Clarence F. Lea
Clarence F. Lea | |
|---|---|
Lea in 1940 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 1st district | |
| In office March 4, 1917 – January 3, 1949 | |
| Preceded by | William Kent |
| Succeeded by | Hubert B. Scudder |
| District Attorney of Sonoma County | |
| In office 1907–1917 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Clarence Frederick Lea July 11, 1874 |
| Died | June 20, 1964 (aged 89) Santa Rosa, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Santa Rosa Odd Fellows Cemetery |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | Lakeport Academy Stanford University University of Denver |
Clarence Frederick Lea (July 11, 1874 – June 20, 1964) was an American lawyer and politician who served 16 terms as a U.S. Representative from California from 1917 to 1949.[1]
Biography
Lea was born near Highland Springs, California, in southwestern Lake County on July 11, 1874. He attended Lakeport Academy in Lakeport and Stanford University before obtaining a law degree from the University of Denver in 1898. Lea was admitted to the bar the same year and began practicing in Santa Rosa, California. He served as district attorney of Sonoma County, 1907–1917, and as president of the District Attorney's Association of California in 1916 and 1917.
Congress
He was elected as a Democrat to the 65th U.S. Congress and to the 15 succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1917 – January 3, 1949). Lea served as chairman of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce (75th through 79th Congresses). After Congress, Lea engaged in public relations work in Washington, D.C. from 1949 to 1954.
Death
Lea died in Santa Rosa, California on June 20, 1964.[1] He is interred at the Santa Rosa Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Legacy
Lea is known for having led the group of congressmen who passed the resolution calling for the internment of Italian-Americans, Japanese-Americans and German-Americans during World War II.[2][3]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Clarence F. Lea | 32,797 | 48.8 | |||
| Republican | Edward H. Hart | 28,769 | 42.8 | |||
| Socialist | Mary M. Morgan | 3,730 | 5.5 | |||
| Prohibition | Jay Scott Ryder | 1,935 | 2.9 | |||
| Total votes | 67,231 | 100.0 | ||||
| Democratic gain from Independent | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Clarence F. Lea (Incumbent) | 42,063 | 100.0 | |
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Clarence F. Lea (Incumbent) | 34,427 | 61.7 | |
| Republican | C. A. Bodwell Jr. | 18,569 | 33.3 | |
| Socialist | A. K. Gifford | 2,773 | 5.0 | |
| Total votes | 55,769 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Clarence F. Lea (Incumbent) | 53,129 | 100.0 | |
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Clarence F. Lea (Incumbent) | 47,250 | 100.0 | |
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Clarence F. Lea (Incumbent) | 60,207 | 100.0 | |
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Clarence F. Lea (Incumbent) | 56,381 | 100.0 | |
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Clarence F. Lea (Incumbent) | 66,703 | 100.0 | |
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Clarence F. Lea (Incumbent) | 73,400 | 100.0 | |
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Clarence F. Lea (Incumbent) | 98,661 | 93.6 | |
| Socialist | Allen K. Gifford | 6,698 | 6.4 | |
| Total votes | 105,359 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Clarence F. Lea (Incumbent) | 58,073 | 53.8 | |
| Republican | Nelson B. Van Matre | 48,647 | 45.1 | |
| Communist | Vernon Dennis Healy | 1,218 | 1.1 | |
| Total votes | 107,938 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Clarence F. Lea (Incumbent) | 73,636 | 63 | |
| Townsend | Ernest S. Mitchell | 43,320 | 37 | |
| Total votes | 116,956 | 100 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Clarence F. Lea (Incumbent) | 103,547 | 93.3 | |
| Communist | Albert J. Lima | 5,647 | 5.1 | |
| Independent | Ernest S. Mitchell (write-in) | 1,828 | 1.6 | |
| Total votes | 111,022 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Clarence F. Lea (Incumbent) | 78,281 | 93.2 | |
| Communist | Albert J. Lima | 5,703 | 6.8 | |
| Total votes | 83,984 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Clarence F. Lea (Incumbent) | 92,706 | 100.0 | |
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Clarence F. Lea (Incumbent) | 77,653 | 100.0 | |
| Democratic hold | ||||
References
- United States Congress. "Clarence F. Lea (id: L000163)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ^ a b "Clarence Lea, 89, Served In House". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 22, 1964.
- ^ "Prisoners Among Us" (PDF). NIAF. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 6, 2017.
- ^ "Chapter V: Japanese Evacuation From the West Coast". www.history.army.mil. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
- ^ 1916 election results
- ^ 1918 election results
- ^ 1920 election results
- ^ 1922 election results
- ^ 1924 election results
- ^ 1926 election results
- ^ 1928 election results
- ^ 1930 election results
- ^ 1932 election results
- ^ 1934 election results
- ^ 1936 election results
- ^ 1938 election results
- ^ 1940 election results
- ^ 1942 election results
- ^ 1944 election results
- ^ 1946 election results
External links
- Media related to Clarence Frederick Lea at Wikimedia Commons
This article incorporates public domain material from Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Federal government of the United States.