Norris Cotton

Norris H. Cotton
United States Senator from New Hampshire
In office November 8, 1954 – December 31, 1974
Preceded by	Robert W. Upton
Succeeded by	Louis C. Wyman
In office August 8, 1975 – September 18, 1975
Preceded by	Louis C. Wyman
Succeeded by	John A. Durkin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire's 2nd district
In office January 31, 1947 – November 7, 1954
Preceded by	Sherman Adams
Succeeded by	Perkins Bass
Personal details
Born	May 11, 1900(1900-05-11) Warren, New Hampshire
Died	February 24, 1989(1989-02-24) (aged 88) Lebanon, New Hampshire
Political party	Republican
Religion	Congregationalist

Norris H. Cotton (May 11, 1900 – February 24, 1989) was an American Republican politician from the state of New Hampshire.

Norris Cotton was born on a farm in Warren, New Hampshire. He was educated at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and Wesleyan University in Connecticut. While in college, he served as a clerk to the New Hampshire state senate and as a member of the New Hampshire state house of representatives in 1923 as one of the youngest legislators in history. He became a lawyer after attending The George Washington University Law School and practiced law in Lebanon, New Hampshire. He was elected to the state house of representatives again in 1943. He served as majority leader that year and as speaker during 1945.

In 1946 he was elected to the United States House of Representatives from New Hampshire for the first time. He served until 1954 when he ran for a seat in the United States Senate from New Hampshire in a special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Charles W. Tobey. He was elected to a full term in 1956, reelected twice and served in the Senate until 1975.

One of his most controversial votes came when he was the only Senator from New England to vote against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. However, Cotton would vote for later civil rights acts such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968. He was a prominent leader of his party in the Senate, chairing the Senate Republican Conference from 1973 to 1975. He did not run for reelection in 1974. Three days before his final term ran out Cotton resigned to allow the governor to appoint Louis C. Wyman.

He was reappointed to the Senate in August 1975 after the election of his successor was contested. The closest Senate election in history, it went through two recounts at the state level, followed by protracted debate on the Senate floor, until both candidates agreed to a special election.^[1] Cotton served as a temporary senator until the September 1975 special election, the result of which was not challenged. Cotton returned to Lebanon, New Hampshire, where he died at age 88 from natural causes.

The comprehensive cancer center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon is named for Senator Cotton.

The federal building in Manchester, New Hampshire, also bears his name.

References

1. ^ "U.S. Senate: Art & History Home > Historical Minutes > 1964-Present > Closest Election in Senate History". Senate.gov. http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Closest_election_in_Senate_history.htm. Retrieved 2010-05-14. 

External links

• Norris Cotton at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• U.S. Senate Historical Office, "Closest Election in Senate History", retrieved November 15, 2006.
• Norris Cotton at Find a Grave

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Sherman Adams	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district 1947 – 1954	Succeeded by Perkins Bass
United States Senate
Preceded by Robert W. Upton	United States Senator (Class 3) from New Hampshire November 8, 1954 – December 31, 1974 Served alongside: Styles Bridges, Maurice J. Murphy, Jr., Thomas J. McIntyre	Succeeded by Louis C. Wyman
Preceded by Louis C. Wyman	United States Senator (Class 3) from New Hampshire August 8, 1975 – September 18, 1975 Served alongside: Thomas J. McIntyre	Succeeded by John A. Durkin
Party political offices
Preceded by Margaret Chase Smith	Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference 1973–1974	Succeeded by Carl Curtis

Persondata
Name	Cotton, Norris
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	May 11, 1900
Place of birth	War, New Hampshire
Date of death	February 24, 19809
Place of death	Leb, New Hampshire