced him and remained in that position until 1969. A prominent member of the Conservative coalition
, he served as the House Majority Leader after the elections of 1946 and 1952; he was House Minority Leader
1959-1964.
Halleck noted that a highlight of his career came at the 1940 Republican convention
when he nominated another politician from Indiana, Wendell Wilkie. Noting the mixed reception he got, Halleck said, "I got more brickbats and more bouquets over that speech than any other I've ever made."
According to Halleck, he was rumored to be Thomas Dewey
's vice-presidential nominee in 1948 on the condition that Halleck guarantee the support of the Indiana delegation at the Republican convention
. In the end, Dewey selected Earl Warren
from California, with that duo suffering a stunning upset defeat that November to the Democratic ticket of Harry Truman and Alben Barkley.
He was a strong opponent of the liberal social proposals of Democrats John F. Kennedy
and Lyndon B. Johnson
, but supported the Vietnam War
and was one of the strongest advocates for the Civil Rights Act of 1964
. Along with Senator Everett Dirksen
he was the face of the Republican Party
during most of the 1960s, and made frequent appearances on television news and talk programs. The press jocularly nicknamed his joint appearances with Mr. Dirksen the "Ev and Charlie Show."
After the 1964 election, Halleck was defeated in his bid to remain Minority Leader by Gerald Ford
, who was the leader of a younger faction.
Charles Halleck was married to Blanche Annetta White, who died in 1973. They had two children. Halleck died in Lafayette, Indiana
on March 3, 1986 and is buried next to his wife in Rensselaer.
in the 1974, made for TV film, The Missiles of October
.
History of the United States Republican Party
The United States Republican Party is the second oldest currently existing political party in the United States after its great rival, the Democratic Party. It emerged in 1854 to combat the Kansas Nebraska Act which threatened to extend slavery into the territories, and to promote more vigorous...
leader of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from the second district of Indiana
Indiana's 2nd congressional district
Indiana's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. Based in South Bend, the district is located in north-central Indiana and takes in the Indiana portion of the Michiana region...
.
Halleck was born near DeMotte
DeMotte, Indiana
DeMotte is a town in Keener Township, Jasper County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,814 at the 2010 census. DeMotte is well known for its comforting atmosphere and friendly people. In 2001, it was acclaimed at the town where strangers are acquaintances, neighbors are colleagues and...
, in Jasper County
Jasper County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,043 people, 10,686 households, and 8,217 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 11,236 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
, Indiana, the son of Abraham and Lura (née Luce) Halleck. He served in the Infantry of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. After military service, Halleck attended Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
at Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
. In 1924 Halleck was admitted to the bar and began practicing in Rensselaer
Rensselaer, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,294 people, 2,158 households, and 1,404 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,824.8 people per square mile . There were 2,296 housing units at an average density of 791.4 per square mile...
. From 1924 and 1934 he was the Prosecuting Attorney for the thirteenth district court.
Following the death of the congressman-elect Frederick Landis
Frederick Landis
Frederick Landis was a U.S. Representative from Indiana, brother of Charles Beary Landis and baseball commissioner Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis....
in 1935, Halleck replaced him and remained in that position until 1969. A prominent member of the Conservative coalition
Conservative coalition
In the United States, the conservative coalition was an unofficial Congressional coalition bringing together the conservative majority of the Republican Party and the conservative, mostly Southern, wing of the Democratic Party...
, he served as the House Majority Leader after the elections of 1946 and 1952; he was House Minority Leader
Minority leader of the United States House of Representatives
The House Minority Leader is one of the party leaders of the United States House of Representatives. This title is currently held by Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi of California....
1959-1964.
Halleck noted that a highlight of his career came at the 1940 Republican convention
1940 Republican National Convention
The 1940 Republican National Convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from June 24 to June 28, 1940. It nominated Wendell Willkie of Indiana for President and Senator Charles McNary of Oregon for Vice-President....
when he nominated another politician from Indiana, Wendell Wilkie. Noting the mixed reception he got, Halleck said, "I got more brickbats and more bouquets over that speech than any other I've ever made."
According to Halleck, he was rumored to be Thomas Dewey
Thomas Dewey
Thomas Edmund Dewey was the 47th Governor of New York . In 1944 and 1948, he was the Republican candidate for President, but lost both times. He led the liberal faction of the Republican Party, in which he fought conservative Ohio Senator Robert A. Taft...
's vice-presidential nominee in 1948 on the condition that Halleck guarantee the support of the Indiana delegation at the Republican convention
1948 Republican National Convention
The 1948 Republican National Convention was held at the Municipal Auditorium, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from June 21 to 25, 1948.New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey had paved the way to win the Republican presidential nomination in the primary elections, where he had beaten Minnesota Governor...
. In the end, Dewey selected Earl Warren
Earl Warren
Earl Warren was the 14th Chief Justice of the United States.He is known for the sweeping decisions of the Warren Court, which ended school segregation and transformed many areas of American law, especially regarding the rights of the accused, ending public-school-sponsored prayer, and requiring...
from California, with that duo suffering a stunning upset defeat that November to the Democratic ticket of Harry Truman and Alben Barkley.
He was a strong opponent of the liberal social proposals of Democrats John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
and Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
, but supported the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and was one of the strongest advocates for the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, including racial segregation...
. Along with Senator Everett Dirksen
Everett Dirksen
Everett McKinley Dirksen was an American politician of the Republican Party. He represented Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate...
he was the face of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
during most of the 1960s, and made frequent appearances on television news and talk programs. The press jocularly nicknamed his joint appearances with Mr. Dirksen the "Ev and Charlie Show."
After the 1964 election, Halleck was defeated in his bid to remain Minority Leader by Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
, who was the leader of a younger faction.
Charles Halleck was married to Blanche Annetta White, who died in 1973. They had two children. Halleck died in Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
on March 3, 1986 and is buried next to his wife in Rensselaer.
In Media
Halleck was portrayed by actor Arthur FranzArthur Franz
Arthur Franz was a B-movie actor whose most notable role was as Lieutenant, Junior Grade H. Paynter, Jr. in The Caine Mutiny. He also appeared in Roseanna McCoy , Invaders from Mars , Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man and The Unholy Wife , among others...
in the 1974, made for TV film, The Missiles of October
The Missiles of October
The Missiles of October is a 1974 docudrama made-for-television play about the Cuban missile crisis. The title evokes the book The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman about the missteps among the great powers and the failed chances to give an opponent a graceful way out, which led to the First...
.