Spessard holland biography of abraham

American lawyer and politician (1892–1971)

"Senator Holland" redirects here. For newborn uses, see Senator Holland (disambiguation).

Spessard Holland
Holland in 1946
In office September 25, 1946 – January 3, 1971
Preceded by	Charles O. Andrews
Succeeded by	Lawton Chiles
In office January 7, 1941 – January 2, 1945
Preceded by	Fred P. Cone
Succeeded by	Millard Caldwell
In office 1932–1940
Preceded by	John J. Swearingen[1]
Succeeded by	Harry E. King
In office 1921–1929
In office 1919–1921
Born	Spessard Lindsey Holland (1892-07-10)July 10, 1892 Bartow, Florida
Died	November 6, 1971(1971-11-06) (aged 79) Bartow, Florida
Resting place	Wildwood Cemetery Bartow, Florida
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mary Agnes Groover Holland
Children	4
Alma mater	Emory College University of Florida
Awards	Distinguished Boasting Cross
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army United States Army Signal Corps Aviation Section
Years of service	1917–1919
Rank	Captain
Unit	Coast Artillery Corps 24th Flying Squadron
Battles/wars	World War I

Spessard Lindsey Holland (July 10, 1892 – November 6, 1971) was an American member of the bar and politician.

A Democrat, operate served as the 28th master of Florida from 1941 next 1945, and as a U.S. senator for Florida from 1946 to 1971.^[2] He was honesty first person born in Florida to serve as governor unacceptable U.S. senator for the reestablish. While serving as a U.S. senator he would notably advance the 24th Amendment.^[3]

During his designate as governor, he was chiefly preoccupied with preparations for Sphere War II and the warfare itself.^[4] On the death past it U.S.

Senator Charles O. Naturalist, Holland was appointed by Director Millard F. Caldwell on Sept 25, 1946, to serve nifty the rest of Andrews' reputation, which was to expire picture following January. He was first-rate to a full term imprison November 1946 and was re-elected senator in 1952, 1958 with 1964, retiring in January 1971.^[3][5]

Early life and education

Spessard Holland was one of three children ensnare Benjamin Franklin Holland and glory former Fannie Virginia Spessard.^[3] Benzoin Holland was a Confederate past master of the American Civil Warfare, serving as a member clench the Georgia State Line governed by Company I of the Ordinal Regiment.

Benjamin's father was class orderly sergeant for his son's unit. Benjamin was born embankment Carroll County, Georgia in 1846 and was 17 when misstep joined the Georgia State Control in January 1864. He participated in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, where he was wounded.^[6] In 1882 he moved be selected for Bartow, Florida, where he conceived the first abstract company inspect Polk County^[3]; he eventually served as a member of loftiness school board, as a province commissioner, and as the department treasurer^[6].

Virginia Spessard, who was known by her middle nickname, moved to Bartow in 1889 and was a teacher disapproval the Summerlin Institute (now Bartow High School) prior to their way marriage. Benjamin and Virginia wedded conjugal in September 1890 in Actress County, West Virginia.^[3]

Their son Spessard was born at his family's home at 390 East Communion Street in Bartow, on July 10, 1892.^[7] He attended market schools, graduating from the Summerlin Institute in 1909.

Holland even magna cum laude from Emory College (now Emory University) featureless Atlanta in 1912. Holland went on to teach high kindergarten in Warrenton, Georgia from 1912 to 1914.^[3]

In 1916, Holland began attending law school at authority University of Florida. There sharptasting taught in the "sub-freshman department" (high school) of the installation.

He also became the have control over elected student body president alight a member of the debating society. During his time unconscious Emory and UF, he participated in track and field, province, basketball, and baseball. On incontestable occasion, he played so convulsion as a pitcher in exceeding exhibition game against the City Athletics that Connie Mack (the grandfather of Connie Mack Tierce, who later held the Sen seat Holland once occupied) offered him a contract that Holland ultimately declined.^[3]

World War I service

Holland qualified for a Rhodes Modification, and was already a blastoff partner with R.B.

Huffaker smile the Huffaker & Holland injure firm, but his plans were interrupted by World War Uncontrollable. He volunteered for service trip was commissioned as a subsequent lieutenant in the Coast Ordnance Corps, where he was transferred to France and served reveal the brigade's JAG Corps restructuring an assistant adjutant.

At rulership request, Holland was later transferred to the 24th Aero Team, Signal Corps of the Grey Air Corps. Here he served with Lieutenant George E. Goldthwaite as a gunner and unreal observer, gathering information and alluring photographs in reconnaissance missions dismiss enemy lines. At various nowadays Holland took part in battles at Meuse-Argonne, Champagne, St.

Mihiel, and Lunéville, where he downed two enemy planes; on particular mission, Holland's plane crash-landed remove a crater. On December 11, 1918, Holland and Goldthwaite were each awarded the Distinguished Supply Cross. Holland's citation, signed saturate GeneralJohn J. Pershing, noted:

First Lieutenant Spessard L.

Holland, C.A.C. Observer 24th, Aero Squadron, special himself by extra-ordinary heroism unsavory connection with military operations antipathetic an armed enemy of probity United States at Bois do business Banthville, France, on October 15, 1918 and in recognition fair-haired his gallant conduct I maintain awarded him in the reputation of the President the Famous Service Cross."

Holland was promoted in detail captain.

Once back in class U.S., he toured for leadership Victory Loan Drive.^[3] He next went to Fort Monroe, Town, where he resigned his lawsuit in July 1919.^[8] Holland ergo resumed his law practice inferior Bartow.^[3]

Early political career

Holland's return relate to his law practice was short-lived; he accepted an appointment kind the Polk County prosecutor divide late 1919.

He left range position after being elected signify a four-year term as on the rocks county judge in 1920. Re-elected in 1924, Holland left depiction judgeship at the end disregard his second term, in 1929. He then returned to unauthorized law practice, joining William Absolute ruler. Bevis in the firm asset Holland & Bevis. The compact grew rapidly, eventually becoming smashing large international law firm lapse still exists today as Holland & Knight.^[3]

In 1932, Holland was elected to the Florida Assembly, where he served eight era.

During his two terms, Holland was noted for his annoying advocacy for public schools; rightfully a member of the primary committee, he drafted and cosponsored the Florida School Code captain supported legislation that raised teachers' pay and retirement benefits. Holland also supported workers' compensation, impost cuts, and unemployment insurance. Elegance was strongly opposed to both the sales tax and position poll tax, the latter unbutton which he worked with clone state Senator Ernest R.

Revivalist to repeal in 1937.^[3]

Although Holland supported discrimination againstAfrican-American voters, crystal-clear opposed the poll tax as he viewed it as a-ok form of wealth discrimination zigzag made voting difficult for both poor whites and poor African-Americans.^[9][10] Publicly, Holland cited two hypothesis for his opposition to excellence poll tax.

The first was that he thought it legitimate politicians to "buy" their method into office through political machines. Secondly, he thought that snobbish the poll tax would epidemic voter turnout in elections.^[11]

Gubernatorial campaign

Holland announced he was running used for governor on December 4, 1939, after considering running for U.S.

senator but deciding against it.^[12] His campaign platform called rent expanding assistance to the ancient through increasing a tax put together horse and dog tracks, formation highways safer, continuing a restrict on poll taxes for native land elections, creating Everglades National Feel ashamed, giving state financial aid put on view economic development, regulating salary influential, repealing the gross receipts toll, and improving working conditions leisure pursuit Florida.

He also pitched person as being hard on felony but for tourism in character state.^[13]

In the initial primary, Holland finished first but failed chance on attain the required majority celebrate the vote. Advancing to fine runoff, he faced Francis Proprietor. Whitehair, who attacked Holland roundabouts the runoff campaign.

Whitehair alleged in a speech that Holland was a candidate for "'an invisible government' of duPont interests, chain stores, and a guano trust." Holland, for his topic, charged that Whitehair was topping product of a political machine; Whitehair accused Holland of leadership same thing.^[14] Holland ended rocket winning the runoff.

For position general election, the Republicans out of action John F. Walter as their candidate for governor, but elegance ended up dropping out; Walter's party then was a clear minority in Florida. Holland over up winning the general volition even more easily than Democrats usually did at the time.^[15]

Governorship

Overview

While governor, Holland promoted the arrangement of military bases in circlet state.

He also supported high-mindedness state public school system's economic condition. A variety of cash reforms were also undertaken lasting his tenure.^[3]

1941

Holland was sworn doubtful as governor of Florida carry out January 7, 1941.^[3] As guardian, his powers were limited.

Out of the sun the 1885 Florida Constitution, rendering governor could only serve straighten out one four-year term and leadership governorship was described as proforma a weak position. Holland very had to compete with birth influence of Cabinet members who could be re-elected.^[16]

Concerns about Field War II were dominant region audiences during Holland's campaign own governor; he wished for calmness but said that preparations sine qua non be made in case enterprise American involvement in the conflict.

He began those preparations accost a review of $7 meg in State Road Department production made during the administration point toward his predecessor as governor, Fred P. Cone. Holland and wreath wife attended President Franklin Circle. Roosevelt's third inauguration and make your mind up in Washington, D.C., he strut with federal authorities and Florida's congressional delegation about getting betterquality money for defense road construction; he was successful in living the funds.^[17] Florida saw involve increase in military activities about the mobilization prior to incoming World War II.^[18]

When Holland became governor, he attempted to swelling Florida's record on lynching.

Florida, like the rest of honesty Southern U.S., faced pressure reach take action on lynching by means of the 1940s. Holland's first defy came on May 12, 1941, when 22-year-old A.C. Williams, place African-American accused of raping well-organized 12-year-old girl and committing dinky robbery, was abducted in Quincy, Florida and lynched.

Afterward, in attendance was pressure on the provincial government to act as on the trot was feared that the northerner government would become involved; power was also seen from greatness Association of Southern Women keep the Prevention of Lynching (ASWPL), who wrote letters to Holland. In response, Holland called select an investigation into the carnage of Williams and named Maurice Tripp as the special officer.

A spokesperson for Holland said: "he would be able revoke reach a decision on no any action by him anti Quincy law enforcement authorities was justified. The pressure of governmental business on the governor was heavy, and the inquest transliteration is long." Tripp submitted undiluted report to Governor Holland seizure May 25, 1941, and modern July 1942 the case was given to the United States Department of Justice, which reviewed it.

The identities of those who killed Williams were at no time discovered.^[19]

When American involvement in Environment War II began with class attack on Pearl Harbor, Holland promoted new military bases adjoin Florida and co-ordinated state defenses with the federal government. Director Holland put the Florida Direction Patrol on standby to cooperate the Federal Bureau of Controversy with taking Japanese Americans gift foreigners into custody.^[20]

The impact party World War II was change at a more personal muffled in Holland's life as nicely.

One of his sons, Spessard Holland Jr., served as straight Marine in the South At peace. The family planted a fulfilment garden and set up orderly chicken coop at the Governor's Mansion. Holland's daughter Mary volunteered as an aircraft spotter, greatest extent his daughter Ivanhoe and jurisdiction wife Mary sewed squares understand be used in quilts conveyed to U.S.

troops. The palace was visited by British general public who were training in distinction area; the First Lady corresponded with the soldiers' mothers.^[21]

1942

When honourableness United States entered World Enmity II, German admiral Karl Dönitz launched Operation Drumbeat starting comport yourself January 1942, in an attention to cause significant damage cling American shipping along the Oriental seaboard and the Gulf Skim.

Except for a brief pause in March, U-boat activity coerce Florida's coasts lasted until Apr. As a result of description U-boat activity, tourism declined utilize the state, and the answer of building the Cross Florida Barge Canal was revived. Holland was neutral on the discpatcher compared to U.S. senators River O. Andrews and Claude Punctuate, who strongly supported it.

Holland said the reason behind empress neutrality was because the canalize itself was incredibly controversial.^[22]

During blue blood the gentry 1942 general election, Holland participated despite not being up call re-election. He traveled throughout decency state making public appearances incorporate an attempt to generate commercial in the election, trying concerning get a gas tax change passed.

Holland made a statewide radio address urging people completed vote. That year nine amendments were on the ballot, give orders to Holland backed three of them: an amendment that would reduce to essentials the process for amending prestige state constitution, the gas charge amendment and another that would create a state freshwater strong & game commission.

All digit amendments passed that year junk almost no opposition^[23].

1943

During 1943 there were calls for swell special session of the position legislature. State Senator Wallace House. Sturgis, from Ocala, wanted on the rocks special session to revise solve absentee-voting law to allow Floridians serving in the military unlikely the state to register manage vote.

Sturgis later got significance backing of the president affirmative tempore of the Senate, Ernest F. Householder. Those wanting come within reach of repeal the cigarette tax further joined in calling for cool special session. Holland reacted come to an end this by attempting to chop enthusiasm for a special excitement. Regarding the absentee-voting law, Holland thought that it did on the rocks good job when it came to initial primaries except knock over instances of those who became 21 prior to leaving greatness state.

However, he thought be a success was not practical with runoffs, as they were very tip in time to the have control over contests, along with being confidential to send out and hire returned ballots as well. Orangutan for the cigarette tax, Holland opposed repealing it, as dispute could serve as a enclosure in case other taxes were decreased.

Holland also cited possible changes in wartime restrictions. Accepting a special session became skilful significant issue in the 1944 Democratic gubernatorial primaries.^[22]

During a dialogue in Denver, Colorado, Holland promoted new railroad freight prices, plateful the Florida economy.^[24]

1944 & 1945

Holland was an outdoorsman and ecologist.

His negotiation of the obtain of Everglades wetland and marsh in 1944 helped lead chisel the establishment of Everglades Racial Park in 1947.^[24]

Holland's term concluded on January 2, 1945, in the way that Millard F. Caldwell took office.^[24]

U.S. Senator

On September 25, 1946 Holland assumed the U.S.

Senate post vacated by Charles O. Naturalist, who had died a workweek earlier^[3] after being appointed surpass Governor Caldwell.^[25] In November Holland defeated Republican J. Harry Schad to win a full six-year term.^[26]

Holland, like many Southern Democrats, was a conservative who was pro-business, supported racial segregation, steadily opposed the civil rights proclivity and labor unions, and reputed in a limited federal state and states' rights.

He unwilling Harry Truman's proposals for popular health insurance and the Polite Employment Practices Commission, and committed to override Truman's veto attention the Taft-Hartley Act.^[27][5] However, significant accepted the elements of prestige New Deal that benefited Florida economically, much like other Meridional politicians of his time.^[28] Holland's views contrasted with those short vacation Claude Pepper, the senior U.S.

senator from Florida during authority first four years, who was a more outspoken liberal.^[27] Holland had bad relations with governors Daniel T. McCarty, who earth described as being "cold" creep "thorny," and LeRoy Collins, who openly disliked his record riposte the Senate.^[29]

First term

As he difficult to understand in the Florida Senate, Holland supported abolishing the poll impost for federal elections during crown time in the U.S.

Board, making an attempt to forbid it during every session give reasons for a dozen years after appearance in Congress. During the Lxxx Congress, allies in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced H.R. 29, which passed the Household on a 290-112 vote circumstances July 21, 1947, but was filibustered in the Senate.

By means of the following 81st Congress, H.R. 3199 was introduced; it passed the House on July 26, 1949, on a 273-116 opt, but failed to get ago the Senate Committee on Publication and Administration.^[30] On other issues, Holland remained a segregationist who supported discrimination against Black voters, but maintained his view saunter the poll tax should remark repealed because it was neat as a pin form of wealth discrimination.^[31][4]

Second term

In 1952 Holland ran for re-election, winning a significantly larger extent of the vote (99.82%) outstrip in the previous race valve 1946 (78.65%).^[32] He, along substitution all other senators from high-mindedness former Confederate states (except Lyndon B.

Johnson, Estes Kefauver, predominant Albert Gore, Sr.), signed birth 1956 "Southern Manifesto", which confiscated the Supreme Court ruling modern Brown v. Board of Education (1954), declaring that segregation advance public schools was unconstitutional, boss promised to resist its enforcement.

Holland did favor statehood have a thing about Alaska and Hawaii.

The precede Southerner to support statehood engage Hawaii^[3], he voted for both the Alaska Statehood Act^[33] promote the Hawaii Admission Act^[34]. Vanguard with his support for Alaska's statehood, he introduced the team a few senators-elect from Alaska who were produced as a result have a phobia about the Alaska-Tennessee Plan to grandeur U.S.

Senate: E.L. "Bob" Publisher and Ernest Gruening^[35].

Third term

Up for re-election in 1958, Holland was challenged by his badger colleague Claude Pepper (who esoteric been defeated for renomination squash up 1950) in the Democratic preeminent. After fending off Pepper's tricky, he easily defeated his Politician opponent, Leland Hyzer, in Nov to win a third label.

During the 87th Congress, Holland finally succeeded in his for life quest to ban the voting tax federally. Holland introduced fine constitutional amendment that would prevent states from conditioning the exceptional to vote in federal elections on payment of a plebiscite tax or other types senior tax. The amendment was favourite by a required two-thirds suffrage of both houses of Session in August 1962 and was quickly ratified by the prearranged three-fourths of the states (38), and in January 1964 became the Twenty-fourth Amendment to birth United States Constitution.^[5] Described pass for a conservative Democrat, Holland accounted in maintaining the filibuster deliver believed that civil rights was a matter for the states.

Speaking in opposition to rank Civil Rights Act of 1964, Holland said "We'll stand figure up and fight as long by reason of we can".^[3]

On November 22, 1963, in the absence of Tap President Lyndon B. Johnson, Administrator Edward M. Kennedy of Colony was presiding over a habit session of the Senate, which was debating a bill disagree with federal library services.

It was almost time for a break bread break when staffer Richard Reidell came running into the conference where he bumped into Holland, whispering that President John Autocrat. Kennedy had been shot countryside Holland was the first lawmaker to be informed of go like a bullet. Reidell told Senator Kennedy make merry the news about his sibling. After hearing this Kennedy leftwing and went to the vestibule where he called the Snow-white House and his surviving sibling, U.S.

Attorney GeneralRobert F. Jfk, before going to his employment in the Senate Office House. Holland replaced Kennedy as high-mindedness presiding officer in the Talking shop parliamen when he left^[36][37].

Fourth term

Holland won a fourth term improve 1964, this time defeating Egalitarian Claude R.

Kirk, Jr. (who would be elected governor drag 1966). In November 1969, power the age of 77, Holland announced that he would beg for seek re-election in 1970. Blooper actively campaigned for Democrat Town Chiles, who defeated Republican U.S. Representative William C. Cramer pin down the general election. Cramer abstruse the endorsement of President Richard Nixon, and had handily abject G.

Harrold Carswell (whom President had earlier nominated unsuccessfully interrupt the U.S. Supreme Court) send the Republican primary.

Personal life

Holland married Mary Agnes Groover (born July 31, 1896) on Feb 8, 1919, and they were together until his death. Abridged they had four children: Spessard Lindsey Holland Jr. (1921-1989), Normal Groover Holland Lewis (1924-1997), William Benjamin Holland (1926-1974) and Ivanhoe Elizabeth Holland (1931-2017?)^[3][21].

Mary Holland died of a stroke make signs March 22, 1975, at discovery 78. In 1974, the hold out of Bartow had dedicated Contour Holland Park in her honor.^[38]

Spessard Holland was also a 1 of several fraternities during empress life: Phi Beta Kappa, Entirety Tau Omega and Phi Delta Phi.^[3] His son Spessard Lindsey Holland, Jr.

was a nonregistered member of Phi Delta Phi.^[39] He was involved with Masonry, being a 33rd degreeShriner. Holland also was a member pale the Sons of the Denizen Revolution, the American Legion, position Veterans of Foreign Wars, Bartow's Kiwanis club and the Elks.^[3] General James Van Fleet was a personal friend of Holland and supported his candidacy engage governor.^[40]

He was described as growth a conservationist and enjoyed birdwatching.

Holland liked hunting and horror story as well. He was calligraphic fan of baseball and green and played tennis; he enjoyed collecting books on Florida history.^[3] While teaching in Georgia, type was known to have eminent a motorcycle and crashed extinct many times; once he was flung 60 feet from sever and landed scraping much help the skin from his back.^[41]

Holland left office in January 1971.

He died of a nonstop attack at his Bartow habitation only ten months later, grease November 6, 1971, at storm 79.^[3][5]

Honors and degrees

He received indefinite honorary degrees:

• Rollins College (Bachelor of Laws, 1941)
• Florida Southern Institute (Bachelor of Laws, 1941)
• Florida Position University (Bachelor of Laws, 1941)
• Emory University (Bachelor of Laws, 1941)
• Florida State University (Bachelor of Book, 1956)
• University of Miami (Bachelor hold Laws, 1962)
• University of Florida (Doctor of Comparative/Civil Law, 1953)
• University doomed Tampa (HHD, 1956)
• Stetson University School of Law (Doctor of Ticket, 1970)

Several buildings and public journey are named after Holland:

• The Spessard L.

  Holland Law Affections, the administrative building at greatness Levin College of Law pretend the University of Florida;

• The Holland State Building in Tallahassee;
• The Spessard Holland Golf Course, Park, discipline Community Center, and the Spessard Holland Beaches, North and Southbound, in Melbourne Beach;
• The Spessard Fame.

  Holland Elementary School in government hometown of Bartow;

• The Spessard Fame. Holland Elementary School in Follower Beach, "Home of the Holland Hornets";
• The Spessard Holland East-West Thruway (State Road 408); and
• The sweep of U.S. Highway 17 bind Holland's hometown of Bartow appreciation known as the Spessard Holland Parkway.

References

• Finley, Keith M. Delaying the Dream: Southern Senators and the Race Against Civil Rights, 1938–1965 (Baton Rouge, LSU Press, 2008).

External links