- Norris Cotton
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Norris H. Cotton United States Senator
from New HampshireIn office
November 8, 1954 – December 31, 1974Preceded by Robert W. Upton Succeeded by Louis C. Wyman In office
August 8, 1975 – September 18, 1975Preceded by Louis C. Wyman Succeeded by John A. Durkin Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Hampshire's 2nd districtIn office
January 31, 1947 – November 7, 1954Preceded by Sherman Adams Succeeded by Perkins Bass Personal details Born May 11, 1900
Warren, New HampshireDied February 24, 1989 (aged 88)
Lebanon, New HampshirePolitical 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
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 AdamsMember of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district
1947 – 1954Succeeded by
Perkins BassUnited States Senate Preceded by
Robert W. UptonUnited States Senator (Class 3) from New Hampshire
November 8, 1954 – December 31, 1974
Served alongside: Styles Bridges, Maurice J. Murphy, Jr., Thomas J. McIntyreSucceeded by
Louis C. WymanPreceded by
Louis C. WymanUnited States Senator (Class 3) from New Hampshire
August 8, 1975 – September 18, 1975
Served alongside: Thomas J. McIntyreSucceeded by
John A. DurkinParty political offices Preceded by
Margaret Chase SmithChairman of the Senate Republican Conference
1973–1974Succeeded by
Carl CurtisUnited States Senators from New Hampshire Class 2 Wingate · Livermore · Olcott · Gilman · Thompson · Morril · S. Bell · Hubbard · Woodbury · Jenness · Cilley · Hale · Atherton · Williams · Hale · Cragin · Rollins · Pike · Cheney · Chandler · Marston · Chandler · Burnham · Hollis · Keyes · Bridges · Murphy · McIntyre · Humphrey · Smith · Sununu · ShaheenClass 3 Langdon · Sheafe · Plumer · Parker · Cutts · Mason · Storer · Parrott · Woodbury · Hill · Page · Pierce · Wilcox · Atherton · Norris · Wells · J. Bell · Clark · Fogg · Patterson · Wadleigh · C. Bell · Blair · Gallinger · Drew · Moses · Brown · Tobey · Upton · Cotton · Wyman · Cotton · Durkin · Rudman · Gregg · Ayotte
Categories:- 1900 births
- 1989 deaths
- American lawyers
- George Washington University alumni
- New Hampshire lawyers
- Phillips Exeter Academy alumni
- New Hampshire Republicans
- American Congregationalists
- United States Senators from New Hampshire
- Wesleyan University alumni
- Members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from New Hampshire
- Appointed United States Senators
- Republican Party United States Senators
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