Herman Welker
Encyclopedia
Herman Welker was a politician from the state of Idaho
. He was a member of the Idaho Republican Party
.
Welker was born in Cambridge, Idaho
. He was the youngest of seven children of John and Zelda Welker, who had moved from North Carolina
and started a potato farm. He is the grandson of Rev. George W. Welker of North Carolina. Welker attended the University of Idaho
and became a lawyer. He was elected twice as the prosecuting attorney for Washington County, Idaho
and served in that position from 1928 to 1936. In 1936 he moved to Los Angeles
, practicing law there from 1936 to 1943. That year he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces
in which he served until 1945. He then practiced law in Payette, Idaho
, from 1946 to 1948 and was a member of the Idaho State Senate from 1949 to 1951.
In 1950, Welker was elected to the United States Senate
, defeating Congressman John C. Sanborn
in the Republican primary and former Senator D. Worth Clark
in the general election. He gained seats on several important committees, including the Armed Services and Judiciary Committees. He soon distinguished himself as one of the most conservative
and anticommunist senators, becoming a leading member and spokesperson for the right wing of the Republican Party.
In the early 1950s, Sen. Welker told Washington Senators
owner Clark Griffith
about Harmon Killebrew
, a young baseball player from his hometown who was batting .847 for a semi-professional
baseball team at the time. Griffith told his farm
director Ossie Bluege
about the tip and Bluege flew to Idaho to watch Killebrew play. The Boston Red Sox
also expressed interest but Bluege succeeded in signing him to a $50,000 contract on June 19, 1954.
Killebrew would go on to have a Hall of Fame career in Major League Baseball.
Welker became closely associated with Senator Joseph McCarthy
of Wisconsin
, so much so that he was occasionally referred to as "Little Joe from Idaho." In 1954, Welker was McCarthy's chief defender during the successful attempt of Democratic senators, joined by some Republicans, to censure McCarthy for his questionable investigative techniques while pursuing individuals accused of being communists within the government.
In 1956, Welker ran for a second term in the Senate. Although he won the Republican nomination, again defeating Sanborn, he was decisively defeated by the young Democrat Frank Church
; Welker received only 38 percent of the vote. This increased Democratic control of the Senate led to much anger within the Republican Party, with Joseph McCarthy even accusing President Dwight Eisenhower of not supporting Welker's reelection campaign enough.
After leaving the Senate in January 1957, Welker practiced law in Boise, Idaho
and participated in farming. After a few months, however, he became ill, and traveled to Bethesda, Maryland, for medical treatment at the National Institutes of Health. He was admitted on October 16, 1957, where he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Operations were quickly performed, but Welker died later that month. McCarthy had died earlier that year in Bethesda (Welker had attended McCarthy's funeral), as would ultimately Welker's successor, Frank Church, in 1984.
Welker was interred in Arlington National Cemetery
. He was married for over twenty years to Gladys Taylor Pence Welker, and they had a daughter, Nancy.
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. He was a member of the Idaho Republican Party
Idaho Republican Party
The Idaho Republican Party, the Idaho state affiliate of the United States Republican Party, is the dominant political party in the state of Idaho. Republicans control the all constitutional offices, with C.L. "Butch" Otter as Governor. They also control by large margins the state Senate and House...
.
Welker was born in Cambridge, Idaho
Cambridge, Idaho
Cambridge is a city in Washington County, Idaho, United States. The population was 360 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cambridge is located at ....
. He was the youngest of seven children of John and Zelda Welker, who had moved from North Carolina
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 started a potato farm. He is the grandson of Rev. George W. Welker of North Carolina. Welker attended the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
and became a lawyer. He was elected twice as the prosecuting attorney for Washington County, Idaho
Washington County, Idaho
Washington County is a county in the U.S. state of Idaho. Established in 1879 when Idaho was a territory, it was named after U.S. president George Washington. As of the 2000 Census, the county had a population of 9,977; it is estimated to have risen to 10,147 by 2007...
and served in that position from 1928 to 1936. In 1936 he moved to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, practicing law there from 1936 to 1943. That year he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
in which he served until 1945. He then practiced law in Payette, Idaho
Payette, Idaho
Payette is a city in and the county seat of Payette County, Idaho, United States. The population was 7,054 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ontario, OR–ID Micropolitan Statistical Area....
, from 1946 to 1948 and was a member of the Idaho State Senate from 1949 to 1951.
In 1950, Welker was elected to 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...
, defeating Congressman John C. Sanborn
John C. Sanborn
John Carfield Sanborn was a United States Representative from Idaho. Sanborn served as a Republican in the House from 1947 to 1951....
in the Republican primary and former Senator D. Worth Clark
David Worth Clark
David Worth Clark aka D. Worth Clark was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate representing Idaho....
in the general election. He gained seats on several important committees, including the Armed Services and Judiciary Committees. He soon distinguished himself as one of the most conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
and anticommunist senators, becoming a leading member and spokesperson for the right wing of the Republican Party.
In the early 1950s, Sen. Welker told Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
owner Clark Griffith
Clark Griffith
Clark Calvin Griffith , nicknamed "the Old Fox", was a Major League Baseball pitcher, manager and team owner.-Biography:...
about Harmon Killebrew
Harmon Killebrew
Harmon Clayton Killebrew , nicknamed "Killer" and "Hammerin' Harmon", was an American professional baseball first baseman, third baseman, and left fielder. During his 22-year career in Major League Baseball , he played for the Washington Senators, a team which later became the Minnesota Twins, and...
, a young baseball player from his hometown who was batting .847 for a semi-professional
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
baseball team at the time. Griffith told his farm
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
director Ossie Bluege
Ossie Bluege
Oswald Louis "Ossie" Bluege was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Washington Senators from 1922 through 1939...
about the tip and Bluege flew to Idaho to watch Killebrew play. The Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
also expressed interest but Bluege succeeded in signing him to a $50,000 contract on June 19, 1954.
Killebrew would go on to have a Hall of Fame career in Major League Baseball.
Welker became closely associated with Senator Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, so much so that he was occasionally referred to as "Little Joe from Idaho." In 1954, Welker was McCarthy's chief defender during the successful attempt of Democratic senators, joined by some Republicans, to censure McCarthy for his questionable investigative techniques while pursuing individuals accused of being communists within the government.
In 1956, Welker ran for a second term in the Senate. Although he won the Republican nomination, again defeating Sanborn, he was decisively defeated by the young Democrat Frank Church
Frank Church
Frank Forrester Church III was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a United States Senator from Idaho from 1957 to 1981....
; Welker received only 38 percent of the vote. This increased Democratic control of the Senate led to much anger within the Republican Party, with Joseph McCarthy even accusing President Dwight Eisenhower of not supporting Welker's reelection campaign enough.
After leaving the Senate in January 1957, Welker practiced law in Boise, Idaho
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
and participated in farming. After a few months, however, he became ill, and traveled to Bethesda, Maryland, for medical treatment at the National Institutes of Health. He was admitted on October 16, 1957, where he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Operations were quickly performed, but Welker died later that month. McCarthy had died earlier that year in Bethesda (Welker had attended McCarthy's funeral), as would ultimately Welker's successor, Frank Church, in 1984.
Welker was interred in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
. He was married for over twenty years to Gladys Taylor Pence Welker, and they had a daughter, Nancy.