William E. Jenner
Encyclopedia
William Ezra Jenner was a U.S.
Republican
Indiana State and U.S. Senator.
Jenner was born in Marengo
, Crawford County, Indiana
. He graduated with a Law degree from Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington in 1930, and set up practice in Paoli, Indiana
. He was elected to the Indiana State Senate in 1934, serving as Minority Leader 1937 – 1939, and Majority Leader and President Pro Tempore 1939 – 1941. To serve in the military upon U.S. entry to World War II
, he resigned his seat in 1942. He returned from overseas action to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate
caused by the death of Frederick Van Nuys
and served from November 14, 1944, to January 3, 1945; however, he was not a candidate for election to the full term. He did run for Indiana's Class I seat in the Senate in 1946; he won and was re-elected in 1952. His friendship with fellow Indiana University classmate Harold W. Handley
meant he was able to help Handley secure the Republican nomination for and election to the offices of Lieutenant Governor
and Governor of Indiana
.
In Congress, he was a follower of Joseph McCarthy
. He stated in 1954:
In the Senate, Jenner opposed foreign aid and supported isolationist positions.
Jenner alleged that the United Nations had infiltrated the American educational system in 1952. In 1958, he was not a candidate for re-nomination. He resumed legal practice in Bedford, Indiana
in 1959, where he died on March 9, 1985, at seventy six years of age.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
Indiana State and U.S. Senator.
Jenner was born in Marengo
Marengo, Indiana
Marengo is a town in Liberty Township, Crawford County, Indiana, United States. The population was 828 at the 2010 census. One of the tourist attractions and sources of revenue for the town is Marengo Cave, a U.S. National Landmark...
, Crawford County, Indiana
Crawford County, Indiana
Crawford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 10,713. The county seat is English.-Geography:...
. He graduated with a Law degree from Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington in 1930, and set up practice in Paoli, Indiana
Paoli, Indiana
Paoli is a town in Paoli Township, Orange County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,844 at the 2000 census. The town is the county seat of Orange County.-History:...
. He was elected to the Indiana State Senate in 1934, serving as Minority Leader 1937 – 1939, and Majority Leader and President Pro Tempore 1939 – 1941. To serve in the military upon U.S. entry to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he resigned his seat in 1942. He returned from overseas action to fill a vacancy in 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...
caused by the death of Frederick Van Nuys
Frederick Van Nuys
Frederick Van Nuys was a United States Senator from Indiana. Born in Falmouth, he attended the public schools and graduated from Earlham College in 1898 and from the Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis in 1900. He was admitted to the bar in 1900 and commenced practice in Shelbyville...
and served from November 14, 1944, to January 3, 1945; however, he was not a candidate for election to the full term. He did run for Indiana's Class I seat in the Senate in 1946; he won and was re-elected in 1952. His friendship with fellow Indiana University classmate Harold W. Handley
Harold W. Handley
Harold Willis Handley was the 40th Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana from 1957 to 1961. A veteran of World War II, and furniture salesman by trade, Handley began his political career as a state senator. Thanks to his longtime friendship with state party leader and United States Senator William E...
meant he was able to help Handley secure the Republican nomination for and election to the offices of Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
The Lieutenant Governor of Indiana is a constitutional office in the US State of Indiana. Republican Becky Skillman, whose term expires in January 2013, is the incumbent...
and Governor of Indiana
Governor of Indiana
The Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other statewide...
.
In Congress, he was a follower of Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
. He stated in 1954:
Today the path to total dictatorship in the U.S. can be laid by strictly legal means, unseen and unheard by Congress, the President, or the people... We have a well-organized political-action group in this country, determined to destroy our Constitution and establish a one-party state... The important point to remember about this group is not its ideology but its organization. It is a dynamic, aggressive, elite corps, forcing its way through every opening, to make a breach for a collectivist one-party state. It operates secretly, silently, continuously to transform our Government without suspecting that change is under way... If I seem to be extremist, the reason is that this revolutionary clique cannot be understood, unless we accept the fact that they are extremist. It is difficult for people governed by reasonableness and morality to imagine the existence of a movement which ignores reasonableness and boasts of its determination to destroy; which ignores morality, and boasts of its cleverness in outwitting its opponents by abandoning all scruples. This ruthless power-seeking elite is a disease of our century... This group ... is answerable neither to the President, the Congress, nor the courts. It is practically irremovable.
In the Senate, Jenner opposed foreign aid and supported isolationist positions.
Jenner alleged that the United Nations had infiltrated the American educational system in 1952. In 1958, he was not a candidate for re-nomination. He resumed legal practice in Bedford, Indiana
Bedford, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,768 people, 6,054 households, and 3,644 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,157.1 people per square mile . There were 6,618 housing units at an average density of 556.2 per square mile...
in 1959, where he died on March 9, 1985, at seventy six years of age.
External links
- "Let's Put America First"; address delivered by Jenner on February 14, 1955