William A. Ekwall
Encyclopedia
William Alexander Ekwall (June 14, 1887 - October 16, 1956) was a U.S. Representative
from Oregon
and a judge who served on the United States Custom Court
.
to Alexander and Emilie Ekwall, Ekwall moved to Klamathon, California with his parents in 1893. In 1902, the town of Klamathon was destroyed in a massive fire, and the Ekwalls eventually made their way to Portland, Oregon
in 1906.
He attended the public schools and then the University of Oregon School of Law
, then located in Portland, graduating in 1912. He was admitted to the bar
the same year and commenced practice in Portland in the firm Senn, Ekwall, and Recken. During World War I
, Ekwall served in the United States Army
as a private in the Infantry, attending the Central Officers Training School in 1918. After his Army service, he worked in Portland as a municipal judge from 1922 through 1927, and as judge of the circuit court, fourth judicial district (Multnomah County), department 8 until 1935.
for Oregon's 3rd congressional district
in Portland, announced that he would run for Governor of Oregon
. Ekwall ran for Martin's congressional seat as a Republican
, winning the May primary election and facing Walter B. Gleason, who two years earlier, had lost the 1932 U.S. Senate election to Frederick Steiwer
. With several third-party candidates in the race, Ekwall earned a narrow 41%–38% plurality over Gleason and a seat in the 74th United States Congress
.
In Congress, Ekwall was known for a somewhat belligerent style. He once referred to Representative Wright Patman
as a "stool pigeon" and Representative Marion Zioncheck
as a "jackass."
Ekwall sought re-election in 1936. He was challenged by Nan Wood Honeyman
, a Portland community activist and family friend of President
and Mrs. Roosevelt
. Honeyman's aggressive door-to-door campaign, coupled with Roosevelt's landslide re-election
helped her defeat Ekwall, earning 51% of the vote to Ekwall's 33%.
to be a judge of the United States Customs Court
in New York City
, a position in which he served until his death while on vacation in Portland on October 16, 1956. Ekwall and his wife Lina and the couple had two daughters. He was interred in Portland Memorial Cemetery.
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 Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and a judge who served on the United States Custom Court
United States Court of International Trade
The United States Court of International Trade is an Article III court, with full powers in law and equity. The Customs Court Act of 1980 replaced the old United States Customs Court with the United States Court of International Trade. The Court has nine sitting Judges, as well as Senior Judges...
.
Early life
Born in Ludington, MichiganLudington, Michigan
Ludington is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,357. It is the county seat of Mason County.Ludington is a harbor town located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Pere Marquette River...
to Alexander and Emilie Ekwall, Ekwall moved to Klamathon, California with his parents in 1893. In 1902, the town of Klamathon was destroyed in a massive fire, and the Ekwalls eventually made their way to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
in 1906.
He attended the public schools and then the University of Oregon School of Law
University of Oregon School of Law
The University of Oregon School of Law is a public law school in the U.S. state of Oregon. Housed in the Knight Law Center, it is Oregon's only state funded law school. The school, founded in 1884, is located on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, on the corner of 15th and Agate streets,...
, then located in Portland, graduating in 1912. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
the same year and commenced practice in Portland in the firm Senn, Ekwall, and Recken. 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...
, Ekwall served 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...
as a private in the Infantry, attending the Central Officers Training School in 1918. After his Army service, he worked in Portland as a municipal judge from 1922 through 1927, and as judge of the circuit court, fourth judicial district (Multnomah County), department 8 until 1935.
Congressional career
In 1934, Democrat Charles H. Martin, the incumbent U. S. RepresentativeUnited 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...
for Oregon's 3rd congressional district
Oregon's 3rd congressional district
Oregon's 3rd congressional district covers most of Multnomah County, including Portland east of the Willamette River, Gresham, and Troutdale. It also includes the northern part of Clackamas County, including Milwaukie. Parts of northwest Portland also lie within the district...
in Portland, announced that he would run for Governor of Oregon
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
. Ekwall ran for Martin's congressional seat 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...
, winning the May primary election and facing Walter B. Gleason, who two years earlier, had lost the 1932 U.S. Senate election to Frederick Steiwer
Frederick Steiwer
Frederick Steiwer was an American politician and lawyer in the state of Oregon. A native of the state, he was county district attorney and member of the Oregon State Senate from Eastern Oregon and a veteran of World War I. A Republican, he was elected to the United States Senate and served there...
. With several third-party candidates in the race, Ekwall earned a narrow 41%–38% plurality over Gleason and a seat in the 74th United States Congress
74th United States Congress
-House:Also 2 Delegates, 3 Resident Commissioners-Senate:*President of the Senate: John N. Garner *President pro tempore: Key Pittman -Majority leadership:*Majority leader: Joseph T. Robinson...
.
In Congress, Ekwall was known for a somewhat belligerent style. He once referred to Representative Wright Patman
Wright Patman
John William Wright Patman was a U.S. Congressman from Texas in Texas's 1st congressional district and chair of the United States House Committee on Banking and Currency .-Early life:...
as a "stool pigeon" and Representative Marion Zioncheck
Marion Zioncheck
Marion Anthony Zioncheck , an American politician, served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1933 until his death in 1936. He represented as a Democrat....
as a "jackass."
Ekwall sought re-election in 1936. He was challenged by Nan Wood Honeyman
Nan Wood Honeyman
Nan Wood Honeyman was an American politician from the state of Oregon. A native of New York, she was the daughter of author and attorney Charles Erskine Scott Wood. After growing up in Oregon, she served in the Oregon House of Representatives and the Oregon State Senate...
, a Portland community activist and family friend of President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
and Mrs. Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, distant cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and became an advocate for civil rights. After her husband's death in 1945, Roosevelt continued to be an international...
. Honeyman's aggressive door-to-door campaign, coupled with Roosevelt's landslide re-election
United States presidential election, 1936
The United States presidential election of 1936 was the most lopsided presidential election in the history of the United States in terms of electoral votes. In terms of the popular vote, it was the third biggest victory since the election of 1820, which was not seriously contested.The election took...
helped her defeat Ekwall, earning 51% of the vote to Ekwall's 33%.
After Congress
Following his loss, Ekwall returned to his Portland law practice, serving as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1940. On February 13, 1942, he was appointed by President Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to be a judge of the United States Customs Court
United States Court of International Trade
The United States Court of International Trade is an Article III court, with full powers in law and equity. The Customs Court Act of 1980 replaced the old United States Customs Court with the United States Court of International Trade. The Court has nine sitting Judges, as well as Senior Judges...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, a position in which he served until his death while on vacation in Portland on October 16, 1956. Ekwall and his wife Lina and the couple had two daughters. He was interred in Portland Memorial Cemetery.