Joseph Little Bristow (July 22, 1861 – July 14, 1944) was a Republican politician from the American state of Kansas. Elected in 1908, Bristow served a single term in the United States Senate where he gained recognition for his support of several political causes of the Progressive era. Following his electoral defeat in the election of November 1914, Bristow spent the rest of his life as a farmer in the state of Virginia.
Bristow was a bit player in a legendary episode in American political folklore when his Senate speech on "what the country needs" is said to have moved a bored Vice President of the United StatesThomas R. Marshall to lean forward and stage whisper: "What this country really needs is a good five-cent cigar."
Joseph Little Bristow was born in rural Wolfe County, Kentucky, just outside the hamlet of Hazel Green, on July 22, 1861. His father was the son of a Methodist minister who had become a school teacher who later fought in the American Civil War on behalf of the Union Army.[1] The family was devoutly religious.[1]
In November 1879, Bristow married Margaret A. Hendrix of Fleming County, Kentucky.[2] Soon after marriage, the couple moved west to Elk County, Kansas to make a new life there in farming.[2] This agrarian interlude was brief as in 1882 the Bristows moved to Baldwin, Kansas so that Joseph could enroll at Baker University, to become a Methodist minister.[3]
Bristow edited several newspapers in Salina, Kansas before serving as a private secretary to Governor Edmund Morrill. He was President William McKinley's fourth assistant postmaster general.
United States Senator
Bristow was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1908 and served from 1909 to 1915.
As a Senator, Bristow fought fiercely for direct election of Senators, which, until the passage of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1912, were elected by (or appointed by processes established by) state legislatures.[5]
Bristow is said to have played a part in provoking a sarcastic comment from Vice President Thomas R. Marshall. One day while Bristow was delivering a lengthy speech in the Senate on "what this country needs," Marshall leaned forward and whispered loudly enough for most of the chamber to hear, "What this country really needs is a good five-cent cigar."[6] The expression was immortalized with the retelling and has become a lasting part of American political folklore.[7]
Later years
Bristow spent the rest of his life after politics farming his Virginia estate, Ossian Hall.
Death and legacy
Joseph L. Bristow died on July 14, 1944. His body was returned to Kansas for burial next to his wife Margaret in Salina's Gypsum Hill Cemetery.
^Explicit and Authentic acts amending the Constitution, David E. Kyvig. pp. 210–213
^Charles M. Thomas, Thomas Riley Marshall: Hoosier Statesman. Oxford, OH: Mississippi Valley Press, 1939; pp. 174-175.
^Jeffrey Graf, "What This Country Needs is a Really Good 5-Cent Cigar," Indiana Notes and Queries, Herman B Wells Library, Indiana University, March 18, 2000. Revised October 9, 2008.
^"Vernon County Place Names, 1928–1945". The State Historical Society of Missouri. from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
^History Of Bristow, Oklahoma; Bristow Historical Society & Museum [1]
Further reading
Sageser, A. Bower. "Joseph L. Bristow: The Editor's Road to Politics" Kansas Historical Quarterly (1964) 30#2 pp.153-162.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Joseph L. Bristow.
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Joseph Little Bristow July 22 1861 July 14 1944 was a Republican politician from the American state of Kansas Elected in 1908 Bristow served a single term in the United States Senate where he gained recognition for his support of several political causes of the Progressive era Following his electoral defeat in the election of November 1914 Bristow spent the rest of his life as a farmer in the state of Virginia Joseph Little BristowUnited States Senatorfrom KansasIn office March 4 1909 March 3 1915Preceded byChester I LongSucceeded byCharles CurtisPersonal detailsBorn 1861 07 22 July 22 1861Hazel Green Kentucky U S DiedJuly 14 1944 1944 07 14 aged 82 Fairfax Virginia U S Resting placeGypsum Hill CemeterySalina Kansas U S Political partyRepublicanSignatureBristow was a bit player in a legendary episode in American political folklore when his Senate speech on what the country needs is said to have moved a bored Vice President of the United States Thomas R Marshall to lean forward and stage whisper What this country really needs is a good five cent cigar Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early years 1 2 United States Senator 1 3 What this country needs 1 4 Later years 1 5 Death and legacy 2 Footnotes 3 Further reading 4 External linksBiography EditEarly years Edit Joseph Little Bristow was born in rural Wolfe County Kentucky just outside the hamlet of Hazel Green on July 22 1861 His father was the son of a Methodist minister who had become a school teacher who later fought in the American Civil War on behalf of the Union Army 1 The family was devoutly religious 1 In November 1879 Bristow married Margaret A Hendrix of Fleming County Kentucky 2 Soon after marriage the couple moved west to Elk County Kansas to make a new life there in farming 2 This agrarian interlude was brief as in 1882 the Bristows moved to Baldwin Kansas so that Joseph could enroll at Baker University to become a Methodist minister 3 Bristow s political career began while still a student when in conjunction with the election of 1884 he organized a Blaine and Logan club on behalf of the nominees for President and Vice President of the Republican Party 4 He graduated from Baker University when he was 25 Bristow edited several newspapers in Salina Kansas before serving as a private secretary to Governor Edmund Morrill He was President William McKinley s fourth assistant postmaster general United States Senator Edit Bristow was elected to the U S Senate in 1908 and served from 1909 to 1915 As a Senator Bristow fought fiercely for direct election of Senators which until the passage of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1912 were elected by or appointed by processes established by state legislatures 5 Bristow is also known for giving young Dwight D Eisenhower his nomination for entrance into the United States Military Academy Bristow was defeated in his 1914 re election bid What this country needs Edit Bristow is said to have played a part in provoking a sarcastic comment from Vice President Thomas R Marshall One day while Bristow was delivering a lengthy speech in the Senate on what this country needs Marshall leaned forward and whispered loudly enough for most of the chamber to hear What this country really needs is a good five cent cigar 6 The expression was immortalized with the retelling and has become a lasting part of American political folklore 7 Later years Edit Bristow spent the rest of his life after politics farming his Virginia estate Ossian Hall Death and legacy Edit Joseph L Bristow died on July 14 1944 His body was returned to Kansas for burial next to his wife Margaret in Salina s Gypsum Hill Cemetery Bristow is the namesake of the community of Bristow Missouri 8 Bristow is also the namesake of the community of Bristow OK 9 Footnotes Edit a b Thomas Dreier Heroes of Insurgency Boston Human Life Publishing Company 1910 p 69 a b Dreier Heroes of Insurgency pg 71 Dreier Heroes of Insurgency pp 71 72 Dreier Heroes of Insurgency pg 74 Explicit and Authentic acts amending the Constitution David E Kyvig pp 210 213 Charles M Thomas Thomas Riley Marshall Hoosier Statesman Oxford OH Mississippi Valley Press 1939 pp 174 175 Jeffrey Graf What This Country Needs is a Really Good 5 Cent Cigar Indiana Notes and Queries Herman B Wells Library Indiana University March 18 2000 Revised October 9 2008 Vernon County Place Names 1928 1945 The State Historical Society of Missouri Archived from the original on June 24 2016 Retrieved December 29 2016 History Of Bristow Oklahoma Bristow Historical Society amp Museum 1 Further reading EditSageser A Bower Joseph L Bristow The Editor s Road to Politics Kansas Historical Quarterly 1964 30 2 pp 153 162 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Joseph L Bristow Works by or about Joseph L Bristow at Internet ArchiveUnited States Congress Joseph L Bristow id B000844 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress U S SenatePreceded byChester I Long U S Senator from Kansas Class 31909 1915 Succeeded byCharles Curtis Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joseph L Bristow amp oldid 1150413583, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
