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{{Short description|American politician (1897–1978)}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Willam Arthur Purtell
|name = Willam Arthur Purtell
|image = William Arthur Purtell.jpg
|image = William Arthur Purtell.jpg
|image_size = 225px
|jr/sr = United States Senator
|jr/sr = United States Senator
|state = [[Connecticut]]
|state = [[Connecticut]]
|term_start = January 3, 1953
|term_start1 = January 3, 1953
|term_end = January 3, 1959
|term_end1 = January 3, 1959
|predecessor = [[William Benton (senator)|William Benton]]
|predecessor1 = [[William Benton (senator)|William Benton]]
|successor = [[Thomas J. Dodd]]
|successor1 = [[Thomas J. Dodd]]
|birth_date = {{birth date|1897|5|6}}
|term_start2 = August 29, 1952
|term_end2 = November 4, 1952
|birth_place = [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]], [[Connecticut]]
|death_date = {{death date and age|1978|5|31|1897|5|6}}
|appointer2 = [[John Davis Lodge]]
|predecessor2 = [[Brien McMahon]]
|death_place = [[West Hartford, Connecticut|West Hartford]], [[Connecticut]]
|successor2 = [[Prescott Bush]]
|birth_date = {{birth date|1897|5|6}}
|birth_place = [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]], [[Connecticut]]
|death_date = {{death date and age|1978|5|31|1897|5|6}}
|death_place = [[West Hartford, Connecticut|West Hartford]], [[Connecticut]]
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|spouse = Katherine Elizabeth Cassidy
}}
}}
'''William Arthur Purtell''' (May 6, 1897 – May 31, 1978) was an [[United States|American]] businessman and politician. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], he represented [[Connecticut]] in the [[United States Senate]] in 1952 and from 1953 to 1959.
'''William Arthur Purtell''' (May 6, 1897 – May 31, 1978) was an American businessman and politician. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], he represented [[Connecticut]] in the [[United States Senate]] in 1952 and from 1953 to 1959.


==Biography==
==Biography==
Line 22: Line 30:


==Business career==
==Business career==
After working as a salesman from ten years, Purtell co-founded the [[Fastenal|Holo-Krome Screw Corporation]] of West Hartford in 1929 and served as its president, treasurer, and general manager until 1952.<ref name=congress/> He also served as president, treasurer, and general manager (1937-1944) and later chairman (1944-1947) of the Billings & Spencer Company of Hartford.<ref name=yearbook>{{cite book|title=Current Biography Yearbook|year=1952|publisher=H.W. Wilson Company}}</ref> From 1938 to 1952, he served as vice-president, treasurer, and general manager of the Sparmal Engineering Corporation.<ref name=yearbook/> He was also director of the Hartford [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]] and one of the executive directors of the Connecticut State Prison.<ref name=curtis/>
After working as a salesman for ten years, Purtell co-founded the Holo-Krome Screw Corporation of West Hartford in 1929 and served as its president, treasurer, and general manager until 1952.<ref name=congress/> He also served as president, treasurer, and general manager (1937-1944) and later chairman (1944-1947) of the Billings & Spencer Company of Hartford.<ref name=yearbook>{{cite book|title=Current Biography Yearbook|year=1952|publisher=H.W. Wilson Company}}</ref> From 1938 to 1952, he served as vice-president, treasurer, and general manager of the Sparmal Engineering Corporation.<ref name=yearbook/> He was also director of the Hartford [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]] and one of the executive directors of the Connecticut State Prison.<ref name=curtis/>


Purtell unsuccessfully ran for the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nomination for [[List of Governors of Connecticut|Governor of Connecticut]] in 1950, losing to Congressman [[John Davis Lodge]].<ref name=nytimes/> He was one of the first political leaders in Connecticut to support General [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] in the [[United States presidential election, 1952|1952 presidential election]].<ref name=yearbook/>
Purtell unsuccessfully ran for the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nomination for [[List of Governors of Connecticut|Governor of Connecticut]] in 1950, losing to Congressman [[John Davis Lodge]].<ref name=nytimes/> He was one of the first political leaders in Connecticut to support General [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] in the [[1952 United States presidential election|1952 presidential election]].<ref name=yearbook/>


==U.S. Senate==
==U.S. Senate==
In May 1952, Purtell won the Republican nomination to challenge [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] incumbent [[William Benton (senator)|William Benton]] for a seat in the [[United States Senate]].<ref name=yearbook/> However, when Connecticut's other Senator, [[Brien McMahon]], died in July of that year, Governor Lodge appointed Purtell to the Senate to fill the remainder of McMahon's term.<ref name=congress/> Thus, Purtell was in the unusual position of filling one Senate seat while running for another. Fellow Republican businessman [[Prescott Bush]], the father of [[George H. W. Bush]] (41st [[President of the United States]]) and the grandfather of [[George W. Bush]] (43rd President of the United States), was later elected to McMahon's seat. During his campaign against Benton, Purtell supported General Eisenhower's campaign platform on "[[K1c2 formula|Communism, corruption, and Korea]]."<ref name=yearbook/> Benton accused Purtell of being so conservative that he "makes [[Robert Taft|Bob Taft]] look like a left-wing [[New Deal]]er."<ref name=nytimes/> He eventually defeated Benton by a margin of 88,788 votes, receiving 52% of the vote.<ref name=results>{{cite news|work=[[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]]|title=Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 4, 1952|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1952election.pdf}}</ref>
In May 1952, Purtell won the Republican nomination to challenge [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] incumbent [[William Benton (senator)|William Benton]] for a seat in the [[United States Senate]].<ref name=yearbook/> However, when Connecticut's other Democratic Senator, [[Brien McMahon]], died in July of that year, Governor Lodge appointed Purtell to the Senate to fill the remainder of McMahon's term.<ref name=congress/> Thus, Purtell was in the unusual position of filling one Senate seat while running for another. Fellow Republican businessman [[Prescott Bush]], the father of [[George H. W. Bush]] and the grandfather of [[George W. Bush]], was later elected to McMahon's seat. During his campaign against Benton, Purtell supported General Eisenhower's campaign platform on "[[K1c2 formula|Communism, corruption, and Korea]]."<ref name=yearbook/> Benton accused Purtell of being so conservative that he "makes [[Robert A. Taft|Bob Taft]] look like a left-wing [[New Deal]]er."<ref name=nytimes/> Still, Benton was defeated by Purtell by a margin of 88,788 votes, receiving 52% of the vote.<ref name=results>{{cite news|work=[[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]]|title=Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 4, 1952|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1952election.pdf}}</ref>


During his tenure in the Senate, Purtell co-sponsored an amendment to federal labor laws making discrimination by employers or labor organizations an unfair labor practice.<ref name=nytimes/> In 1954, he expressed his support for the Eisenhower administration's proposal for a government-conducted vote before a union could go on strike.<ref name=nytimes/> In 1958, Purtell was defeated for re-election by his Democratic opponent [[Thomas J. Dodd]], a former Congressman and father of future Senator [[Chris Dodd]], by a margin of 57%-42%.<ref name=election>{{cite news|work=[[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]]|title=Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1958|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1958election.pdf}}</ref>
During his tenure in the Senate, Purtell co-sponsored an amendment to federal labor laws making discrimination by employers or labor organizations an unfair labor practice.<ref name=nytimes/> In 1954, he expressed his support for the Eisenhower administration's proposal for a government-conducted vote before a union could go on strike.<ref name=nytimes/> Purtell voted in favor of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1957]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=Senate – August 7, 1957|journal=[[Congressional Record]]|volume=103|issue=10|publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|U.S. Government Printing Office]]|page=13900|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1957-pt10/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1957-pt10-9-1.pdf|access-date=February 18, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Senate – August 29, 1957|journal=[[Congressional Record]]|volume=103|issue=12|publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|U.S. Government Printing Office]]|page=16478|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1957-pt12/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1957-pt12-6-1.pdf|access-date=February 18, 2022}}</ref> In 1958, Purtell was defeated for re-election by his Democratic opponent [[Thomas J. Dodd]], a former Congressman and father of future Senator [[Chris Dodd]], by a margin of 57%-42%.<ref name=election>{{cite news|work=[[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]]|title=Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1958|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1958election.pdf}}</ref>


==Later life and death==
==Later life and death==
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== References ==
== References ==

{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{s-start}}
{{S-start}}
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{succession box | before = [[Brien McMahon]] | title = [[List of United States Senators from Connecticut|U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Connecticut]] | years = 1952 | after = [[Prescott Bush]]}}
{{U.S. Senator box |state=Connecticut |class=3 |before = [[Brien McMahon]] |years = August 29, 1952 November 4, 1952 |after = [[Prescott Bush]]|alongside=[[William Benton (senator)|William B. Benton]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[William B. Benton]] | title = [[List of United States Senators from Connecticut|U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Connecticut]] | years = 1953&ndash;1959 | after = [[Thomas J. Dodd]]}}
{{U.S. Senator box |state=Connecticut |class=1 |before = [[William Benton (senator)|William B. Benton]] |years = January 3, 1953 January 3, 1959 |after = [[Thomas J. Dodd]]|alongside=[[Prescott Bush]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{S-ppo}}
{{Succession box
| before= [[Prescott Bush]]
|title= [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of United States Senators from Connecticut|United States Senator from Connecticut]]<br/>([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 1]])
|years= [[1952 United States Senate election in Connecticut|1952]], [[1958 United States Senate election in Connecticut|1958]]
|after= [[John Davis Lodge]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{USSenCT}}
{{USSenCT}}
{{authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Purtell, William Arthur
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American politician
| DATE OF BIRTH = May 6, 1897
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]], [[Connecticut]]
| DATE OF DEATH = May 31, 1978
| PLACE OF DEATH = [[West Hartford, Connecticut|West Hartford]], [[Connecticut]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Purtell, William Arthur}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Purtell, William Arthur}}
[[Category:1897 births]]
[[Category:1897 births]]
[[Category:1978 deaths]]
[[Category:1978 deaths]]
[[Category:Appointed United States Senators]]
[[Category:American chief executives]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Connecticut Republicans]]
[[Category:Connecticut Republicans]]
[[Category:United States Senators from Connecticut]]
[[Category:Politicians from Hartford, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Republican Party United States Senators]]
[[Category:Republican Party United States senators from Connecticut]]
[[Category:United States Army non-commissioned officers]]

[[Category:Military personnel from Connecticut]]

[[Category:Janitors]]
{{Connecticut-politician-stub}}
[[Category:American anti-communists]]

[[Category:20th-century United States senators]]
[[de:William A. Purtell]]
[[sv:William A. Purtell]]

Latest revision as of 06:40, 7 December 2024

Willam Arthur Purtell
United States Senator
from Connecticut
In office
January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1959
Preceded byWilliam Benton
Succeeded byThomas J. Dodd
In office
August 29, 1952 – November 4, 1952
Appointed byJohn Davis Lodge
Preceded byBrien McMahon
Succeeded byPrescott Bush
Personal details
Born(1897-05-06)May 6, 1897
Hartford, Connecticut
DiedMay 31, 1978(1978-05-31) (aged 81)
West Hartford, Connecticut
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKatherine Elizabeth Cassidy

William Arthur Purtell (May 6, 1897 – May 31, 1978) was an American businessman and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he represented Connecticut in the United States Senate in 1952 and from 1953 to 1959.

Biography

[edit]

William Purtell was born in a tenement neighborhood of Hartford, Connecticut.[1] He was the son of Thomas Michael and Nora Mary (née O'Connor) Purtell, who were tobacco workers.[2] He received his early education at St. Patrick's School, and attended Hartford Public High School for two years before dropping out at age 15.[2] He then worked as a janitor, water boy, and car checker for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad.[1]

During World War I, he served with the radio section of the U.S. Army Expeditionary Force in France, being discharged as a corporal in 1919.[3] That same year, he married Katherine Elizabeth Cassidy; the couple had a son, William, and a daughter, Margaret.[2]

Business career

[edit]

After working as a salesman for ten years, Purtell co-founded the Holo-Krome Screw Corporation of West Hartford in 1929 and served as its president, treasurer, and general manager until 1952.[3] He also served as president, treasurer, and general manager (1937-1944) and later chairman (1944-1947) of the Billings & Spencer Company of Hartford.[4] From 1938 to 1952, he served as vice-president, treasurer, and general manager of the Sparmal Engineering Corporation.[4] He was also director of the Hartford Red Cross and one of the executive directors of the Connecticut State Prison.[2]

Purtell unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for Governor of Connecticut in 1950, losing to Congressman John Davis Lodge.[1] He was one of the first political leaders in Connecticut to support General Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential election.[4]

U.S. Senate

[edit]

In May 1952, Purtell won the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic incumbent William Benton for a seat in the United States Senate.[4] However, when Connecticut's other Democratic Senator, Brien McMahon, died in July of that year, Governor Lodge appointed Purtell to the Senate to fill the remainder of McMahon's term.[3] Thus, Purtell was in the unusual position of filling one Senate seat while running for another. Fellow Republican businessman Prescott Bush, the father of George H. W. Bush and the grandfather of George W. Bush, was later elected to McMahon's seat. During his campaign against Benton, Purtell supported General Eisenhower's campaign platform on "Communism, corruption, and Korea."[4] Benton accused Purtell of being so conservative that he "makes Bob Taft look like a left-wing New Dealer."[1] Still, Benton was defeated by Purtell by a margin of 88,788 votes, receiving 52% of the vote.[5]

During his tenure in the Senate, Purtell co-sponsored an amendment to federal labor laws making discrimination by employers or labor organizations an unfair labor practice.[1] In 1954, he expressed his support for the Eisenhower administration's proposal for a government-conducted vote before a union could go on strike.[1] Purtell voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.[6][7] In 1958, Purtell was defeated for re-election by his Democratic opponent Thomas J. Dodd, a former Congressman and father of future Senator Chris Dodd, by a margin of 57%-42%.[8]

Later life and death

[edit]

Following his Senate career, Purtell resumed his manufacturing interests.[3] He died at his home in West Hartford, at age 81.[1] He is buried in Fairview Cemetery.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g "William Purtell, 81; Served in the Senate from 1952 to 1959". The New York Times. 1978-06-01.
  2. ^ a b c d Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, MI: Walter Romig.
  3. ^ a b c d "PURTELL, William Arthur, (1897 - 1978)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  4. ^ a b c d e Current Biography Yearbook. H.W. Wilson Company. 1952.
  5. ^ "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 4, 1952" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.
  6. ^ "Senate – August 7, 1957" (PDF). Congressional Record. 103 (10). U.S. Government Printing Office: 13900. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  7. ^ "Senate – August 29, 1957" (PDF). Congressional Record. 103 (12). U.S. Government Printing Office: 16478. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  8. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1958" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 3) from Connecticut
August 29, 1952 – November 4, 1952
Served alongside: William B. Benton
Succeeded by
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 1) from Connecticut
January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1959
Served alongside: Prescott Bush
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for United States Senator from Connecticut
(Class 1)

1952, 1958
Succeeded by