Dean P. Taylor
Encyclopedia
Dean Park Taylor served as a United States Congressman from New York for nearly 20 years and came from a family long involved in public service to New York. Taylor was born in Troy, Rensselaer County, N.Y.
, on January 1, 1902, and attended the Troy public schools, Colgate University
, Hamilton, N.Y. (Class of 1925), and Albany Law School
of Union University
, Schenectady, N.Y.
Taylor was admitted to the bar
in 1926 and commenced practice in Troy, N.Y. with his father, former Rensselaer County District Attorney John P. Taylor
, and brother, Donald S. Taylor
who went on to become a judge. Taylor served as Assistant United States Attorney, Northern District of New York from 1927-1930. He was chairman of the Rensselaer County Republican Committee from 1938–1952 and served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1940. Taylor was also chairman of the New York State Republican Committee from 1953-1954. He served as trustee of Russell Sage College
, as well as a director of the Union National Bank and the Niagara Mohawk Power Co.
Taylor was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1942 as a Republican
to the Seventy-eighth
and to the eight succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1943-January 3, 1961) (29th District 1943-45, 33rd District 1945-53, 31st District 1953-61). He served on various committees, including the United States House Committee on the Judiciary
and the House Committee on Public Land. Taylor also sat on the sub-committee of the U.S. House Committee on Territories evaluating Hawaii
for statehood. Commencing in 1946, Taylor travelled to Hawaii, conducted hearings, and briefed President Harry S. Truman
and Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes
on matters pertaining to legislation generally known as the Hawaii Admission Act
, which, however, did not become law until 1959.
Taylor was not a candidate for renomination in 1960 to the 87th United States Congress
and retired to resume the practice of law. On September 30, 1960 at the Hendrick Hudson Hotel in Troy, N.Y., then Vice President
Richard M. Nixon, though campaigning for the presidency at the time, attended Taylor's retirement celebration, along with Senator Kenneth B. Keating and then New York Lieutenant Governor Malcolm Wilson
. Nixon noted he was there "to pay my respects to Dean as an individual, as one who has been a close personal friend of mine from the time I came to the House 14 years ago; one who I always considered to be a 'dean' to a certain extent, he always seemed older to me some way, but as I get older he seems younger."
Taylor died in Albany, N.Y., on October 16, 1977 and is interred in Oakwood Cemetery in Troy, New York.
Taylor's papers are held by the Rensselaer County Historical Society Troy, New York, which also hosts the Dean P. Taylor Research Library, opened in 1993.
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, on January 1, 1902, and attended the Troy public schools, Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
, Hamilton, N.Y. (Class of 1925), and Albany Law School
Albany Law School
Albany Law School is an ABA accredited law school based in Albany, New York. It was founded in 1851 by Amos Dean , Amasa Parker, Ira Harris and others....
of Union University
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
, Schenectady, N.Y.
Taylor was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1926 and commenced practice in Troy, N.Y. with his father, former Rensselaer County District Attorney John P. Taylor
John P. Taylor
John Park Taylor served as District Attorney of Rensselaer County, New York from 1914–1920, and was posthumously honored with the dedication of the John P. Taylor Federal Housing Project, Troy, New York in 1954....
, and brother, Donald S. Taylor
Donald S. Taylor
Donald S. Taylor served as a judge of the New York Supreme Court and Appellate Division for 20 years, and came from a family with a long history of public service to New York State....
who went on to become a judge. Taylor served as Assistant United States Attorney, Northern District of New York from 1927-1930. He was chairman of the Rensselaer County Republican Committee from 1938–1952 and served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1940. Taylor was also chairman of the New York State Republican Committee from 1953-1954. He served as trustee of Russell Sage College
Russell Sage College
Russell Sage College is a women's college located in Troy, New York, approximately north of New York City in the Capital District. It is one of the three colleges that make up The Sage Colleges...
, as well as a director of the Union National Bank and the Niagara Mohawk Power Co.
Taylor was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1942 as a 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...
to the Seventy-eighth
78th United States Congress
The Seventy-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1943 to January 3, 1945, during the last two years...
and to the eight succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1943-January 3, 1961) (29th District 1943-45, 33rd District 1945-53, 31st District 1953-61). He served on various committees, including the United States House Committee on the Judiciary
United States House Committee on the Judiciary
The U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, also called the House Judiciary Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is charged with overseeing the administration of justice within the federal courts, administrative agencies and Federal law enforcement...
and the House Committee on Public Land. Taylor also sat on the sub-committee of the U.S. House Committee on Territories evaluating Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
for statehood. Commencing in 1946, Taylor travelled to Hawaii, conducted hearings, and briefed President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
and Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes
Harold L. Ickes
Harold LeClair Ickes was a United States administrator and politician. He served as United States Secretary of the Interior for 13 years, from 1933 to 1946, the longest tenure of anyone to hold the office, and the second longest serving Cabinet member in U.S. history next to James Wilson. Ickes...
on matters pertaining to legislation generally known as the Hawaii Admission Act
Hawaii Admission Act
The Admission Act, formally An Act to Provide for the Admission of the State of Hawaii into the Union is a statute enacted by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower which dissolved the Territory of Hawaii and established the State of Hawaii as the 50th...
, which, however, did not become law until 1959.
Taylor was not a candidate for renomination in 1960 to the 87th United States Congress
87th United States Congress
-House of Representatives :-Senate:* President: Richard Nixon , until January 20, 1961** Lyndon Johnson , from January 20, 1961* President pro tempore: Carl Hayden -House of Representatives:...
and retired to resume the practice of law. On September 30, 1960 at the Hendrick Hudson Hotel in Troy, N.Y., then Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
Richard M. Nixon, though campaigning for the presidency at the time, attended Taylor's retirement celebration, along with Senator Kenneth B. Keating and then New York Lieutenant Governor Malcolm Wilson
Malcolm Wilson (New York)
Charles Malcolm Wilson was the 50th Governor of New York from December 18, 1973, to December 31, 1974. He was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1939 to 1958. He also served in the Navy during World War II...
. Nixon noted he was there "to pay my respects to Dean as an individual, as one who has been a close personal friend of mine from the time I came to the House 14 years ago; one who I always considered to be a 'dean' to a certain extent, he always seemed older to me some way, but as I get older he seems younger."
Taylor died in Albany, N.Y., on October 16, 1977 and is interred in Oakwood Cemetery in Troy, New York.
Taylor's papers are held by the Rensselaer County Historical Society Troy, New York, which also hosts the Dean P. Taylor Research Library, opened in 1993.