Claude Kitchin
Encyclopedia
Claude Kitchin was a U.S. Congressional Representative from North Carolina
and floor leader of his party in the House
during the 64th, 65th, and 67th Congresses.
He was born in Halifax County, North Carolina
in 1869. His father was William H. Kitchin
and William Walton Kitchin
was his brother. First elected in 1900 after his party secured a constitutional amendment excluding blacks from the ballot boxes of the state, a campaign in which he served as a leading orator, he served in Congress as a member of the Democratic Party
until his death. In Congress, he served on the House Ways and Means Committee as well as being majority leader for 4 years. From 1915 to 1919 he was House majority leader
; from this position he opposed the Wilson
administration's "Preparedness" crusade, seeking unsuccessfully to hold down the growth in size of the army and navy. It was not surprising, then, that he was one of the representatives who voted against declaring war on Germany
in April 1917; indeed, his example and speech against American entry probably swelled the number of dissenters to fifty. Though he threw himself into the war effort
thereafter, he remained a critic of some of the administration's war policies, especially regarding taxation policies. He championed an "excess profits" tax that was steeply progressive over a policy of selling Liberty Bonds that shifted the financial burden on the war onto future generations. In 1920 he suffered a stroke after an impassioned speech, and three years later he died.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and floor leader of his party in the House
Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives
Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives are elected by their respective parties in a closed-door caucus by secret ballot and are also known as floor leaders. The U.S. House of Representatives does not officially use the term "Minority Leader", although the media frequently does...
during the 64th, 65th, and 67th Congresses.
He was born in Halifax County, North Carolina
Halifax County, North Carolina
-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:[[Image:HalifaxCountyCotton.wmg.jpg|left|thumb|A cotton field blooms in Halifax County....
in 1869. His father was William H. Kitchin
William H. Kitchin
William Hodges Kitchin was a one-term U.S. Congressional representative from North Carolina. He helped tighten the color line between blacks and whites in the state...
and William Walton Kitchin
William Walton Kitchin
William Walton Kitchin was the 52nd Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1909 to 1913.-Early Life and Family:...
was his brother. First elected in 1900 after his party secured a constitutional amendment excluding blacks from the ballot boxes of the state, a campaign in which he served as a leading orator, he served in Congress as a member of the Democratic Party
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...
until his death. In Congress, he served on the House Ways and Means Committee as well as being majority leader for 4 years. From 1915 to 1919 he was House majority leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
; from this position he opposed the Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
administration's "Preparedness" crusade, seeking unsuccessfully to hold down the growth in size of the army and navy. It was not surprising, then, that he was one of the representatives who voted against declaring war on Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in April 1917; indeed, his example and speech against American entry probably swelled the number of dissenters to fifty. Though he threw himself into the war effort
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...
thereafter, he remained a critic of some of the administration's war policies, especially regarding taxation policies. He championed an "excess profits" tax that was steeply progressive over a policy of selling Liberty Bonds that shifted the financial burden on the war onto future generations. In 1920 he suffered a stroke after an impassioned speech, and three years later he died.