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Affiliation | Democratic |
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Name | John S. Battle |
Address | Charlottesville, Virginia , United States |
Email | None |
Website | None |
Born |
July 11, 1890
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Died | April 09, 1972
(81 years)
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Contributor | Thomas Walker |
Last Modifed | RBH Aug 12, 2015 02:58am |
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Info | BATTLE, JOHN STEWART - Democratic Governor of Virginia.
Battle was born in New Bern, North Carolina 7/11/1890. He attended Wake Forest College and went on to study law at the University of Virginia, receiving his LL.B. in 1913, after which he practiced law in Charlottesville. He served as a private in the U.S. Army during World War I. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1930 to 1934 and of the Virginia Senate from 1934 until 1950, when he became governor.
Delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, and 1968.
Governor (D-VA) 1950-1954. The Korean War broke out during Battle's administration, leading the governor to reactivate the State Council of Defense. Battle was also an advocate of social reforms, pressing for additional funding for school construction, for improvements in health hospitals, for the expansion of local health centers, and for raises in teachers' salaries. He gained attention at the 1952 Democratic National Convention in Chicago by refusing to submit to a loyalty oath passed by the convention. Battle gave a speech on the proposed oath that prevented a walkout by the Dixiecrats.
After leaving office, he became a partner in the law firm of Perkins, Battle and Minor in Charlottesville VA. He was also appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to serve on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission.
Battle was prepared to run for the US Senate in 1958 if the incumbent Senator Harry F. Byrd Sr., chose not to run for reelection. Former Governor (and then Congressman) William Tuck had the same ambitions, and Byrd chose to run again to avoid the political infighting that would result from a Battle-Tuck primary fight.
John S. Battle died in 1972, at the age of 81, and was buried in Monticello Memorial Park in Charlottesville. Battle will be remembered for his moderate civil rights record and his willingness to help fund public schools.
[Link] ; source for portions in italics not identified. |
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