Dionisio "Dennis" Chávez (April 8, 1888 – November 18, 1962) was an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1931 to 1935, and in the United States Senate from 1935 to 1962. He was the first Hispanic to be elected to a full term in the US Senate and the first US Senator to be born in New Mexico, which was still a US territory at the time of his birth.
Chávez was born in Los Chavez in the New Mexico Territory. His parents, David and Paz Chávez, were members of families that had lived in Los Chavez for generations. There was no school in that town. In 1895, David Chávez moved his family to the Barelas section of Albuquerque, New Mexico to work on the railroad and Dennis attended school until 7th grade when financial hardships necessitated that he work. His first job was delivering groceries at the Highland Grocery store. Later on, he studied engineering and surveying at night, and worked as an engineer for the City of Albuquerque for several years. Dennis's younger brother, David Chávez, served as the 34th Mayor of Santa Fe, a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, and as a member of the New Mexico Supreme Court.
Career
Early career
Chávez worked briefly as editor of a Belen weekly newspaper, as a court interpreter, and as a private contractor until 1916, when he obtained temporary employment as a Spanish interpreter for SenatorAndrieus A. Jones' election campaign. In 1917, he was offered a position as assistant executive clerk of the Senate in Washington, D.C. by Senator Jones. He accepted this position, passed a special admission exam at Georgetown University Law Center and studied law at night. He graduated from Georgetown in 1920, and returned to Albuquerque to establish a law practice. He was successful in defending organized labor and as a defense counsel in high-profile murder cases, where he used his popularity to run for office.[1]
House
In 1922, Chávez was elected to the New Mexico state legislature, but he did not seek another term. In 1930, he was elected to New Mexico's one at-large seat in the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat, and was re-elected in 1932. Chávez served as chairman of the House Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation. He did not seek re-election to the House in 1934, becoming a candidate for the United States Senate.
Senate
Chávez was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from New Mexico in 1934. He lost narrowly to Republican incumbent Bronson M. Cutting. However, Cutting was killed in an airplane crash on May 6, 1935, and five days later, Chávez was appointed to fill the vacancy pending a special election. In 1936, Chávez was elected to the remaining four years of Cutting's term, and then won a full term of his own in 1940, becoming the first person of Hispanic descent to be elected to a full term in the U.S. Senate. (Octaviano Larrazolo, also from New Mexico, was the first Hispanic to be elected to the Senate, but he was only elected to the remainder of an unexpired term and never served a full term.) Chávez was re-elected again in 1946, 1952 and 1958, and served until his death in 1962. He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Works from 1949 to 1953, and again from 1955 until his death.
In 1954, Senate Republicans attempted to remove Chávez from his seat, claiming that irregularities from the 1952 election meant the election results could not be trusted. A resolution that claimed no candidate had won the 1952 election, and therefore requiring the Republican governor of New Mexico to appoint a new senator, was defeated by a vote of 36-53.[2]
Personal life
In 1911, Chávez married Imelda Espinosa, a member of a prominent New Mexico family. In 1914, they moved to Belen. The couple had three children: Dennis, Jr., Gloria and Ymelda.
Dennis Chávez died of cancer, attributed to his being a lifelong smoker, in Washington, D.C. on November 18, 1962,[3] and was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Congress honored his memory with a minute of silence, and then-Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson spoke at his funeral. At the time of his death, he was fourth-ranking in Senate seniority.
Chávez, only the second-ever Hispanic member of the US Senate, was the first US-born Hispanic elected to the Senate (Octaviano Larrazolo was born in Mexico). He was also the first person born in New Mexico elected by the state to the Senate. By a large margin, he is the longest-serving Hispanic US senator.[citation needed]
His daughter, Ymelda Chavez Dixon, wrote a successful women's column for the Washington Evening Star from 1965-1981 called "Your Date with Ymelda."[4]
A granddaughter, Gloria Tristani, followed in public service, serving as chair of the New Mexico State Corporations Commission in 1996, as a member of the Federal Communications Commission from 1997 to 2001, and as the Democratic nominee for New Mexico's other U.S. Senate seat in 2002 where she lost to Senator Pete Domenici.[5]
The Dennis Chavez Foundation – Established in 1988
Documentary Film About Dennis Chavez
US Congress (1963). Memorial Services Held in the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, Together With Remarks Presented in Eulogy of Dennis Chavez, Late a Senator from New Mexico. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office – via HathiTrust.
dennis, chávez, senator, chavez, redirects, here, other, uses, senator, chavez, disambiguation, dionisio, dennis, chávez, april, 1888, november, 1962, american, politician, served, united, states, house, representatives, from, 1931, 1935, united, states, senat. Senator Chavez redirects here For other uses see Senator Chavez disambiguation Dionisio Dennis Chavez April 8 1888 November 18 1962 was an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1931 to 1935 and in the United States Senate from 1935 to 1962 He was the first Hispanic to be elected to a full term in the US Senate and the first US Senator to be born in New Mexico which was still a US territory at the time of his birth Dennis ChavezUnited States Senatorfrom New MexicoIn office May 11 1935 November 18 1962Preceded byBronson M CuttingSucceeded byEdwin L MechemMember of the U S House of Representatives from New Mexico s at large districtIn office March 4 1931 January 3 1935Preceded byAlbert G SimmsSucceeded byJohn J DempseyPersonal detailsBornDionisio Chavez 1888 04 08 April 8 1888Los Chavez New Mexico Territory U S DiedNovember 18 1962 1962 11 18 aged 74 Washington D C U S Political partyDemocraticSpouseImelda EspinosaRelationsDavid Chavez brother EducationGeorgetown University LLB Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Early career 2 2 House 2 3 Senate 3 Personal life 4 Legacy 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditChavez was born in Los Chavez in the New Mexico Territory His parents David and Paz Chavez were members of families that had lived in Los Chavez for generations There was no school in that town In 1895 David Chavez moved his family to the Barelas section of Albuquerque New Mexico to work on the railroad and Dennis attended school until 7th grade when financial hardships necessitated that he work His first job was delivering groceries at the Highland Grocery store Later on he studied engineering and surveying at night and worked as an engineer for the City of Albuquerque for several years Dennis s younger brother David Chavez served as the 34th Mayor of Santa Fe a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and as a member of the New Mexico Supreme Court Career EditEarly career Edit Chavez worked briefly as editor of a Belen weekly newspaper as a court interpreter and as a private contractor until 1916 when he obtained temporary employment as a Spanish interpreter for Senator Andrieus A Jones election campaign In 1917 he was offered a position as assistant executive clerk of the Senate in Washington D C by Senator Jones He accepted this position passed a special admission exam at Georgetown University Law Center and studied law at night He graduated from Georgetown in 1920 and returned to Albuquerque to establish a law practice He was successful in defending organized labor and as a defense counsel in high profile murder cases where he used his popularity to run for office 1 House Edit In 1922 Chavez was elected to the New Mexico state legislature but he did not seek another term In 1930 he was elected to New Mexico s one at large seat in the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat and was re elected in 1932 Chavez served as chairman of the House Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation He did not seek re election to the House in 1934 becoming a candidate for the United States Senate Senate Edit Chavez was the Democratic nominee for U S Senator from New Mexico in 1934 He lost narrowly to Republican incumbent Bronson M Cutting However Cutting was killed in an airplane crash on May 6 1935 and five days later Chavez was appointed to fill the vacancy pending a special election In 1936 Chavez was elected to the remaining four years of Cutting s term and then won a full term of his own in 1940 becoming the first person of Hispanic descent to be elected to a full term in the U S Senate Octaviano Larrazolo also from New Mexico was the first Hispanic to be elected to the Senate but he was only elected to the remainder of an unexpired term and never served a full term Chavez was re elected again in 1946 1952 and 1958 and served until his death in 1962 He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Works from 1949 to 1953 and again from 1955 until his death In 1954 Senate Republicans attempted to remove Chavez from his seat claiming that irregularities from the 1952 election meant the election results could not be trusted A resolution that claimed no candidate had won the 1952 election and therefore requiring the Republican governor of New Mexico to appoint a new senator was defeated by a vote of 36 53 2 Personal life EditIn 1911 Chavez married Imelda Espinosa a member of a prominent New Mexico family In 1914 they moved to Belen The couple had three children Dennis Jr Gloria and Ymelda Dennis Chavez died of cancer attributed to his being a lifelong smoker in Washington D C on November 18 1962 3 and was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Albuquerque New Mexico Congress honored his memory with a minute of silence and then Vice President Lyndon B Johnson spoke at his funeral At the time of his death he was fourth ranking in Senate seniority Legacy Edit Statue of Dennis Chavez by Felix de Weldon in the National Statuary Hall at the U S Capitol Chavez only the second ever Hispanic member of the US Senate was the first US born Hispanic elected to the Senate Octaviano Larrazolo was born in Mexico He was also the first person born in New Mexico elected by the state to the Senate By a large margin he is the longest serving Hispanic US senator citation needed He was honored by the United States Postal Service with a 35 Great Americans series 1980 2000 postage stamp citation needed His daughter Ymelda Chavez Dixon wrote a successful women s column for the Washington Evening Star from 1965 1981 called Your Date with Ymelda 4 A granddaughter Gloria Tristani followed in public service serving as chair of the New Mexico State Corporations Commission in 1996 as a member of the Federal Communications Commission from 1997 to 2001 and as the Democratic nominee for New Mexico s other U S Senate seat in 2002 where she lost to Senator Pete Domenici 5 See also EditList of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress List of United States Congress members who died in office 1950 99 References Edit CHAVEZ Dennis CQ Almanac Online Edition Retrieved December 30 2016 Diaz Rose Biography of Senator Chavez The Dennis Chavez Foundation Retrieved October 1 2011 Ymelda Dixon Obituary Washington DC The Washington Post The Washington Post Hispanic Americans in Congress Chavez Library of Congress External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dennis Chavez Wikiquote has quotations related to Dennis Chavez United States Congress Dennis Chavez id C000338 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress The Dennis Chavez Foundation Established in 1988 Documentary Film About Dennis Chavez US Congress 1963 Memorial Services Held in the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States Together With Remarks Presented in Eulogy of Dennis Chavez Late a Senator from New Mexico Washington DC US Government Printing Office via HathiTrust U S House of RepresentativesPreceded byAlbert G Simms Member of the U S House of Representativesfrom New Mexico s at large congressional district1931 1935 Succeeded byJohn J DempseyParty political officesPreceded byJethro Vaught Democratic nominee for U S Senator from New Mexico Class 1 1934 1936 1940 1946 1952 1958 Succeeded byJoseph MontoyaU S SenatePreceded byBronson M Cutting U S Senator Class 1 from New Mexico1935 1962 Served alongside Carl Hatch Clinton Anderson Succeeded byEdwin L MechemPreceded byChapman Revercomb Chair of the Senate Public Works Committee1949 1953 Succeeded byEd MartinPreceded byEd Martin Chair of the Senate Public Works Committee1955 1962 Succeeded byPatrick V McNamara Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dennis Chavez amp oldid 1129061131, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
