Daniel Brewster
Encyclopedia
Daniel Baugh Brewster was a Democratic
member of the United States Senate
, representing the State of Maryland
from 1963 until 1969. He was also a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from 1950–1958, and a representative from the 2nd congressional district of Maryland in the United States House of Representatives
from 1959-1963.
, in the Green Spring Valley Region. He was the son and one of six children of Daniel Baugh Brewster, Sr. and Ottolie Y. Wickes.
He was a direct lineal descendant of Elder William Brewster
, (c. 1567 - April 10, 1644), the Pilgrim colonist leader and spiritual elder of the Plymouth Colony
and a passenger on the Mayflower
. He was a great-grandson of Benjamin Harris Brewster (1816–1888) who was an attorney and politician from New Jersey, and who served as United States Attorney General
from 1881 - 1885.
He was also a great-great-great-grandson of Sarah Franklin Bache
and Richard Bache
and a great-great-great-great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin
, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. He is also related to George Mifflin Dallas (July 10, 1792 – December 31, 1864), a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and the 11th Vice President of the United States
, serving under James K. Polk
.
in Baltimore City and St. Paul's School
in Concord, New Hampshire
. He attended college at Princeton University
, and Johns Hopkins University
before the U.S. entry into World War II
.
After the war, he completed his undergraduate education at Johns Hopkins, then enrolled in the University of Maryland Law School
. He was admitted to the Bar
in 1949, commencing law practice in Towson, Maryland
, soon after.
On April 29, 1967, Brewster married Anne Moen Bullitt Biddle (1924–2007) at Glyndon, Maryland
. She was the daughter of journalist Louise Bryant
and William C. Bullitt from their marriage in 1923. Bryant, her mother, was the widow of John Reed who wrote Ten Days That Shook the World while living in Moscow through the Bolshevik revolution; while Bullitt, her father, served as Ambassador to the Soviet Union and France under President Franklin D. Roosevelt
. Anne Biddle was previously married to Caspar Wistar Barton Townsend, Jr., Nicholas Duke Biddle and Roderic More O'Ferrall. This, Brewster's second marriage, ended in 1969.
In 1976, Brewster married Judy Lynn Aarsand, and had three children, Danielle (1977) and twins Jennilie and Dana (1979).
. In 1943, he was commissioned from the ranks in 1943. During the war
, he served in the Pacific theatre
, including participating in the Battle of Guam
and the Battle of Okinawa
. For his actions during the war, he received a Bronze Star
. He was wounded seven times, receiving a Purple Heart
and a Gold Star in lieu of a second award. He left active duty in 1946, but continued in the Reserve until 1972, reaching the rank of Colonel.
, was elected as to the Maryland House of Delegates
in 1950 and he served until 1958.
from the 2nd district of Maryland, defeating the Republican
candidate, J. Fife Symington, Jr.. He was a member of the House during the Eighty-sixth (1959–1961) and Eighty-seventh Congresses (1961–1963)—serving on the House Armed Services Committee and on the subcommittee on Military Personnel, Manpower Utilization, and Emergency Defense Transportation.
In 1962, he ran for the United States Senate
seat vacated by the retiring Republican Senator John Marshall Butler
, and defeated Congressman Ted Miller to became the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Maryland since 1946. He served in the Senate from 1963 to 1969. He was defeated in the 1968 election by Charles Mathias, Jr.
In 1964, he ran in the Democratic presidential primaries
against segregationist George Wallace
. As Lyndon Johnson refused to run nationally, "favorite son
s" were run in his place against Wallace, such as who ran in Matthew E. Welsh
of Indiana and John W. Reynolds of Wisconsin. Brewster won his state's primary. As is required, Maryland delegates to the 1964 Democratic National Convention
voted for Brewster on the first ballot, then voted for Lyndon Johnson.
to ban the practice except in case of treason and national security.
In a November 1966 letter to the New York Times, Brewster declared his support for advertising or "junk" mail, which he claimed account for $35 billion in sales. Pointing out that 80% of the mail is for business purposes, Brewster expressed concern over possible unemployment in private business and the postal service if "junk mail" is eliminated. In 1967, he voted for a "junk mail" amendment, which would delay price increases and limit 3rd class mail rates to 3.8 cents a piece. Brewster also played a strong supporting role in national Democratic politics.
on 10 criminal
counts of solicitation and acceptance of bribes
while a United States Senator, in his role as a member of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service; as well as two counts of accepting illegal gratuities. This stemmed from a campaign contribution by Spiegel, Inc., a mail-order firm. He contended that he had done nothing wrong.
At trial, the judge dismissed five of the charges saying that his actions were protected under the Speech and Debate Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The prosecution appealed directly the U.S. Supreme Court — which heard the case in 1971 and 1972. In June 1972, the Court held 6 to 3 that the taking of illegal bribes was not protected as taking of a bribe was not part of the "performance of a legislative function".
The charges were reinstated. Brewster stood trial and was found " not guilty" of the bribery charges but was convicted of accepting an unlawful gratuity "without corrupt intent ". However, in August 1974, his conviction was overturned on appeal due to the trial judge's improper instructions to the jury. In 1975, he pleaded no contest
to a single misdemeanor charge of accepting an illegal gratuity " without corrupt intent" and was fined and allowed to keep his law license. The government dropped the other charges.
He died of liver cancer on August 19, 2007, at age 83. He is buried at Saint Thomas' Episcopal Church Cemetery, Owings Mills, Maryland.
of Baltimore, who as a Congresswoman from California
would become Democratic leader and, in 2007, Speaker of the House of Representatives
, and Steny Hoyer
, who served on Senator Brewster's staff for five years from 1962 to 1966 and who served as House Majority Leader to Pelosi.
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...
member of the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, representing the State of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
from 1963 until 1969. He was also a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
from 1950–1958, and a representative from the 2nd congressional district of Maryland in 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 1959-1963.
Early life and ancestors
Daniel Baugh Brewster, Jr. was born on November 23, 1923, in Baltimore County, MarylandBaltimore County, Maryland
Baltimore County is a county located in the northern part of the US state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 805,029. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Towson. The name of the county was derived from the barony of the Proprietor of the Maryland...
, in the Green Spring Valley Region. He was the son and one of six children of Daniel Baugh Brewster, Sr. and Ottolie Y. Wickes.
He was a direct lineal descendant of Elder William Brewster
William Brewster (Pilgrim)
Elder William Brewster was a Mayflower passenger and a Pilgrim colonist leader and preacher.-Origins:Brewster was probably born at Doncaster, Yorkshire, England, circa 1566/1567, although no birth records have been found, and died at Plymouth, Massachusetts on April 10, 1644 around 9- or 10pm...
, (c. 1567 - April 10, 1644), the Pilgrim colonist leader and spiritual elder of the Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
and a passenger on the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
. He was a great-grandson of Benjamin Harris Brewster (1816–1888) who was an attorney and politician from New Jersey, and who served as United States Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
from 1881 - 1885.
He was also a great-great-great-grandson of Sarah Franklin Bache
Sarah Franklin Bache
Sarah Franklin “Sally” Bache was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Deborah Read.Known as "Sally" throughout her life, she was an ardent American patriot during the Revolutionary War through relief work and as her father's political hostess...
and Richard Bache
Richard Bache
Richard Bache , born in Yorkshire, England, was the son-in-law of Benjamin Franklin. After arriving in Philadelphia from Yorkshire, England, in 1761, Bache prospered as a marine insurance underwriter and importer. In 1767, misfortune struck; debts contracted by him were repudiated by his London...
and a great-great-great-great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. He is also related to George Mifflin Dallas (July 10, 1792 – December 31, 1864), a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and the 11th Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
, serving under James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
.
Education
He was educated at the Gilman SchoolGilman School
Gilman School is a private preparatory school for boys located in the Roland Park neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1897 as the Country School for Boys, it was the first country day school in the United States. Gilman enrolls approximately 978 students, ranging from kindergarten to...
in Baltimore City and St. Paul's School
St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire)
St. Paul's School is a highly selective college-preparatory, coeducational boarding school in Concord, New Hampshire affiliated with the Episcopal Church. The school is one of only six remaining 100% residential boarding schools in the U.S. The New Hampshire campus currently serves 533 students,...
in Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
. He attended college at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, and Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
before the U.S. entry into 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...
.
After the war, he completed his undergraduate education at Johns Hopkins, then enrolled in the University of Maryland Law School
University of Maryland, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore, was founded in 1807. It comprises some of the oldest professional schools in the nation and world. It is the original campus of the University System of Maryland. Located on 60 acres in downtown Baltimore, Maryland, it is part of the University System of Maryland...
. He was admitted to the Bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1949, commencing law practice in Towson, Maryland
Towson, Maryland
Towson is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 55,197 at the 2010 census...
, soon after.
Personal
Brewster had two sons, Daniel Baugh Brewster, Jr. (1956) and Gerry Leiper Brewster (1958) from his first marriage to Carol Lieper DeHavenon of Philadelphia. They married in 1954, and after thirteen years of marriage, in March 1967, they publicly announced their separation.On April 29, 1967, Brewster married Anne Moen Bullitt Biddle (1924–2007) at Glyndon, Maryland
Glyndon, Maryland
Glyndon, Maryland is an unincorporated community in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1871 by Dr. Charles A. Leas, the village is located in the northwest section of Baltimore County and serves primarily as a residential suburb of metropolitan Baltimore City...
. She was the daughter of journalist Louise Bryant
Louise Bryant
Louise Bryant was an American journalist and writer. She was best known for her Marxist and anarchist beliefs and her essays on radical political and feminist themes. Bryant published articles in several radical left journals during her life, including Alexander Berkman's The Blast...
and William C. Bullitt from their marriage in 1923. Bryant, her mother, was the widow of John Reed who wrote Ten Days That Shook the World while living in Moscow through the Bolshevik revolution; while Bullitt, her father, served as Ambassador to the Soviet Union and France under President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
. Anne Biddle was previously married to Caspar Wistar Barton Townsend, Jr., Nicholas Duke Biddle and Roderic More O'Ferrall. This, Brewster's second marriage, ended in 1969.
In 1976, Brewster married Judy Lynn Aarsand, and had three children, Danielle (1977) and twins Jennilie and Dana (1979).
Military service
In 1942, Brewster enlisted in the United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. In 1943, he was commissioned from the ranks in 1943. During the war
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...
, he served in the Pacific theatre
Pacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
, including participating in the Battle of Guam
Battle of Guam
The Second Battle of Guam was the American capture of the Japanese held island of Guam, a United States territory during the Pacific campaign of World War II.-Background:...
and the Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
. For his actions during the war, he received a Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
. He was wounded seven times, receiving a Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
and a Gold Star in lieu of a second award. He left active duty in 1946, but continued in the Reserve until 1972, reaching the rank of Colonel.
Maryland state politics
Brewster, a DemocratDemocratic 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...
, was elected as to the Maryland House of Delegates
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
in 1950 and he served until 1958.
National politics
In 1958, he was elected to the House of RepresentativesUnited 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 2nd district of Maryland, defeating the Republican
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...
candidate, J. Fife Symington, Jr.. He was a member of the House during the Eighty-sixth (1959–1961) and Eighty-seventh Congresses (1961–1963)—serving on the House Armed Services Committee and on the subcommittee on Military Personnel, Manpower Utilization, and Emergency Defense Transportation.
In 1962, he ran for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
seat vacated by the retiring Republican Senator John Marshall Butler
John Marshall Butler
John Marshall Butler was a Republican member of the United States Senate, representing the State of Maryland from 1951-1963.-Early life:Butler was born in Baltimore, Maryland and attended Baltimore public schools...
, and defeated Congressman Ted Miller to became the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Maryland since 1946. He served in the Senate from 1963 to 1969. He was defeated in the 1968 election by Charles Mathias, Jr.
Charles Mathias, Jr.
Charles McCurdy "Mac" Mathias, Jr. was a Republican member of the United States Senate, representing Maryland from 1969 to 1987...
In 1964, he ran in the Democratic presidential primaries
Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1964
The 1964 Democratic presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 1964 U.S. presidential election. Incumbent President Lyndon B...
against segregationist George Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
. As Lyndon Johnson refused to run nationally, "favorite son
Favorite son
A favorite son is a political term.*At the quadrennial American national political party conventions, a state delegation sometimes nominates and votes for a candidate from the state, or less often from the state's region, who is not a viable candidate...
s" were run in his place against Wallace, such as who ran in Matthew E. Welsh
Matthew E. Welsh
Matthew Empson Welsh was the 41st Governor of Indiana from the Democratic Party, serving from 1961 to 1965. His term as governor saw a major increase in statewide taxation, including the first state sales tax, and the passage of a several important civil rights bills making Indiana one of the most...
of Indiana and John W. Reynolds of Wisconsin. Brewster won his state's primary. As is required, Maryland delegates to the 1964 Democratic National Convention
1964 Democratic National Convention
The 1964 Democratic National Convention was the 1964 presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party. It took place at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey from August 24 to 27, 1964. Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson -- who had been Vice President under...
voted for Brewster on the first ballot, then voted for Lyndon Johnson.
Political positions and voting record
Brewster focused on issues ranging from the presence of communist troops in Cuba in 1963 to proposed cuts in weekend postal service in 1964. His concern with mail practices continued in 1965 when he criticized the current "mail cover" practice which permitted holding up mail to and from persons under investigation. Stressing the importance of the right of privacy, Brewster urged the U.S. Postmaster General Larry O'BrienLarry O'Brien
Lawrence Francis "Larry" O'Brien, Jr. was one of the United States Democratic Party's leading electoral strategists when, for more than two decades, he helped reshape American politics...
to ban the practice except in case of treason and national security.
In a November 1966 letter to the New York Times, Brewster declared his support for advertising or "junk" mail, which he claimed account for $35 billion in sales. Pointing out that 80% of the mail is for business purposes, Brewster expressed concern over possible unemployment in private business and the postal service if "junk mail" is eliminated. In 1967, he voted for a "junk mail" amendment, which would delay price increases and limit 3rd class mail rates to 3.8 cents a piece. Brewster also played a strong supporting role in national Democratic politics.
Bribery charges
In 1969, Brewster was indictedIndictment
An indictment , in the common-law legal system, is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that maintain the concept of felonies, the serious criminal offence is a felony; jurisdictions that lack the concept of felonies often use that of an indictable offence—an...
on 10 criminal
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
counts of solicitation and acceptance of bribes
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
while a United States Senator, in his role as a member of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service; as well as two counts of accepting illegal gratuities. This stemmed from a campaign contribution by Spiegel, Inc., a mail-order firm. He contended that he had done nothing wrong.
At trial, the judge dismissed five of the charges saying that his actions were protected under the Speech and Debate Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The prosecution appealed directly the U.S. Supreme Court — which heard the case in 1971 and 1972. In June 1972, the Court held 6 to 3 that the taking of illegal bribes was not protected as taking of a bribe was not part of the "performance of a legislative function".
The charges were reinstated. Brewster stood trial and was found " not guilty" of the bribery charges but was convicted of accepting an unlawful gratuity "without corrupt intent ". However, in August 1974, his conviction was overturned on appeal due to the trial judge's improper instructions to the jury. In 1975, he pleaded no contest
Nolo contendere
is a legal term that comes from the Latin for "I do not wish to contend." It is also referred to as a plea of no contest.In criminal trials, and in some common law jurisdictions, it is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of...
to a single misdemeanor charge of accepting an illegal gratuity " without corrupt intent" and was fined and allowed to keep his law license. The government dropped the other charges.
Later years
After leaving the Senate, Brewster took up farming in Glyndon, Maryland.He died of liver cancer on August 19, 2007, at age 83. He is buried at Saint Thomas' Episcopal Church Cemetery, Owings Mills, Maryland.
Legacy
Among Brewster's United States Senate staff in the 1960s were intern Nancy D'Alessandro (later Pelosi)Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
of Baltimore, who as a Congresswoman from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
would become Democratic leader and, in 2007, Speaker of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
, and Steny Hoyer
Steny Hoyer
Steny Hamilton Hoyer is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1981. The district includes a large swath of rural and suburban territory southeast of Washington, D.C.. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
, who served on Senator Brewster's staff for five years from 1962 to 1966 and who served as House Majority Leader to Pelosi.