Flying Bee at 12:42, 12 August 2021

2021-08-12T12:42:34Z

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{{short description|American politician}}
{{for|the similarly named US Representative from the same time period|Hale Boggs}}
{{More footnotes|date=November 2010}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|image = BoggsCaleb.jpg
|jr/sr = United States Senator
|state = [[Delaware]]
|term_start = January 3, 1961
|term_end = January 3, 1973
|predecessor = [[J. Allen Frear Jr.]]
|successor = [[Joe Biden]]
|office1 = Chair of the [[National Governors Association]]
|term_start1 = June 25, 1959
|term_end1 = June 26, 1960
|predecessor1 = [[LeRoy Collins]]
|successor1 = [[Stephen McNichols]]
|order2 = 62nd [[List of governors of Delaware|Governor of Delaware]]
|lieutenant2 = [[John W. Rollins]] David P. Buckson
|term_start2 = January 20, 1953
|term_end2 = December 30, 1960
|predecessor2 = [[Elbert N. Carvel]]
|successor2 = [[David P. Buckson]]
|state3 = [[Delaware]]
|district3 = {{ushr|DE|AL|at-large}}
|term_start3 = January 3, 1947
|term_end3 = January 3, 1953
|predecessor3 = [[Philip A. Traynor]]
|successor3 = [[Herbert B. Warburton]]
|office4 = Associate Judge of the [[New Castle County, Delaware|New Castle County]] Family Court
|term_start4 = November 9, 1942
|term_end4 = January 3, 1947
|predecessor4 = Billy Bickson
|successor4 = Johnathan Taylor
|birth_name = James Caleb Boggs
|birth_date = {{birth date|1909|5|15}}
|birth_place = [[Cheswold, Delaware]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|death_date = {{death date and age|1993|3|26|1909|5|15}}
|death_place = [[Wilmington, Delaware]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|spouse = Elizabeth Muir
|children = 2
|education = [[University of Delaware]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]) [[Georgetown University]] ([[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])
|allegiance = {{flag|United States|1912}}
|branch = {{army|United States}}
|rank = [[Colonel]]
|serviceyears = 1941–1946
|unit = [[6th Armored Division (United States)|6th Armored Division]]
|battles = [[World War II]]
|mawards = [[Service star|Campaign Stars]] (5) [[Legion of Merit]] [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] [[Croix de Guerre]]
}}
'''James Caleb Boggs''' (May 15, 1909 – March 26, 1993) was an American lawyer and politician from [[Claymont, Delaware|Claymont]] in [[New Castle County, Delaware]]. He was commonly known by his middle name, Caleb, frequently shortened to Cale.<ref name=Cale>
* {{cite book |last=Moynihan |first=Daniel Patrick |author-link=Daniel Patrick Moynihan |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vYEvAAAAIAAJ&q=%22cale+boggs%22&pg=RA9-PP15 |chapter=Committee Statement to Report No. 96-391 |year=1979 |title=Congressional Serial Set |page=1}}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=44vnDwAAQBAJ&q=%22cale+boggs%22&pg=PT28 |title=No Ordinary Joe: The Life and Career of Joe Biden |last=Hagan |first=David |publisher=Oppian |year=2020 |isbn=9789518771411 |page=4}}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bn08AQAAIAAJ&q=%22cale+boggs%22 |year=1985 |volume=4 |title=Delaware Lawyer |page=10}}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/01/17/opinion/joe-biden-nytimes-interview.html |title=Joe Biden: Former vice president of the United States |author=The Editorial Board |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 17, 2020}}</ref>

He was a veteran of [[World War II]], and a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], who served three terms as [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] from Delaware, two terms as [[List of governors of Delaware|Governor of Delaware]], and two terms as [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator from Delaware]]. He ran for [[1972 United States Senate election in Delaware|re-election in 1972]], but was defeated by 3,162 votes by future U.S. President [[Joe Biden]].

==Early life and education==
Boggs was born on May 15, 1909, at [[Cheswold, Delaware]], the son of Edward Jefferson and Lettie Vaughn Boggs. He married Elizabeth Muir and had two children, Cale, Jr. and Marilu. They were members of the Methodist Church.

He graduated from the [[University of Delaware]] in 1931 and from [[Georgetown Law School]] in 1937.

== Career ==
In 1938, he was admitted to the [[Delaware State Bar Association]] and began the practice of law at [[Dover, Delaware]].

During World War II, he served in the [[United States Army|US Army]] with the [[U.S. 6th Armored Division|6th Armored Division]] fighting in [[Normandy]], the [[Rhineland]], the [[Ardennes]], and [[central Europe]]. He earned five [[Service star|Campaign Stars]], the [[Legion of Merit]], the [[Bronze Star Medal]] with [[Oak leaf cluster|Oak Leaf Cluster]], and the [[Croix de guerre 1939–1945|Croix de Guerre]] with palm from France.

===U.S. House of Representatives===
Boggs was appointed [[Associate Justice|Associate Judge]] of the [[Family court|Family Court]] of [[New Castle County, Delaware|New Castle County]] in 1946. He was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] in 1946, defeating incumbent [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] U.S. Representative [[Philip A. Traynor]]. He won the election a total of three times, also defeating Democrats J. Carl McGuigan in 1948, and Henry M. Winchester in 1950. Boggs served in the U.S. House from January 3, 1947, to January 3, 1953.

===Governor of Delaware===
Boggs was elected Governor of Delaware in 1952, defeating incumbent [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] Governor [[Elbert N. Carvel]], and won a second term in 1956, defeating Democrat [[J. H. Tyler McConnell]]. He served as governor from January 20, 1953, to December 30, 1960, when he resigned because of his upcoming U.S. Senate term. On April 2, 1958, he signed the bill that ended [[capital punishment]] in Delaware.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19590309&id=kQ4rAAAAIBAJ&pg=1737,4102655&hl=en|title=Answers to Questions|work=The Reading Eagle|page=8|date=March 9, 1959|access-date=May 31, 2020}}</ref>

===U.S. Senate===
Boggs was elected to the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] in 1960, defeating incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator [[J. Allen Frear, Jr.]] by 1.4 percentage points, and becoming the only Republican to defeat an incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator that year. He was again elected to the U.S. Senate in 1966, defeating Democrat [[James M. Tunnell Jr.|James M. Tunnell, Jr]]., son of the former U.S. Senator. He served two terms from January 3, 1961, to January 3, 1973. Boggs voted in favor of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964|Civil Rights Acts of 1964]] and [[Civil Rights Act of 1968|1968]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/s409|title=HR. 7152. PASSAGE. -- Senate Vote #409 -- Jun 19, 1964|website=GovTrack.us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/90-1968/s346|title=TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN ... -- Senate Vote #346 -- Mar 11, 1968|website=GovTrack.us}}</ref> as well as the [[Twenty-fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution|24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/87-1962/s226|title=S.J. RES. 29. APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION BANNING THE POLL TAX AS PREREQUISITE FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.|work=GovTrack.us}}</ref> the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/89-1965/s78|title=TO PASS S. 1564, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965.}}</ref> and the confirmation of [[Thurgood Marshall]] to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/90-1967/s176|title=CONFIRMATION OF NOMINATION OF THURGOOD MARSHALL, THE FIRST NEGRO APPOINTED TO THE SUPREME COURT.|work=GovTrack.us}}</ref>

Boggs lost his bid for a third term in 1972 to the future 47th [[Vice President of the United States|US Vice President]] and 46th [[President of the United States|US President]], Democrat [[Joe Biden|Joseph R. Biden]], then a [[New Castle County, Delaware#County government|New Castle County Councilman]]. Boggs was a reluctant candidate that year, being persuaded to run only to help avoid a divisive primary election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonian.com/1974/06/01/joe-biden-kitty-kelley-1974-profile-death-and-the-all-american-boy/|title=Death and the All-American Boy {{!}} Washingtonian (DC)|date=1974-06-01|website=Washingtonian|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-16}}</ref> Biden waged an energetic campaign, questioning Boggs's age and ability, and went on to defeat Boggs by approximately 1.4 percentage points.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/when-a-young-joe-biden-used-his-opponents-age-against-him/ |title=When a young Joe Biden used his opponent's age against him |last=Erickson |first=Bo |publisher=CBS News |language=en |date=June 4, 2019}}</ref> In his last years, Boggs lived in Wilmington, Delaware, where he continued the practice of law.

==Death and legacy==
Boggs died at Wilmington and is buried in the Old Presbyterian Cemetery in Dover, on the grounds of the [[Delaware State Museum]]. The [[J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building]] at 844 King Street in [[Wilmington, Delaware]] is named for him.

Among the many tributes given by his fellow senators was one from U.S. Senator [[Robert Byrd]] of West Virginia:

{{quote|On an objective, senatorial level, Senator Boggs was a militant, but rational [[environmentalism|environmentalist]]. A co-sponsor of the [[National Air Quality Standards Act of 1970]], Senator Boggs helped to win congressional approval of this bill, which was signed into law by [[Richard M. Nixon|President Nixon]]. Further, Cale Boggs was a co-sponsor and helped to write the [[Water Quality Act of 1965]]. In 1970, Senator Boggs helped to strengthen State authority to prohibit sewage and pesticide discharge into rivers and lakes and to provide for coordinated Federal attacks on river and lake pollution in the [[Water Quality Act of 1970]].

Through these and other vital contributions in education, medicine, agriculture, transportation, and other domestic concerns, Senator Boggs left an enviable record of legislation aimed at improving the quality of life of all Americans and at widening opportunities for all of our citizens. But, above all, Cale Boggs will probably be best remembered by his friends still serving in the Senate and by the people of Delaware as a friend, a man of warm humanity, and as a gentleman who sought ever to set people at ease through his common touch and deep consideration of other people's feelings. Cale Boggs was a man whose friendship one easily sought and, once secured, was long treasured.}}

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=12 style="background: #ccccff;" |'''[[Delaware General Assembly]]''' ''(sessions while Governor)''
|-
!'''Year'''
!'''Assembly'''
!
!'''Senate Majority'''
!'''President ''pro tempore'''''
!
!'''House Majority'''
!'''Speaker'''
|-
|1953–1954
|117th
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Thomas L. Johnson
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Frank A. Jones
|-
|1955–1956
|118th
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Charles G. Moore
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |James R. Quigley
|-
|1957–1958
|119th
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Lemuel Hickman
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Harry E. Mayhew
|-
|1959–1960
|120th
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Allen J. Cook
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Sherman W. Tribbitt]]
|-
|}

==Elections==
{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=12 style="background: #ccccff;" |Election results
|-
!'''Year'''
!'''Office'''
!
!'''Subject'''
!'''Party'''
!'''Votes'''
!'''%'''
!
!'''Opponent'''
!'''Party'''
!'''Votes'''
!'''%'''
|-
|[[United States House elections, 1946|1946]]
|[[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]]
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |J. Caleb Boggs
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |63,516
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |56%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Philip A. Traynor]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |49,105
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |44%
|-
|[[United States House elections, 1948|1948]]
|[[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]]
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |J. Caleb Boggs
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |71,127
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |51%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |J. Carl McGuigan
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |68,909
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |49%
|-
|[[United States House elections, 1950|1950]]
|[[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]]
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |J. Caleb Boggs
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |73,313
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |57%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Henry M. Winchester
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |56,091
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |43%
|-
|1952
|[[List of governors of Delaware|Governor]]
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |J. Caleb Boggs
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |88,977
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |52%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Elbert N. Carvel]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |81,772
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |48%
|-
|1956
|[[List of governors of Delaware|Governor]]
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |J. Caleb Boggs
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |91,965
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |52%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |J. H. Tyler McConnell
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |85,047
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |48%
|-
|[[United States Senate elections, 1960|1960]]
|[[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]]
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |J. Caleb Boggs
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |98,874
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |51%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[J. Allen Frear, Jr.]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |96,090
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |49%
|-
|[[United States Senate elections, 1966|1966]]
|[[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]]
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |J. Caleb Boggs
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |97,268
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |59%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |James M. Tunnell, Jr.
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |67,263
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |41%
|-
|[[1972 United States Senate election in Delaware|1972]]
|[[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]]
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |J. Caleb Boggs
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |112,844
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |49%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Joe Biden]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |116,006
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |50%
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |title=Charles L. Terry |last=Davis |first=Ned |publisher=Delaware Heritage Press |location=Wilmington, Delaware |date=2000 |oclc=47186751 |lccn=00133337}}
*{{cite book |title=Honest John Williams |last=Hoffecker |first=Carol E. |publisher=University of Delaware Press |location=Newark, Delaware |date=2000}}
*{{cite book |title=Democracy in Delaware |last=Hoffecker |first=Carol E. |publisher=Cedar Tree Books |location=Wilmington, Delaware |date=2004 |isbn=1-892142-23-6}}
*{{cite book |title=History of Delaware Through its Governors |last=Martin |first=Roger A. |publisher=McClafferty Press |location=Wilmington, Delaware |date=1984}}
*{{cite book |title=Elbert N. Carvel |last=Martin |first=Roger |publisher=Delaware Heritage Press |location=Wilmington, Delaware |date=1997 |isbn=0-924117-08-7}}
*{{cite book |title=History of Delaware |last=Munroe |first=John A. |publisher=University of Delaware Press |location=Newark, Delaware |date=1993 |isbn=0-87413-493-5}}

==Images==
*[http://www.state.de.us/research/Tour/information/Governors/govs-39.shtml Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery]; ''Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover.''

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930033333/http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=4a8b224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States]
*[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000593 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress ]
*[http://www.russpickett.com/history/delgov5.htm#boggs Delaware's Governors ]
*[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6653444 Find a Grave]
*[http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/boggs.html#R9M0IPU1D The Political Graveyard ]

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Philip A. Traynor]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States Representatives from Delaware|U.S. House of Representatives]] from [[Delaware's at-large congressional district]]|years=1947–1953}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Herbert B. Warburton]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Hyland George]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of Governors of Delaware|Governor of Delaware]]|years=[[1952 Delaware gubernatorial election|1952]], [[1956 Delaware gubernatorial election|1956]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John W. Rollins]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Herbert B. Warburton]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[United States Senator|U.S. Senator]] from [[Delaware]] ([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 2]])|years=[[1960 United States Senate election in Delaware|1960]], [[1966 United States Senate election in Delaware|1966]], [[1972 United States Senate election in Delaware|1972]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[James H. Baxter Jr.]]}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Elbert N. Carvel]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of governors of Delaware|Governor of Delaware]]|years=1953–1960}}
{{s-aft|after=[[David P. Buckson]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[LeRoy Collins]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[National Governors Association]]|years=1959–1960}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Stephen McNichols]]}}
|-
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=[[J. Allen Frear Jr.]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of United States Senators from Delaware|U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Delaware]]|years=1961–1973|alongside=[[John J. Williams (senator)|John Williams]], [[William V. Roth Jr.]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Joe Biden]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Governors of Delaware}}
{{USSenDE}}
{{USRepDE}}
{{Government of Delaware}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boggs, J. Caleb}}
[[Category:1909 births]]
[[Category:1993 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:American United Methodists]]
[[Category:Burials in Dover, Delaware]]
[[Category:Delaware lawyers]]
[[Category:Delaware Republicans]]
[[Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni]]
[[Category:Governors of Delaware]]
[[Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Delaware]]
[[Category:People from Claymont, Delaware]]
[[Category:People from Kent County, Delaware]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Republican Party state governors of the United States]]
[[Category:Republican Party United States senators]]
[[Category:United States senators from Delaware]]
[[Category:University of Delaware alumni]]
[[Category:United States Army colonels]]
[[Category:20th-century Methodists]]

J. Caleb Boggs - Revision history

Flying Bee at 12:42, 12 August 2021