James Browning Allen (December 28, 1912 – June 1, 1978) was an American Democratic politician serving as U.S. senator representing Alabama. Allen previously served as the Lieutenant Governor of Alabama and also served in the Alabama Senate and the Alabama House of Representatives.
Allen was known as one of the most conservative Democrats in the chamber. He was considerably more conservative even than many Republicans of the time. He was an active opponent of the Panama Canal Treaty of 1978. James Allen received one vote for the Republican vice-presidential nomination at the 1976 Republican National Convention.[2][3]
In March 1974, Allen stated that GovernorGeorge Wallace would run in the 1976 Democratic primary and that he believed the Wallace campaign would seek to prevent a repeat of the previous election cycle where the popular vote was not translated into his support from delegates.[4]
Like his Republican Senate colleague, Jesse Helms of North Carolina, Allen was a master of parliamentary procedure. He was considered to have revived the filibuster rule during his nearly ten years as a senator.[5] Following the 1974 midterm elections, Allen pledged to use filibusters against liberal officeholders in favor of large spending in the upcoming 94th United States Congress, reasoning that some of the newly elected Democrats could favor larger spending than the members they had replaced: "I don't feel the voters have given any mandate toward increased expenditures. The people's wishes as indicated by the vote are for us to curtail unnecessary programs and cut Federal spending." It was thought at this time that James Allen "could emerge as a leader of the Senate's conservative bloc with the retirement of Senator Sam J. Ervin, Democrat of North Carolina, and the aging of other conservatives".[6]
In December 1974, James Allen led a group of senators in an anti-busing filibuster against the removal of an amendment previously passed in the House of Representatives designed to curb Government enforcement of desegregation orders. The filibuster ended with a two–thirds majority voting 56 to 27 to end debate on language revising the amendment, marking only the 19th time a filibuster was ended in such a manner in Senate history. James Allen stated that the closure move would result in a legislative delay, Hugh Scott replying, "The supplemental is being delayed by the opposition of the Senator from Alabama to the Scott-Mansfield amendment."[7]
James Allen served in the Senate until his death of a heart attack on June 1, 1978, at the resort community of Gulf Shores, Alabama. He is interred at Forrest Cemetery in Gadsden. Governor George C. Wallace, under whom James Allen served previously as lieutenant governor, appointed Allen's widow, Maryon Pittman Allen, to succeed him in the Senate.
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James Browning Allen December 28 1912 June 1 1978 was an American Democratic politician serving as U S senator representing Alabama Allen previously served as the Lieutenant Governor of Alabama and also served in the Alabama Senate and the Alabama House of Representatives James AllenOfficial portrait c 1963United States Senatorfrom AlabamaIn office January 3 1969 June 1 1978Preceded byJ Lister HillSucceeded byMaryon Pittman Allen17th and 20th Lieutenant Governor of AlabamaIn office January 15 1951 January 17 1955GovernorGordon PersonsPreceded byJames C InzerSucceeded byWilliam G HardwickIn office January 14 1963 January 16 1967GovernorGeorge WallacePreceded byAlbert B BoutwellSucceeded byAlbert BrewerMember of the Alabama SenateIn office 1946 1950Member of the Alabama House of RepresentativesIn office 1938 1942Personal detailsBornJames Browning Allen 1912 12 28 December 28 1912Gadsden Etowah CountyAlabama U S DiedJune 1 1978 1978 06 01 aged 65 Gulf Shores Alabama U S Resting placeForrest Cemetery in Gadsden AlabamaPolitical partyDemocraticSpouse s 1 Marjorie Stephens her death 2 Maryon PittmanAlma materUniversity of AlabamaUniversity of Alabama School of LawMilitary serviceAllegiance United StatesBranch service United States NavyYears of service1943 1946UnitReservesAllen was succeeded in the US Senate by his wife Maryon Pittman Allen Contents 1 Life and career 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksLife and career editThe Gadsden native attended the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama School of Law both located in Tuscaloosa At the University of Alabama he was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi He practiced law in Gadsden from 1935 to 1968 and was a member of the Alabama House of Representatives from 1938 to 1942 He resigned from the state legislature to enter active duty in the United States Naval Reserve from 1943 to 1946 He again ran for office after World War II and was a member of the Alabama Senate from 1946 to 1950 He was the 17th and 20th Lieutenant Governor of Alabama from 1951 to 1955 and again from 1963 to 1967 1 In 1968 James Allen was elected to succeed the retiring Democratic U S Senator J Lister Hill of Montgomery Allen won 638 774 76 percent to 201 227 24 percent for his Republican opponent Perry O Hooper Sr Allen was known as one of the most conservative Democrats in the chamber He was considerably more conservative even than many Republicans of the time He was an active opponent of the Panama Canal Treaty of 1978 James Allen received one vote for the Republican vice presidential nomination at the 1976 Republican National Convention 2 3 In March 1974 Allen stated that Governor George Wallace would run in the 1976 Democratic primary and that he believed the Wallace campaign would seek to prevent a repeat of the previous election cycle where the popular vote was not translated into his support from delegates 4 Like his Republican Senate colleague Jesse Helms of North Carolina Allen was a master of parliamentary procedure He was considered to have revived the filibuster rule during his nearly ten years as a senator 5 Following the 1974 midterm elections Allen pledged to use filibusters against liberal officeholders in favor of large spending in the upcoming 94th United States Congress reasoning that some of the newly elected Democrats could favor larger spending than the members they had replaced I don t feel the voters have given any mandate toward increased expenditures The people s wishes as indicated by the vote are for us to curtail unnecessary programs and cut Federal spending It was thought at this time that James Allen could emerge as a leader of the Senate s conservative bloc with the retirement of Senator Sam J Ervin Democrat of North Carolina and the aging of other conservatives 6 In December 1974 James Allen led a group of senators in an anti busing filibuster against the removal of an amendment previously passed in the House of Representatives designed to curb Government enforcement of desegregation orders The filibuster ended with a two thirds majority voting 56 to 27 to end debate on language revising the amendment marking only the 19th time a filibuster was ended in such a manner in Senate history James Allen stated that the closure move would result in a legislative delay Hugh Scott replying The supplemental is being delayed by the opposition of the Senator from Alabama to the Scott Mansfield amendment 7 James Allen served in the Senate until his death of a heart attack on June 1 1978 at the resort community of Gulf Shores Alabama He is interred at Forrest Cemetery in Gadsden Governor George C Wallace under whom James Allen served previously as lieutenant governor appointed Allen s widow Maryon Pittman Allen to succeed him in the Senate See also edit nbsp United States portal nbsp Politics portal nbsp Law portal nbsp World War II portal nbsp Christianity portalList of United States Congress members who died in office 1950 99 References edit James Allen Lieutenant Governors of Alabama Archived from the original on April 4 2016 Retrieved March 5 2012 US Vice President R Convention Our Campaigns Retrieved October 23 2011 UPI August 20 1976 Alabama Delegation Florence Times Tri Cities Daily p 2 Retrieved October 23 2011 SENATOR SEES RACE BY WALLACE IN 1976 New York Times March 11 1974 James Allen s Widow is Named to Senate PDF New York Times June 9 1978 Senator Allen Pledges Fight Against Congress Spenders New York Times November 10 1974 Senate Cuts Off Filibuster Voids House Busing Curb New York Times December 15 1974 External links editUnited States Congress James Allen id A000127 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Party political officesPreceded byAlbert Boutwell Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Alabama1962 Succeeded byAlbert BrewerPreceded byJ Lister Hill Democratic nominee for U S Senator from Alabama Class 3 1968 1974 Succeeded byDonald StewartPolitical officesPreceded byJames C Inzer Lieutenant Governor of AlabamaJanuary 15 1951 January 17 1955 Succeeded byWilliam G HardwickPreceded byAlbert Boutwell Lieutenant Governor of AlabamaJanuary 14 1963 January 16 1967 Succeeded byAlbert BrewerU S SenatePreceded byJ Lister Hill U S senator Class 3 from AlabamaJanuary 3 1969 June 1 1978 Served alongside John J Sparkman Succeeded byMaryon Pittman Allen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Allen Alabama politician amp oldid 1144655949, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
