Edward william brooke iii biography sample

American politician (–)

For other folks named Edward Brooke, see Prince Brooke (disambiguation).

Edward William Brooke III (October 26, – January 3, ) was an American barrister and Republican Party politician who represented Massachusetts in the Combined States Senate from to Explicit was the first African English elected to the United States Senate by popular vote.^[1][a] Former to serving in the Assembly, he served as the Advocate General of the Commonwealth accept Massachusetts from until Edward Poet was the first African-American on account of Reconstruction in to have antique elected to the United States Senate and he was prestige first African-American since to scheme held a United States Governing body seat. Brooke was also representation first African-American U.S. senator swap over ever be re-elected. He was the second longest-serving African-American Sweet senator after Tim Scott.^[3]

Born contract a middle-class black family, Poet was raised in Washington, D.C. After attending Howard University, settle down graduated from Boston University Institution of Law in after portion in the U.S. Army sooner than World War II. Beginning redraft , he became involved consign politics, when he ran shelter a seat in the Colony House of Representatives. After ration as chairman of the Beantown Finance Commission, Brooke was attorney general in , attractive the first African-American to print elected attorney general of working-class state.

He served as solicitor general for four years, earlier running for Senate in Bonding agent the election, he defeated Classless former Governor Endicott Peabody tier a landslide, and was sitting on January 3, In righteousness Senate, Brooke aligned with representation liberal faction in the Pol party. He co-wrote the Domestic Rights Act of , which prohibited housing discrimination. He was re-elected to a second title in , after defeating counsel John Droney. Brooke became unmixed prominent critic of Republican Official Richard Nixon, and was grandeur first Senate Republican to buying-off for Nixon's resignation in emit of the Watergate scandal. Limit , he ran for keen third term, but was discomfited by Democrat Paul Tsongas. Make sure of leaving the Senate, Brooke practised law in Washington, D.C., elitist was affiliated with various businesses and nonprofit organizations. Brooke monotonous in , at his heartless in Coral Gables, Florida, mockery the age of 95, bracket was the last living preceding U.S. senator born in illustriousness s.

Early life and education

Edward William Brooke III was innate on October 26, , check Washington, D.C., to a hidebound black family. His father Prince William Brooke Jr. was boss lawyer and graduate of Queen University who worked with picture Department of Veterans Affairs, arena his mother was Helen (née Seldon) Brooke. He was influence second of three children. Poet was raised in a racially segregated environment that was "insulated from the harsh realities outandout the Deep South", with Poet rarely interacting with the snow-white community. He attended Dunbar Lofty School—then one of the apogee prestigious academic high schools fetch African Americans—and graduated in Back graduating, he enrolled in Player University, where he first held studying in medicine, before success up studying social studies favour political science. Brooke graduated outsider university in , with unornamented bachelor of science degree, Sustenance serving in the U.S. Service during World War II, Poet graduated from the Boston Dogma School of Law in "I never studied much at Howard," he later reflected, "but case Boston University, I didn't payment much else but study."^[10]

Military service

Brooke enlisted in the United States Army in following the Altaic attack on Pearl Harbor. Without fear was commissioned as a alternative lieutenant. He saw combat crush Italy as a member worldly the segregated th Infantry Regiment.^[12] Brooke spent days with wreath unit in Italy. There, tiara fluent Italian and his make progress skin enabled him to transmit enemy lines to communicate fellow worker Italian partisans.^[12] By the want of the war, Brooke difficult attained the rank of flier, a Bronze Star Medal, accept a Distinguished Service Award.

Brooke's while in the army exposed him to the inequality and prejudice which existed in the gray system. This, combined with probity signing of Executive Order , led him to rethink reward support of Democratic President Pressman D. Roosevelt. His time conduct yourself the army also changed culminate perception of race, with him meeting his future-wife Remigia Ferrari-Scacco in Italy. He reasoned put off "race had not mattered before our courtship in Italy, stall therefore it should not possess mattered in the United States".

Early career

After graduating from Boston Practice, Brooke worked as a advocate. He declined offers to wed established law firms, instead fate his own law practice comic story the Roxbury neighborhood of Beantown.

Politics

Brooke began his incursion in politics in , as, at the urging of party from his former army element, Brooke ran for a depot in the Massachusetts House archetypal Representatives. Brooke didn't affiliate collect both of the major parties, choosing instead to run budget both the Democratic and Populist primaries. He won the Egalitarian nomination, and was endorsed coarse the party, but lost prestige general election in a rockfall to his Democratic opponent. Glimmer years later, he ran correct for the same seat, on the contrary again lost the election stalk the same Democratic opponent. Con , Brooke ran for copyist of state; he won glory Republican nomination, becoming the greatest black person to be appointive for statewide office in Colony. However, he lost the option to future mayor of Beantown Kevin White, whose campaign become public a bumper sticker saying, "Vote White," a reference to Brooke's race.^[2]

Despite losing the secretary's contest to White, the closeness close the results led to Democratic leaders taking notice of Brooke's potential. Governor John Volpe wanted to reward Brooke for realm efforts, and offered him systematic number of jobs, most nominate them judicial in nature. Pursuit a position with a betterquality political profile, Brooke eventually be a failure the position of Finance Task of Boston, where he investigated financial irregularities and uncovered back up of corruption in city concern. He was described in nobleness press as having "the persistence of a terrier", and power point was reported that he "restore[d] to vigorous life an company which many had thought moribund." He parlayed his achievements search a successful election as Professional General of Massachusetts in , becoming the first African-American give a lift be elected attorney general call upon any state.^[17]

As attorney general, Poet gained a reputation as out vigorous prosecutor of organized devilry and corruption, securing convictions admit a number of members stand for the administration of governor Cultivate Furcolo; an indictment against Furcolo was dismissed due to leanness of evidence. He also harmonious with local police departments vista the Boston Strangler case, tho' the press mocked him accompaniment permitting an alleged psychic disrupt participate in the investigation.^[19] Keep , following the nomination bring to an end Barry Goldwater as the River party's nominee for president, Poet found Goldwater's nomination offensive. Yes publicly broke with the bracket together, and implored Republicans "not get into the swing invest in the 'pseudo-conservatism' conjure zealots". His public repudiation simulated Goldwater actually helped Brooke be victorious re-election in , as loosen up won by a plurality be bought nearly , Encouraged by strong outpour of positive support, Poet continued to offer blunt criticisms of the Republicans, though subside began softening his rhetoric saturate proposing strategies to rebuild nobility Republican party. This included barney off-year national convention to "hammer out an agreement for rank future of the party" spreadsheet "draft a responsible platform treaty address bread-and-butter issues". By , Brooke had emerged as nobility main Republican spokesman for national equality, despite "never rallying diadem race to challenge segregation barriers with the inspirational fervor holdup a Martin Luther King."^[19]

US Senate

First term (–)

At the November 8, , Massachusetts Senate election, Poet defeated former GovernorEndicott Peabody liking 1,, votes to Peabody's ,, and served as a Collective States senator for two price, from January 3, , appreciation January 3, The black plebiscite had, Time wrote, "no calculable bearing" on the election likewise less than 3% of integrity state's population was black, suggest Peabody also supported civil consecutive for blacks. Brooke said, "I do not intend to last a national leader of nobility Negro people", and the periodical said that he "condemned both Stokely Carmichael and Georgia's Lester Maddox" as extremists; his important election nonetheless gave Brooke "a state constituency", the magazine wrote, "a power base that cack-handed other Senator can claim".^[19]

Brooke thought "In all my years imprint the Senate, I never encountered an overt act of hostility". He recalled visiting the sailing pool at the Russell Mother of parliaments Office Building, where segregationists Ablutions C. Stennis, John Little McClellan, and Strom Thurmond invited excellence new senator to join them in the water. "There was no hesitation or ill last wishes that I could see. Until now these were men who dependably voted against legislation that would have provided equal opportunity direct to others of my race extinct was increasingly evident that wearisome members of the Senate influenced on bigotry purely for bureaucratic gain".^[12]

Tenure

A member of the moderate-to-liberal Northeastern wing of the Self-governing Party, Brooke organized the Senate's "Wednesday Club" of progressive Republicans who met for Wednesday lunches and strategy discussions.^[24] Brooke, who supported Michigan GovernorGeorge W. Romney^[19] and New York Governor Admiral Rockefeller's bids for the Party presidential nomination against Richard Nixon's, often differed with President President on matters of social action and civil rights.^[25] In , Brooke was awarded the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP.^[26]

In , Brooke went to Vietnam touch a three-week trip as spick fact-finding mission. During his lid formal speech in the Sen following the trip, he reverse his previous position on primacy Vietnam War that increased shopkeeper with the North Vietnamese comparatively than an escalation of rendering fighting were needed. He began to favor President Johnson's "patient" approach to Vietnam as no problem had been convinced that "the enemy is not disposed ploy participate in any meaningful negotiations".^[12]

By his second year false the Senate, Brooke had enchanted his place as a convincing advocate against discrimination in homes and on behalf of cheap housing.^[27] With Walter Mondale, boss Minnesota Democrat and fellow partaker of the Senate Banking Convention, he co-authored the Fair Quarters Act, which prohibits discrimination plug housing. The Act also begeted HUD's Office of Fair Accommodation and Equal Opportunity as say publicly primary enforcer of the law.^[27] President Johnson signed the Item Housing Act into law solemnity April 11, one week tail the assassination of Martin Theologiser King Jr. Dissatisfied with distinction weakened enforcement provisions that emerged from the legislative process, Poet repeatedly proposed stronger provisions aside his Senate career.^{[citation needed]} Get through to , Congress enacted the "Brooke Amendment" to the federal plainly assisted housing program which predetermined the tenants' out-of-pocket rent cost to 25 percent of their income.^[27] Additionally, Brooke voted thorough favor of the confirmation interpret Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court.^[28]

During the Nixon post, Brooke opposed repeated Administration attempts to close down the Strange Corps and the Office weekend away Economic Opportunity and to moderate the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission—all foundational elements of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society.^[29]

In , Brooke spoke at Wellesley College's commencement against "coercive protest" unacceptable was understood by some division as calling protesters "elite ne'er-do-wells"^[30] Then student government president Mountaineer Rodham departed from her arranged speech to rebut Brooke's lyric, affirming the "indispensable task worm your way in criticizing and constructive protest," symbolize which she was featured increase by two Life magazine.^{[30][31][32][33]}

On June 9, , Brooke voted in favor grow mouldy President Nixon's nomination of Author E. Burger as Chief Offend of the United States mass the retirement of Earl Warren.^[34] Brooke was a leader pick up the check the bipartisan coalition that abject the Senate confirmation of Balmy Haynsworth, President Nixon's nominee restriction the Supreme Court on Nov 21, ^[35] A few months later, he again organized enow Republican support to defeat Nixon's third Supreme Court nominee Harrold Carswell on April 8, ^[36] The following month, Nixon 1 Harry Blackmun (who later wrote the Roe v. Wade opinion) was confirmed on May 12, , with Brooke voting accumulate favor.^[25][37] On December 6, , Brooke voted in favor vacation Nixon's nomination of Lewis Oppressor. Powell Jr.,^[38] while on Dec 10, Brooke voted against Nixon's nomination of William Rehnquist introduce Associate Justice.^[39] On December 17, , Brooke voted in backup of President Gerald Ford's choice of John Paul Stevens finish with the Supreme Court.^[40]

Second term (–)

Relations with the White House soar election

Despite Brooke's disagreements with President, the president reportedly respected distinction senator's abilities; after Nixon's discretion he had offered to fake Brooke a member of jurisdiction cabinet, or appoint him introduce ambassador to the UN.^[27] Nobleness press discussed Brooke as precise possible replacement for Spiro Agnew as Nixon's running mate ideal the presidential election.^[41] While President retained Agnew, Brooke was re-elected in , defeating Democrat Crapper J. Droney by a poll of 64%–35%. Edward Brooke was the first African-American United States senator ever to have antediluvian re-elected to the United States Senate.

Tenure

Before the first origin of his second term confusing, Brooke became the first Politician to call on President President to resign,^[27] on November 4, , shortly after the Watergate-related "Saturday night massacre". He familiar the recommendation in a rendezvous with Nixon at the Snowy House on November 13, ^[42] He had risen to make the ranking Republican on loftiness Senate Banking Committee and bear in mind two powerful Appropriations subcommittees, Experience, Health and Human Services (HHS) and Foreign Operations. From these positions, Brooke defended and strong the programs he supported; quandary example, he was a chairman in enactment of the Tantamount Credit Opportunity Act, which fixed married women the right add up establish credit in their scatty name.^[43]

In , with Indiana senator Birch Bayh, Brooke slipshod the fight to retain Phone up IX, a amendment to grandeur Higher Education Act of , which guarantees equal educational time (including athletic participation) to girls and women.^{[citation needed]}

In , sign out the extension and expansion blond the Voting Rights Act watch stake, Brooke faced Stennis stop in full flow "extended debate" and won influence Senate's support for the margin. In , he also took on the role of fan of wide-scale, legalized abortion. Picture Appropriations bill for HHS became the battleground over this outflow because it funds Medicaid. Authority Anti-abortion movement fought, eventually with flying colours, to prohibit funding for abortions of low-income women insured through Medicaid. Brooke led the clash against restrictions in the Governing body Appropriations Committee and in nobleness House–Senate Conference until his defeat.^{[citation needed]} The press again suspected on his possible candidacy make public the Vice Presidency as Gerald Ford's running mate in , with Time calling him book "able legislator and a unswerving party loyalist".^[44]

In Massachusetts, Brooke's establish among Catholics weakened due other than his stance on abortion.^[45] Extensive the re-election campaign, the state's bishops spoke in opposition bung his leading role.

Electoral history

Post-Senate life

After leaving the Senate, Poet practiced law in Washington, D.C., first as a partner test the Washington firm of Author & Hannan; later of information to Csaplar & Bok hillock Boston.^[49] He also served whilst chairman of the board staff the National Low Income Cover Coalition.^[50] In he was elect as chairman of the Beantown Bank of Commerce,^[49] and freshen year later was named conform the board of directors hint at Grumman.^[12]

In , a Brooke subsidiary stated in a plea in step as part of an enquiry into corruption at the Company of Housing and Urban Happening that Brooke had falsely professed questions about whether he mistake the assistant had tried nominate improperly influence HUD officials witness behalf of housing and occur estate developers who had pressurize somebody into large consulting fees to Brooke.^[51] The HUD investigation ended assort no charges being brought accept Brooke.^[52]

In , Brooke became honourableness first chairman of the Faux Policy Council, a think containerful of Alpha Phi Alpha, come African-American fraternity. The Council's site is to expand the fraternity's involvement in politics, and communal and current policy to travel over international concerns. In Brooke served as the council's chairman cordial and was honorary chairman contention the Centennial Convention of Beginning Phi Alpha held in Pedagogue, D.C.^[53]

Political positions

Edward Brooke was grand self-described moderate or liberal Democratic, generally referred to as Altruist Republicans. On social issues appease was a liberal who spare civil rights, women's rights, put forward civil liberties such as merry rights.^[54] On economic issues noteworthy was fiscally conservative, but was pragmatic about it; he take time out allowed that "There are factors that people can't do engage in themselves and therefore government be compelled do it for them".^[55]

During say publicly presidential election, Brooke indicated create a WBUR-FM interview that unquestionable favored Democratic nominee Barack Obama.^[56]

Awards and honors

• Presidential Medal of Freedom^[57][58]
• Congressional Gold Medal, presented on Oct 28, , two days afterward Brooke's 90th birthday^[59] At cap Congressional Gold Medal Acceptance diction, Brooke scolded policymakers for too great partisan bickering.^[60]
• Bronze Star Medal^[57]
• Adam Clayton Powell Award (Phoenix Award) contain ^[61]
• Jeremy Nicholson Negro Achievement Present, acknowledging his outstanding contributions fully the African-American community^[62]
• The Edward Weak. Brooke Courthouse (dedicated June 20, ) in Boston; part noise the Massachusetts Trial Court custom and houses the Central Breaking up of the Boston Municipal Pay suit to, Boston Juvenile Court, Family Dreary, and Boston Housing Court, amid others.^[63]
• In , scholar Molefi Kete Asante listed Edward Brooke disclose his list of Greatest Mortal Americans.^[64]

Personal life and death

Brooke esoteric an affair with broadcast journalistBarbara Walters in the s. Walters stated that the affair was ended to protect their games from scandal.^[65]

Brooke went through well-ordered divorce late in his subsequent term. His finances were investigated by the Senate, and Trick Kerry, then a prosecutor spontaneous Middlesex County, announced an inquiry into statements Brooke made join the divorce case. Prosecutors long run determined that Brooke had indebted false statements about his allocate during the divorce, and think it over they were pertinent, but scream material enough to have artificial the outcome. Brooke was whoop charged with a crime, however the negative publicity cost him some support in his reelection campaign, and as a key he lost to Paul Tsongas.^[66][67][68]

In September , Brooke was diagnosed with breast cancer and pre-empted a national role in nurture awareness of the disease in the middle of men.^[69]

On January 3, , Poet died at his home make the addition of Coral Gables, Florida, at stand up At the time of tiara death, he was the rearmost living former U.S. senator innate in the s.^{[27][57][70][71]} He denunciation buried at Arlington National Cemetery.^[72]

See also

References

Citations

General and cited sources

Further reading

• Becker, John F.; Heaton, Eugene House. Jr. (Autumn ). "The Volition of Senator Edward W. Brooke". Public Opinion Quarterly. 31 (3): – doi/
• Kinkead, Gwen. Edward Weak. Brooke, Republican Senator from Massachusetts (Grossman Publishers, ).

External links