Alexander Wiley (May 26, 1884 – October 26, 1967) was an American politician who served four terms in the United States Senate for the state of Wisconsin from 1939 to 1963. When he left the Senate, he was its most senior Republican member.
Alexander Wiley
| |
|---|---|
Wiley in April 1939
| |
| United States Senator from Wisconsin | |
| In office January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1963 | |
| Preceded by | F. Ryan Duffy |
| Succeeded by | Gaylord Nelson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1884-05-26)May 26, 1884 Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | October 26, 1967(1967-10-26) (aged 83) Germantown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan University of Wisconsin Law School |
| Occupation | Attorney, Politician |
| |
Wiley was born in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. He received his undergraduate education at Augsburg CollegeinMinnesota and the University of MichiganinAnn Arbor, Michigan. He received his law degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1907 and was also admitted to the bar the same year. He served as the Chippewa County district attorney from 1909 to 1915.[1]
Wiley was the Republican candidate for governor of Wisconsin in 1936, but his bid failed. Philip La Follette and the new Wisconsin Progressive Party, which split from the Republicans in 1934, won the election. In 1938, Wiley was elected to the U.S. Senate, first defeating Tax Court judge Stephen J. McMahon to win the Republican nomination, and then defeating Democratic incumbent F. Ryan Duffy to win the seat. In 1944, Wiley was challenged by United States Marine Corps Captain Joseph R. McCarthy in the Republican primary. He defeated McCarthy and won the general election. Wiley, then an isolationist in foreign policy, and Governor Walter S. Goodland supported Republican presidential nominee Thomas E. Dewey in the 1944 race over incumbent Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Dewey won Wisconsin's electoral votes but fell short nationally.[2]
Wiley was re-elected two more times, in 1950 and 1956. He was challenged by U.S. Representative Glenn Robert Davis in the 1956 Republican primary, but again prevailed. Wiley voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960,[3][4] as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.[5] In 1962, Wiley lost his bid for a fifth term to Governor Gaylord Nelson, a liberal Democrat. Wiley was the last Republican to serve as a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin until former 9th district congressman Bob Kasten took office in 1981.
Wiley had a distinguished Senate career that included the chairmanship of both the Foreign Relations and Judiciary committees.
Wiley died in Germantown, Pennsylvania at age 83.[6] He was interred at Forest Hill Cemetery in Chippewa Falls. During his lifetime he was a member of the Freemasons, the Knights Templar, the Elks Club, the Kiwanis, the Knights of Pythias, the Moose International, the Sons of Norway, and Sigma Phi Epsilon.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Howard Greene |
Republican nominee for Governor of Wisconsin 1936 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Wisconsin (Class 3) 1938, 1944, 1950, 1956, 1962 |
Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 3) from Wisconsin 1939–1963 Served alongside: Robert M. La Follette, Jr., Joseph McCarthy, William Proxmire |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee 1947–1949 |
Succeeded by Pat McCarran |
| Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee 1949–1953 | ||
| Preceded by | Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 1951–1953 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 1953–1955 | |
| Preceded by | Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 1955–1963 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Ranking Member of the Senate Space Committee 1961–1963 |
Succeeded by |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by Styles Bridges |
Most senior Republican United States senator 1961–1963 |
Succeeded by |