James D. Martin
Encyclopedia
James Douglas Martin is a retired Republican
politician from the US state of Alabama
. His 1962 campaign for the United States Senate
was the first serious showing by a member of his party since Reconstruction.
Martin was born in Tarrant
in Jefferson County
, Alabama. He attended the public schools and the Birmingham School of Law
. In 1937, he began working in the petroleum industry. In July 1941, he enlisted in the United States Army
, where he commanded an artillery battery in Europe during World War II. He also served as an intelligence officer in the Army of Occupation
and was discharged as a Major in March 1946. He returned to Alabama to work as an oil products distributor.
Martin was at first a conservative Democrat
, but he joined the GOP
to challenge incumbent J. Lister Hill
for Hill's U.S. Senate
seat. Martin lost to Hill by 6,019 votes (49.1 percent for Martin vs. 50.9 percent for Hill), the best Republican showing in decades.
Martin was elected to the House of Representatives
in the 89th Congress in 1964, the year of the Goldwater landslide
in Alabama, which resulted in the election of several other Republican candidates to the U.S. House, including Jack Edwards and John Buchanan
, and William Dickinson. Martin surrendered his House seat after one term in order to run in 1966 for Governor of Alabama. His Democratic opponent was Lurleen Wallace
, the first wife of outgoing Governor George C. Wallace, Jr.
, who had defeated a primary field that included Attorney General Richmond Flowers. Martin ran a conservative campaign, but the Wallaces dominated among the state's then majority of segregationist voters. Neither Martin nor Mrs. Wallace sought support from the increasing number of African American voters, energized since passage a year earlier of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Martin even trailed his fellow Republican, John Grenier
, who opposed U.S. Senator John Sparkman
that year. Grenier had himself planned to run for governor but switched races after Martin filed for the top office.
Martin ran for the U.S. Senate in 1972 but lost the Republican nomination to former Postmaster General
Winton Blount, who in turn was easily defeated by incumbent John Sparkman. Martin ran again in 1978, first against the Alabama Supreme Court
Justice Howell Heflin
, the Democratic nominee to succeed Senator Sparkman. He switched races in the middle of the campaign to face Donald W. Stewart
to fill the unexpired term of James B. Allen
, who died in office. However, Stewart, who first beat Allen's widow, Maryon Allen, in the primary, went on to defeat Martin. Martin returned to work in the petroleum industry
.
In 1987, Guy Hunt, the first Republican governor of Alabama since Reconstruction, appointed Martin commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
.
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...
politician from the US state of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. His 1962 campaign 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...
was the first serious showing by a member of his party since Reconstruction.
Martin was born in Tarrant
Tarrant, Alabama
Tarrant is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States southeast of Fultondale. At the 2000 census the population was 7,022.-Geography:Tarrant is located at .According to the U.S...
in Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
, Alabama. He attended the public schools and the Birmingham School of Law
Birmingham School of Law
The Birmingham School of Law is a state accredited law school located in Birmingham, Alabama. Founded in 1915 by Judge Hugh A. Locke, a judge of the Chancery Court and president of the , the Birmingham School of Law offers a part-time program of study in which graduates receive the Juris Doctor ...
. In 1937, he began working in the petroleum industry. In July 1941, he enlisted 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...
, where he commanded an artillery battery in Europe during World War II. He also served as an intelligence officer in the Army of Occupation
Army of Occupation
Army of Occupation is a term for an army occupying conquered territory, and has been used for many armies in many eras including:*The Army of Occupation of the U.S...
and was discharged as a Major in March 1946. He returned to Alabama to work as an oil products distributor.
Martin was at first a conservative 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...
, but he joined the GOP
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 challenge incumbent J. Lister Hill
J. Lister Hill
Joseph Lister Hill was a Democratic U.S. Senator from the state of Alabama. He was elected to fill the term left by the resignation of Dixie Bibb Graves and was reelected five times, serving in the Senate from January 11, 1938 until January 3, 1969...
for Hill's U.S. 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. Martin lost to Hill by 6,019 votes (49.1 percent for Martin vs. 50.9 percent for Hill), the best Republican showing in decades.
Martin was elected to the 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...
in the 89th Congress in 1964, the year of the Goldwater landslide
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
in Alabama, which resulted in the election of several other Republican candidates to the U.S. House, including Jack Edwards and John Buchanan
John Hall Buchanan, Jr.
John Hall Buchanan, Jr. served as a United States Congressman from Alabama's 6th congressional district.- Early life :...
, and William Dickinson. Martin surrendered his House seat after one term in order to run in 1966 for Governor of Alabama. His Democratic opponent was Lurleen Wallace
Lurleen Wallace
Lurleen Brigham Wallace , born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was the 46th Governor of Alabama from 1967 until her death in 1968. She was the first wife of Alabama Governor George Wallace, whom she succeeded as governor. She succeeded her husband as he was forbidden by Alabama law to succeed himself. She...
, the first wife of outgoing Governor George C. Wallace, Jr.
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...
, who had defeated a primary field that included Attorney General Richmond Flowers. Martin ran a conservative campaign, but the Wallaces dominated among the state's then majority of segregationist voters. Neither Martin nor Mrs. Wallace sought support from the increasing number of African American voters, energized since passage a year earlier of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Martin even trailed his fellow Republican, John Grenier
John Grenier
John Edward Grenier was a Birmingham attorney and a pioneer in the development of the modern Republican Party in the U.S. state of Alabama. Grenier was a former litigator for Lange Simpson Robinson & Somerville, one of the oldest and most distinguished law firms in Birmingham. He was Alabama state...
, who opposed U.S. Senator John Sparkman
John Sparkman
John Jackson Sparkman was an American politician from the state of Alabama. A conservative Southern Democrat, Sparkman served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate from 1937 until 1979. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President as Adlai Stevenson's running mate in...
that year. Grenier had himself planned to run for governor but switched races after Martin filed for the top office.
Martin ran for the U.S. Senate in 1972 but lost the Republican nomination to former Postmaster General
United States Postmaster General
The United States Postmaster General is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Postal Service. The office, in one form or another, is older than both the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence...
Winton Blount, who in turn was easily defeated by incumbent John Sparkman. Martin ran again in 1978, first against the Alabama Supreme Court
Alabama Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Alabama is the highest court in the state of Alabama. The court consists of an elected Chief Justice and eight elected Associate Justices. Each justice is elected in partisan elections for staggered six year terms. The Governor of Alabama may fill vacancies when they occur...
Justice Howell Heflin
Howell Heflin
Howell Thomas Heflin was a United States Senator from Tuscumbia, Alabama, and a member of the Democratic Party.-Biography:...
, the Democratic nominee to succeed Senator Sparkman. He switched races in the middle of the campaign to face Donald W. Stewart
Donald W. Stewart
Donald Wilbur Stewart is a former Democratic United States Senator from the state of Alabama.Stewart was born in Anniston, the seat of Calhoun County, and attended the University of Alabama both in undergraduate and in law school. During his years in law school, he ran a successful campaign for...
to fill the unexpired term of James B. Allen
James Allen (United States)
James Browning Allen was a Democratic U.S. Senator from Alabama. Allen was born in Gadsden, Alabama and attended the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama Law School. While attending the University of Alabama he was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi...
, who died in office. However, Stewart, who first beat Allen's widow, Maryon Allen, in the primary, went on to defeat Martin. Martin returned to work in the petroleum industry
Petroleum industry
The petroleum industry includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transporting , and marketing petroleum products. The largest volume products of the industry are fuel oil and gasoline...
.
In 1987, Guy Hunt, the first Republican governor of Alabama since Reconstruction, appointed Martin commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
OverviewAlabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for the conservation and management of Alabama's natural resources including state parks, state lands, wildlife and aquatic resources. ADCNR also issues hunting and fishing licenses for the state...
.