Walter Chandler
Encyclopedia
Walter "Clift" Chandler (October 5, 1887 – October 1, 1967) was an American
politician from Tennessee
.
Walter Chandler was born in Memphis in 1887 to parents of Scots/English descent. He attended public schools before going on to earn his law degree at the University of Tennessee
. During Chandler's career he taught school, reported for the Knoxville Sentinel, wrote and practiced law.
After Chandler served as an officer in the American Expeditionary Force
during World War I
, he served in both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly
, the state's legislature, and was the U.S. Representative from Tennessee's 9th Congressional District from 1935 to 1940. He then served two terms as the Mayor of Memphis, from 1940 to 1946, and then again in 1955.
Although supported by the E. H. Crump
machine, Chandler made significant contributions to the world on his own. He was the author of Chapter 13
bankruptcy legislation. He filed the original suit in Baker v. Carr
, the U.S. Supreme Court
case that argued against Tennessee's status quo of seldom changing the boundaries of congressional districts, even though population growth in urban areas far outstripped the growth in rural areas. In some cases one congressional district would be more populous by a factor of ten than another rural district. Tennessee had not revised boundaries in 60 years. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Carr, viewing the case not as one of legislative jurisdiction, but as a case of insuring each individual's right to equal representation.
A sensitive and thoughtful man, it was thought by some that he retired from politics in disappointment after E. H. Crump failed to support him for a senate seat. Chandler was an active and contributing member of the West Tennessee Historical Society. His recollections of early life in Memphis provide one of the clearest and most lucid picture of Memphis at the turn of the century.
Walter Chandler died in 1967 the same year his son, future mayor Wyeth Chandler was elected to the first Memphis City Council. His son served as Mayor of Memphis from 1972 until 1982
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician from Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
Walter Chandler was born in Memphis in 1887 to parents of Scots/English descent. He attended public schools before going on to earn his law degree at the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
. During Chandler's career he taught school, reported for the Knoxville Sentinel, wrote and practiced law.
After Chandler served as an officer in the American Expeditionary Force
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he served in both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly
Tennessee General Assembly
The Tennessee General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional structure:According to the Tennessee State Constitution of 1870, the General Assembly is a bicameral legislature and consists of a Senate of thirty-three members and a House of Representatives of...
, the state's legislature, and was the U.S. Representative from Tennessee's 9th Congressional District from 1935 to 1940. He then served two terms as the Mayor of Memphis, from 1940 to 1946, and then again in 1955.
Although supported by the E. H. Crump
E. H. Crump
Edward Hull "Boss" Crump was an American politician from Memphis, Tennessee. He was mayor from 1910 through 1915, and again briefly in 1940; in the intervening years he effectively appointed the mayors.-Career:...
machine, Chandler made significant contributions to the world on his own. He was the author of Chapter 13
Chapter 13, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 13 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, codified under Title 11 of the United States Code, governs a form of bankruptcy in the United States that allows individuals to undergo a financial reorganization supervised by a federal bankruptcy court. The goal of Chapter 13 is to enable...
bankruptcy legislation. He filed the original suit in Baker v. Carr
Baker v. Carr
Baker v. Carr, , was a landmark United States Supreme Court case that retreated from the Court's political question doctrine, deciding that redistricting issues present justiciable questions, thus enabling federal courts to intervene in and to decide reapportionment cases...
, the U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
case that argued against Tennessee's status quo of seldom changing the boundaries of congressional districts, even though population growth in urban areas far outstripped the growth in rural areas. In some cases one congressional district would be more populous by a factor of ten than another rural district. Tennessee had not revised boundaries in 60 years. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Carr, viewing the case not as one of legislative jurisdiction, but as a case of insuring each individual's right to equal representation.
A sensitive and thoughtful man, it was thought by some that he retired from politics in disappointment after E. H. Crump failed to support him for a senate seat. Chandler was an active and contributing member of the West Tennessee Historical Society. His recollections of early life in Memphis provide one of the clearest and most lucid picture of Memphis at the turn of the century.
Walter Chandler died in 1967 the same year his son, future mayor Wyeth Chandler was elected to the first Memphis City Council. His son served as Mayor of Memphis from 1972 until 1982