Stephen M. Young
Encyclopedia
Stephen Marvin Young (May 4, 1889 December 1, 1984) was an American politician of the Democratic Party from Ohio
. He was a United States Senator
from Ohio from 1958 until 1971.
Young received a law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law
in Cleveland, Ohio
in 1911.
He served as an Ohio state representative from 1913 to 1917, and as an assistant prosecutor of Cuyahoga County, Ohio
, from 1917 to 1918. He then served in the U.S. Army during World War I. In 1919, he returned to the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office.
In 1922, Young ran for the office of Ohio attorney general and lost. In 1930, he ran for the nomination to be the Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio but lost to fellow Democrat George White
, who went on to win the governorship.
From 1931 to 1932, Young served on the Ohio Commission on Unemployment Insurance. In 1932, Young was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
. He was re-elected to his House seat in 1934. In 1936, instead of running for re-election to the House, Young ran for governor of Ohio again. This time, he lost the Democratic nomination to incumbent Gov. Martin Davey, George White
's successor.
From 1937 to 1939, Young served as special counsel to the attorney general of Ohio. In 1940, Young was again elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, one of two at-large representatives elected that year (the other being Republican George H. Bender
). Losing that race were Democrat Francis W. Durbin and Republican L. L. Marshall
. However, in 1942, he failed in his re-election bid, losing to Bender
.
During World War II, from 1943 to 1946, Young served in the U.S. Army, entering as a major and being discharged as a lieutenant colonel. He returned to practicing law in Cleveland and Washington, D.C.
In 1948, Young was elected to the U.S. House for a third time, defeating Bender
. He again lost his seat to Bender
in the 1950 election. In 1956, Young ran for attorney general of Ohio, but lost to Republican William B. Saxbe
. In 1958, Young ran for the U.S. Senate
against incumbent Republican John W. Bricker
. Bricker seemed invincible, but Young capitalized on widespread public opposition to the proposed "right to work" amendment to Ohio's constitution, which Bricker had endorsed. Few thought that Young, 70 at the time, could win; even members of his own party had doubts, particularly Ohio's other senator, Democrat Frank J. Lausche
. In an upset, Young defeated Bricker. Young knew that Lausche had not supported him and, when he took the oath of office, refused to allow Lausche to stand with him. This broke with the Senate custom of a senior senator escorting the junior senator of his state to take the oath.
Young was re-elected in 1964, defeating Republican Robert Taft Jr.
. Young decided not to run for re-election to the Senate in 1970. The Democrats selected Howard Metzenbaum
to replace Young, but Metzenbaum lost the race to Taft
, who was again the Republican nominee. Metzenbaum eventually won Young's Senate seat back from Taft and held it for the Democratic Party until his retirement.
Young lived in Washington, D.C., until his death in 1984. He was buried in Norwalk Cemetery, Norwalk, Ohio
.
In the 1998 miniseries From the Earth to the Moon Young was portrayed by J. Don Ferguson
.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. He was a United States Senator
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...
from Ohio from 1958 until 1971.
Young received a law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Case Western Reserve University Franklin Thomas Backus School of Law is the law school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. It opened in 1892, making it one of the oldest law schools in the country. It was one of the first schools accredited by the American Bar Association and was...
in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
in 1911.
He served as an Ohio state representative from 1913 to 1917, and as an assistant prosecutor of Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Cuyahoga County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. It is the most populous county in Ohio; as of the 2010 census, the population was 1,280,122. Its county seat is Cleveland. Cuyahoga County is part of Greater Cleveland, a metropolitan area, and Northeast Ohio, a...
, from 1917 to 1918. He then served in the U.S. Army during World War I. In 1919, he returned to the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office.
In 1922, Young ran for the office of Ohio attorney general and lost. In 1930, he ran for the nomination to be the Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio but lost to fellow Democrat George White
George White (Ohio politician)
George White was the 52nd Governor of Ohio.Born in Elmira, New York, White attended Princeton College. After mining in the Klondike, White settled in Marietta, Ohio to drill for oil....
, who went on to win the governorship.
From 1931 to 1932, Young served on the Ohio Commission on Unemployment Insurance. In 1932, Young was elected to the U.S. 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...
. He was re-elected to his House seat in 1934. In 1936, instead of running for re-election to the House, Young ran for governor of Ohio again. This time, he lost the Democratic nomination to incumbent Gov. Martin Davey, George White
George White (Ohio politician)
George White was the 52nd Governor of Ohio.Born in Elmira, New York, White attended Princeton College. After mining in the Klondike, White settled in Marietta, Ohio to drill for oil....
's successor.
From 1937 to 1939, Young served as special counsel to the attorney general of Ohio. In 1940, Young was again elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, one of two at-large representatives elected that year (the other being Republican George H. Bender
George H. Bender
George Harrison Bender was a Republican politician from Ohio. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1939 to 1947 and 1951 to 1954, and also in the U.S. Senate from 1954 to 1957.-Early life:...
). Losing that race were Democrat Francis W. Durbin and Republican L. L. Marshall
L. L. Marshall
Lycurgus Luther Marshall was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born in Bucyrus, Ohio, Marshall attended the public schools....
. However, in 1942, he failed in his re-election bid, losing to Bender
George H. Bender
George Harrison Bender was a Republican politician from Ohio. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1939 to 1947 and 1951 to 1954, and also in the U.S. Senate from 1954 to 1957.-Early life:...
.
During World War II, from 1943 to 1946, Young served in the U.S. Army, entering as a major and being discharged as a lieutenant colonel. He returned to practicing law in Cleveland and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
In 1948, Young was elected to the U.S. House for a third time, defeating Bender
George H. Bender
George Harrison Bender was a Republican politician from Ohio. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1939 to 1947 and 1951 to 1954, and also in the U.S. Senate from 1954 to 1957.-Early life:...
. He again lost his seat to Bender
George H. Bender
George Harrison Bender was a Republican politician from Ohio. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1939 to 1947 and 1951 to 1954, and also in the U.S. Senate from 1954 to 1957.-Early life:...
in the 1950 election. In 1956, Young ran for attorney general of Ohio, but lost to Republican William B. Saxbe
William B. Saxbe
William Bart "Bill" Saxbe was an American politician affiliated with the Republican Party, who served as a U.S. Senator from Ohio, as U.S. Attorney General under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald R. Ford, and as United States Ambassador to India.At the time of his death, Saxbe was the...
. In 1958, Young ran for the 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...
against incumbent Republican John W. Bricker
John W. Bricker
John William Bricker was a United States Senator and the 54th Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he was the Republican nominee for Vice President in 1944.-Early life:...
. Bricker seemed invincible, but Young capitalized on widespread public opposition to the proposed "right to work" amendment to Ohio's constitution, which Bricker had endorsed. Few thought that Young, 70 at the time, could win; even members of his own party had doubts, particularly Ohio's other senator, Democrat Frank J. Lausche
Frank J. Lausche
Frank John Lausche was a Democratic politician from Ohio. He served as the 47th mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, as the 55th and 57th Governor of Ohio, and as a United States Senator from Ohio for two terms .-Biography:His family originates from Slovenia. After serving in the U.S...
. In an upset, Young defeated Bricker. Young knew that Lausche had not supported him and, when he took the oath of office, refused to allow Lausche to stand with him. This broke with the Senate custom of a senior senator escorting the junior senator of his state to take the oath.
Young was re-elected in 1964, defeating Republican Robert Taft Jr.
Robert Taft, Jr.
Robert Taft Jr. was a member of the Taft political family who served as a Republican Congressman from Ohio between 1963 and 1965, as well as between 1967 and 1971. He also served as a U.S. Senator between 1971 and 1976....
. Young decided not to run for re-election to the Senate in 1970. The Democrats selected Howard Metzenbaum
Howard Metzenbaum
Howard Morton Metzenbaum was an American politician who served for almost 20 years as a Democratic member of the U.S. Senate from Ohio . He also served in the Ohio House of Representatives and Senate from 1943 to 1951.-Early life:Metzenbaum was born in Cleveland, to a poor Jewish family, the son...
to replace Young, but Metzenbaum lost the race to Taft
Robert Taft, Jr.
Robert Taft Jr. was a member of the Taft political family who served as a Republican Congressman from Ohio between 1963 and 1965, as well as between 1967 and 1971. He also served as a U.S. Senator between 1971 and 1976....
, who was again the Republican nominee. Metzenbaum eventually won Young's Senate seat back from Taft and held it for the Democratic Party until his retirement.
Young lived in Washington, D.C., until his death in 1984. He was buried in Norwalk Cemetery, Norwalk, Ohio
Norwalk, Ohio
At the 2000 census, there were 16,238 people, 6,377 households and 4,234 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,950.3 per square mile . There were 6,687 housing units at an average density of 803.1 per square mile...
.
In the 1998 miniseries From the Earth to the Moon Young was portrayed by J. Don Ferguson
J. Don Ferguson
J. Don Ferguson , sometimes credited as "Don Ferguson", was an American film actor, stage actor and television actor....
.