Miles Poindexter
Encyclopedia
Miles Poindexter was an American
politician
. As a Republican
and later a Progressive, he served as a United States Representative and United States Senator.
. He attended the Fancy Hill Academy in Virginia
, and Washington and Lee University
in Lexington, Virginia
, where he graduated with a law degree in 1891.
, where he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law. In 1892 he became the prosecuting attorney of Walla Walla County. He moved to Spokane, Washington
in 1897 where he continued the practice of law. He served as the assistant prosecuting attorney for Spokane County from 1898 to 1904, and as a judge
of the superior court
from 1904 to 1908.
, rejoining the Republicans in 1915. He was unsuccessful in his candidacy for reelection in 1922.
He was one of only three Republican Senators to vote, on June 1, 1916, to confirm Louis Brandeis
as a Supreme Court Justice—the other two Republicans being Robert M. La Follette
and George W. Norris.
Warren Harding as Ambassador
to Peru
from 1923 to 1928. In 1928 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate. He returned to his home, ‘Elk Cliff,’ in Greenlee, Rockbridge County, Virginia, where he died. He was interred in the Presbyterian Cemetery, Lexington, Virginia
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. 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...
and later a Progressive, he served as a United States Representative and United States Senator.
Early life
Poindexter was born in Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. He attended the Fancy Hill Academy in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
in Lexington, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
, where he graduated with a law degree in 1891.
Legal career
After he graduated, he settled in Walla Walla, WashingtonWalla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
, where he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law. In 1892 he became the prosecuting attorney of Walla Walla County. He moved to Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
in 1897 where he continued the practice of law. He served as the assistant prosecuting attorney for Spokane County from 1898 to 1904, and as a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the superior court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
from 1904 to 1908.
Political life
He was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-first Congress, and served from March 4, 1909 to March 4, 1911. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1910 and was reelected in 1916, serving from March 4, 1911 to March 4, 1923. Poindexter left the Republican Party in 1913 to join the Progressive PartyProgressive Party (United States, 1912)
The Progressive Party of 1912 was an American political party. It was formed after a split in the Republican Party between President William Howard Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt....
, rejoining the Republicans in 1915. He was unsuccessful in his candidacy for reelection in 1922.
He was one of only three Republican Senators to vote, on June 1, 1916, to confirm Louis Brandeis
Louis Brandeis
Louis Dembitz Brandeis ; November 13, 1856 – October 5, 1941) was an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States from 1916 to 1939.He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, to Jewish immigrant parents who raised him in a secular mode...
as a Supreme Court Justice—the other two Republicans being Robert M. La Follette
Robert M. La Follette, Sr.
Robert Marion "Fighting Bob" La Follette, Sr. , was an American Republican politician. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, was the Governor of Wisconsin, and was also a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin...
and George W. Norris.
Positions on Committees
- Chairman, United States Senate Committee on Expenditures in the Interior Department (Sixty-second Congress)
- United States Senate Committee on Mines and Mining (Sixty-second Congress, Sixty-sixth Congress and Sixty-seventh Congress)
- United States Senate Committee on Pacific Islands and Puerto Rico (Sixty-second Congress)
- United States Senate Committee on Expenditures in the War Department (Sixty-third Congress and Sixty-fourth Congress)
- United States Senate Committee on Indian DepredationsUnited States Senate Committee on Indian DepredationsThe Committee on Indian Depredations was a standing committee of the United States Senate from 1893 to 1921. It was superseded by a select committee which operated from 1889 to 1895.- History :...
(Sixty-fifth Congress)
Later life
Poindexter was appointed by PresidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Warren Harding as Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
from 1923 to 1928. In 1928 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate. He returned to his home, ‘Elk Cliff,’ in Greenlee, Rockbridge County, Virginia, where he died. He was interred in the Presbyterian Cemetery, Lexington, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
.