Rush D. Holt, Sr.

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Rush Holt, Sr.
United States Senator from West Virginia
In office June 21, 1935 – January 3, 1941
Preceded by	Henry D. Hatfield
Succeeded by	Harley M. Kilgore
Born	June 19, 1905(1905-06-19) Weston, West Virginia
Died	February 8, 1955 Bethesda, Maryland
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Helen Holt
Profession	Teacher

Rush Dew Holt, Sr. (June 19, 1905 – February 8, 1955) was an American politician who was a United States Senator from West Virginia from 1935 until 1941.

A Democrat, he was elected at age 29 in November 1934, but because a Senator is constitutionally required to be at least 30 years old, he could not take his seat in January 1935 and had to wait until after his next birthday, in June 1935. At the time of his election, he supported President Franklin D. Roosevelt and had the backing of the United Mine Workers; however, after he was in office, he seemed to change his political stance, becoming a critic of the New Deal and losing the support of the United Mine Workers. Holt was also a staunch isolationist, firmly opposing any U.S. involvement in overseas warfare at a time when World War II was beginning. He was defeated for the Democratic renomination in 1940, as well as Democratic nominations for governor in 1944 and United States Senate in 1948 [1]. In 1949 Holt became a Republican, unsuccessfully running for election to the Eighty-second Congress in 1950 [2] and governor of West Virginia in 1952[3]. In 1954 he was elected to the State house of delegates and served until his death less then a year later [4].

His son, Rush D. Holt, Jr., is currently a U.S. Representative from New Jersey.

[edit] External links

• "Unsworn Senators", an article from Time magazine that is partially about Holt, January 14, 1935.

• Rush D. Holt, Sr. at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

United States Senate
Preceded by Henry D. Hatfield	United States Senator (Class 1) from West Virginia 1935 – 1941 Served alongside: Matthew M. Neely	Succeeded by Harley M. Kilgore

v • d • e United States Senators from West Virginia Class 1 Van Winkle • Boreman • Caperton • Price • Hereford • Camden • Faulkner • Scott • Chilton • Sutherland • Neely • Hatfield • Holt • Kilgore • Laird • Revercomb • Byrd Class 2 Willey • Davis • Kenna • Camden • S. Elkins • D. Elkins • Watson • N. Goff • D. Elkins • G. Goff • Neely • Rosier • Shott • Revercomb • Neely • Hoblitzell • Randolph • Rockefeller

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