Lyle Boren
Encyclopedia
Lyle Hagler Boren was a U.S.
Democratic Party
politician
and a member of the United States House of Representatives
from Oklahoma
, serving from 1937 to 1947 and was defeated for renomination in 1946. He was known for his independence in the party, opposing attempts to expand the federal government and labor union strikes on defense plants.
Boren attracted national attention for his criticism of The Grapes of Wrath
. He was active in state politics long after leaving the U.S. Congress and is the father of an Oklahoma
governor and the grandfather of U.S. Rep. Dan Boren
.
, and moved to Lawton, Oklahoma
in 1917, where he attended public schools. He finished high school in Choctaw, Oklahoma graduating from Choctaw High School, where the activities center now bears his name. Boren was graduated from East Central College
at Ada, Oklahoma
, in 1930. From 1930 to 1935, he was a school teacher
in Wolf, Oklahoma, and later served as a deputy procurement officer for the United States Department of the Treasury
. Furthermore, he was involved in agricultural
and mercantile
business interests. He married the former Christine McKown, an Oklahoma State University graduate and public school teacher, in 1936.
in November 1936, as a Democrat and was continuously re-elected until 1946 when he lost the Democratic primary election to Glen D. Johnson
. Following his tenure in Congress, he resumed his business pursuits, except, in 1948, when he attempted to re-enter politics by running for his former U.S. House seat (Boren was again defeated).
Boren was known as an independent, opposing his party on several occasions. He worked against the growth of the federal government and excessive federal spending. He angered labor unions by backing legislation to ban strikes at defense plants, which did hurt him politically. Boren's legislative efforts included cancer research, old-age pensions, the Civil Aeronautics Board, newspring and paper shortages, consumer product labeling, railroad freight rates, and municipal bonds.
In 1938, Boren told his fellow Congressmen, "The greatest problem in America today is to erase the question in the minds of men, 'What is the government going to do for me?' and replace it with the question, 'What can I do for my country.'"
He was also a spokesman and successful fund-raiser for the Oklahoma Democratic Party
and worked tirelessly to help Democratic candidates win election to public office. Most notably, Boren assisted his son, David L. Boren
, to be elected Oklahoma's Governor in 1974, and to be elected to the US Senate in 1978.
Boren was the father of former U.S. Senator and Oklahoma Governor
David Boren and grandfather of incumbent U.S. Congressman
Dan Boren
.
, where he remained until his death on July 2, 1992.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and a member of 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 Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, serving from 1937 to 1947 and was defeated for renomination in 1946. He was known for his independence in the party, opposing attempts to expand the federal government and labor union strikes on defense plants.
Boren attracted national attention for his criticism of The Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath is a novel published in 1939 and written by John Steinbeck, who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962....
. He was active in state politics long after leaving the U.S. Congress and is the father of an Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
governor and the grandfather of U.S. Rep. Dan Boren
Dan Boren
Daniel David "Dan" Boren is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. The district includes most of the eastern part of the state outside of Tulsa...
.
Early life and career
He was born near Waxahachie, TexasWaxahachie, Texas
Waxahachie is a city in Ellis County, Texas, United States, and a southern suburb of Dallas. The population was 21,426 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Ellis County....
, and moved to Lawton, Oklahoma
Lawton, Oklahoma
The city of Lawton is the county seat of Comanche County, in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Located in the southwestern region of Oklahoma approximately southwest of Oklahoma City, it is the principal city of the Lawton Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in 1917, where he attended public schools. He finished high school in Choctaw, Oklahoma graduating from Choctaw High School, where the activities center now bears his name. Boren was graduated from East Central College
East Central University
East Central University is a four year public university in Ada, Oklahoma, located in the south central region of the state. The university also has courses available in McAlester, Shawnee, Ardmore, and Durant....
at Ada, Oklahoma
Ada, Oklahoma
Ada is a city in and the county seat of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 16,008 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, the city population was estimated at 17,019....
, in 1930. From 1930 to 1935, he was a school teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
in Wolf, Oklahoma, and later served as a deputy procurement officer for the United States Department of the Treasury
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
. Furthermore, he was involved in agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and mercantile
Mercantilism
Mercantilism is the economic doctrine in which government control of foreign trade is of paramount importance for ensuring the prosperity and security of the state. In particular, it demands a positive balance of trade. Mercantilism dominated Western European economic policy and discourse from...
business interests. He married the former Christine McKown, an Oklahoma State University graduate and public school teacher, in 1936.
Political career
Boren was first elected to CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in November 1936, as a Democrat and was continuously re-elected until 1946 when he lost the Democratic primary election to Glen D. Johnson
Glen D. Johnson
Glen Dale Johnson , was a lawyer, a U.S. Democratic Party politician, a member of the United States House of Representatives from Oklahoma, serving one term of office from 1947 to 1949 and was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate in 1948.-Early life and early political...
. Following his tenure in Congress, he resumed his business pursuits, except, in 1948, when he attempted to re-enter politics by running for his former U.S. House seat (Boren was again defeated).
Boren was known as an independent, opposing his party on several occasions. He worked against the growth of the federal government and excessive federal spending. He angered labor unions by backing legislation to ban strikes at defense plants, which did hurt him politically. Boren's legislative efforts included cancer research, old-age pensions, the Civil Aeronautics Board, newspring and paper shortages, consumer product labeling, railroad freight rates, and municipal bonds.
In 1938, Boren told his fellow Congressmen, "The greatest problem in America today is to erase the question in the minds of men, 'What is the government going to do for me?' and replace it with the question, 'What can I do for my country.'"
Later life, state politics
After leaving Congress, Boren resumed many of his former mercantile business and agricultural pursuits. In 1957, he became a lobbyist for the railroads. He retired in 1969 and continued his ranching in Oklahoma.He was also a spokesman and successful fund-raiser for the Oklahoma Democratic Party
Oklahoma Democratic Party
The Oklahoma Democratic Party is an Oklahoma political party affiliated with the United States Democratic Party. Along with the Oklahoma Republican Party, it one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics....
and worked tirelessly to help Democratic candidates win election to public office. Most notably, Boren assisted his son, David L. Boren
David L. Boren
David Lyle Boren is an academic leader and American politician from the state of Oklahoma. A Democrat, he served as the 21st Governor of Oklahoma from 1975 to 1979 and in the United States Senate from 1979 to 1994. He is currently president of the University of Oklahoma. He was the longest serving...
, to be elected Oklahoma's Governor in 1974, and to be elected to the US Senate in 1978.
Boren was the father of former U.S. Senator and Oklahoma Governor
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
David Boren and grandfather of incumbent U.S. Congressman
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...
Dan Boren
Dan Boren
Daniel David "Dan" Boren is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. The district includes most of the eastern part of the state outside of Tulsa...
.
Retirement and death
Boren retired from public life due to failing health after approximately 50 years (in Congress and later as an advocate for other candidates). He moved to Oklahoma City, OklahomaOklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
, where he remained until his death on July 2, 1992.
See also
- U.S. House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe 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...
- Oklahoma Democratic PartyOklahoma Democratic PartyThe Oklahoma Democratic Party is an Oklahoma political party affiliated with the United States Democratic Party. Along with the Oklahoma Republican Party, it one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics....