William Jennings Bryan Dorn
Encyclopedia
William Jennings Bryan Dorn (April 14, 1916 – August 13, 2005) was a United States
politician
from South Carolina
who represented the state in the United States House of Representatives
from 1947 to 1949 and from 1951 to 1975 as a Democrat
.
Dorn, named after William Jennings Bryan
, was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
in 1938 and to the South Carolina Senate
in 1940. He served in the Army Air Force in Europe during World War II
.
Dorn was first elected to Congress in the 1946 election. In the 1948 election, he unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate
seat that was later held by Strom Thurmond
.
Dorn returned to the House in the 1950 election. Dorn was known for his work on issues related to the military and civil rights
. He left Congress to run for Governor of South Carolina
in 1974.He lost the Democratic primary to Charles D. Ravenel. However, Ravenel was later ruled ineligible to run as not meeting the residency requirement of the state constitution. A special state convention then chose Dorn as the Democratic candidate. He was defeated in the general election by Republican James B. Edwards
, one of the few disappointments in what was generally a big year for Democrats. In 1978 Dorn again sought the Democratic nomination for Governor but was eliminated in a three way race. In 1980 he was elected chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party
.
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...
from South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
who represented the state in the United States 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...
from 1947 to 1949 and from 1951 to 1975 as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan was an American politician in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. He was a dominant force in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, standing three times as its candidate for President of the United States...
, was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
in 1938 and to the South Carolina Senate
South Carolina Senate
The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives...
in 1940. He served in the Army Air Force in Europe during 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...
.
Dorn was first elected to Congress in the 1946 election. In the 1948 election, he unsuccessfully ran for the United States 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...
seat that was later held by Strom Thurmond
Strom Thurmond
James Strom Thurmond was an American politician who served as a United States Senator. He also ran for the Presidency of the United States in 1948 as the segregationist States Rights Democratic Party candidate, receiving 2.4% of the popular vote and 39 electoral votes...
.
Dorn returned to the House in the 1950 election. Dorn was known for his work on issues related to the military and civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
. He left Congress to run for Governor of South Carolina
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
in 1974.He lost the Democratic primary to Charles D. Ravenel. However, Ravenel was later ruled ineligible to run as not meeting the residency requirement of the state constitution. A special state convention then chose Dorn as the Democratic candidate. He was defeated in the general election by Republican James B. Edwards
James B. Edwards
James Burrows Edwards is a politician and administrator from South Carolina. He was the first Republican to be elected the Governor of South Carolina since Reconstruction.-Early life and career:...
, one of the few disappointments in what was generally a big year for Democrats. In 1978 Dorn again sought the Democratic nomination for Governor but was eliminated in a three way race. In 1980 he was elected chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party
South Carolina Democratic Party
The South Carolina Democratic Party is the South Carolina affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. The Democratic party thrived during the Second Party System between 1832 and the mid-1850s and was one of the causes of the collapse of the Whig Party....
.
Autobiography
- Dorn, William Jennings Bryan, and Scott Derks. Dorn: Of the People, A Political Way of Life. Columbia and Orangeburg, S.C.: Bruccoli Clark Layman/Sandlapper Publishing, 1988