Charles O. Porter
Encyclopedia
Charles Orlando Porter was a politician
from the U.S. state
of Oregon
.
, to Frank Porter and Ruth Peterson, he graduated from high school
in Eugene, Oregon
and then went on to graduate from Harvard University
with a B.S.
in 1941. From there he went on to serve in the United States Army
during World War II
from 1941 to 1945. He then went back to Harvard Law School
and graduated with an L.L.B. in 1947. At Harvard Law, he partnered with several other returning veterans to found the Harvard Law Record
, using the nascent paper to argue for more student housing.
for Oregon's 4th congressional district
as a Democrat
in 1954. He lost that race, but he ran again in 1956. In a major upset, he narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Harris Ellsworth
. In association with Robert J. Alexander, he wrote The Struggle for Democracy in Latin America, which was published in 1961.
When he was in Congress from 1957 through 1961, Porter quickly became known as a strong liberal. He backed admitting China
to the United Nations
, opening trade with China and halting nuclear testing
. Partly as a result, he was defeated for reelection in 1960 Republican Edwin R. Durno.
In 1980, Porter made an unsuccessful attempt to win the Democratic primary in the United States Senate election
, but lost the nomination to Ted Kulongoski
. Porter made several other attempts to return to Congress: in 1964, he lost the Democratic primary to Robert Duncan
, and lost again in 1966, 1972, 1976, and 1980.
After returning to private law practice in Eugene in 1965, Porter was noted as one of the main proponents for the removal of a controversial Christian
cross from Skinner Butte
in Eugene. He also fought against building a nuclear power plant near Eugene, fought for the decriminalization of marijuana
, and was opposed to the Vietnam War
.
, 2006, in Eugene, of Alzheimer's disease
.
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.
Early life
Born in Klamath Falls, OregonKlamath Falls, Oregon
Klamath Falls is a city in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. Originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867, after the Link River on whose falls this city sat, although no falls currently exist; the name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1892...
, to Frank Porter and Ruth Peterson, he graduated from high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
and then went on to graduate from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
with a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1941. From there he went on to serve in 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 II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
from 1941 to 1945. He then went back to Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
and graduated with an L.L.B. in 1947. At Harvard Law, he partnered with several other returning veterans to found the Harvard Law Record
Harvard Law Record
The Harvard Law Record is an independent, biweekly student-edited newspaper based at Harvard Law School. Founded in 1946, it is the oldest law school newspaper in the United States.-Characteristics:...
, using the nascent paper to argue for more student housing.
Congressional career
He entered politics when he ran for the Congressional RepresentativeUnited 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...
for Oregon's 4th congressional district
Oregon's 4th congressional district
Oregon's 4th congressional district represents the southern half of Oregon's coastal counties, including Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, and Linn counties and most of Benton and Josephine counties...
as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in 1954. He lost that race, but he ran again in 1956. In a major upset, he narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Harris Ellsworth
Harris Ellsworth
Mathew Harris Ellsworth was a Republican U.S. congressman from Oregon.-Early life:Born in Hoquiam, Washington, Ellsworth moved together with his parents to Eugene, Oregon and later to nearby Wendling, where he attended public schools. In 1922, he graduated with a journalism degree from the...
. In association with Robert J. Alexander, he wrote The Struggle for Democracy in Latin America, which was published in 1961.
When he was in Congress from 1957 through 1961, Porter quickly became known as a strong liberal. He backed admitting China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, opening trade with China and halting nuclear testing
Nuclear testing
Nuclear weapons tests are experiments carried out to determine the effectiveness, yield and explosive capability of nuclear weapons. Throughout the twentieth century, most nations that have developed nuclear weapons have tested them...
. Partly as a result, he was defeated for reelection in 1960 Republican Edwin R. Durno.
In 1980, Porter made an unsuccessful attempt to win the Democratic primary in the United States Senate election
United States Senate election in Oregon, 1980
The 1980 Oregon United States Senate election was held on November 4, 1980 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of Oregon. Republican candidate Bob Packwood was re-elected to a third term, defeating Democratic state senator Ted Kulongoski and Libertarian Tonie Nathan.-Volcano eruption:The...
, but lost the nomination to Ted Kulongoski
Ted Kulongoski
Theodore R. "Ted" Kulongoski is an American politician, who served as the 36th Governor of Oregon. A Democrat, he has served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, as the state Insurance Commissioner, the Attorney General, and an Associate Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court.-Early...
. Porter made several other attempts to return to Congress: in 1964, he lost the Democratic primary to Robert Duncan
Robert Duncan
-Arts:*Robert Duncan , American music critic*Robert Duncan , British TV actor*Robert Duncan , U.S. composer*Robert Duncan , U.S. poet-Politics:...
, and lost again in 1966, 1972, 1976, and 1980.
After returning to private law practice in Eugene in 1965, Porter was noted as one of the main proponents for the removal of a controversial Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
cross from Skinner Butte
Skinner Butte
Skinner Butte is a prominent hill on the north edge of downtown Eugene, Oregon, United States, near the Willamette River. Skinner Butte is a local landmark and the location of Skinner Butte Park, a municipal park. It is named for Eugene Skinner, the founder of Eugene...
in Eugene. He also fought against building a nuclear power plant near Eugene, fought for the decriminalization of marijuana
Decriminalization of non-medical marijuana in the United States
Attempts to decriminalize cannabis in the United States began in the 1970s. Several jurisdictions have subsequently decriminalized cannabis for non-medical purposes, as views on cannabis have liberalized, peaking in 1978...
, and was opposed to 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...
.
Personal
He was married to Priscilla Porter, who died in 2002. They had four children: Don, Chris, Sam, and Anne. He died on New Year's DayNew Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
, 2006, in Eugene, of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
.
External links
- NNDB on Charles O. Porter
- Cached version of Priscilla Porter's obituary from The Register-GuardThe Register-GuardThe Register-Guard is a daily newspaper published in Eugene, Oregon, United States. It was formed in a 1930 merger of two Eugene papers, the Eugene Daily Guard and the Morning Register. The paper serves the Eugene-Springfield area, as well as the Oregon Coast, Umpqua River Valley, and surrounding...
- Guide to the Charles O. Porter papers at the University of Oregon