William Aloysius Barrett (August 14, 1896 – April 12, 1976) was an American lawyer, politician, and member of the Democratic Party who served in the United States House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania's South Philadelphia-based 1st district from 1945 to 1947 and again from 1949 until his death in 1976.

William A. "Bill" Barrett
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 1st district
In office
January 3, 1949 – April 12, 1976
Preceded byJames Gallagher
Succeeded byOzzie Myers
In office
January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1947
Preceded byJames Gallagher
Succeeded byJames Gallagher
Personal details
Born
William Aloysius Barrett

(1896-08-14)August 14, 1896
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
DiedApril 12, 1976(1976-04-12) (aged 79)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Resting placeHoly Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, Pennsylvania
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseRose Timmins (died 1964)
Children
  • John
  • William
  • Rose
  • Gertrude
Education
Occupation
  • Politician
  • lawyer
  • boilermaker
Signature

Early life

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William Aloysius Barrett was born on August 14, 1896, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Irish immigrants.[1] He had thirteen siblings, and his father died when he was two years old, forcing his mother to scrub floors to support the family. Barrett initially went to school at Thomas Parochial School, but he left and sought work to support the family. He soon found employment as an apprentice boilermaker and welder at the Atlantic Refining Company's plant at Point Breeze, carrying a union card for the Boilermakers' Union until his death. Later, he resumed his education, attending the Brown Preparatory School in Philadelphia and St. Joseph's College. He subsequently studied law at the South Jersey Law School in Camden, New Jersey, before working in the real estate business. However, he found the most success in running a taproom.[2]

Barrett married Rose Timmins, two years his junior, and the couple had four children: John in 1921, William Jr. in 1923, Rose in 1924, and Gertrude in 1925. His wife, Rose, died in 1964. By the time of Barrett's death in 1976, he had fifteen grandchildren.[3][4]

In his first forays into local politics, Barrett served on the Philadelphia Board of Mercantile Appraisers and the Democratic City Committee, but lost two Philadelphia City Council races in 1935 and 1939. However, Barrett persisted, serving as a legislative aide to Congressman James P. McGranery until McGranery resigned to become an assistant to the Attorney General in 1943.[5] Barrett ran in the January 1944 special election to succeed McGranery, but lost to Republican Joseph M. Pratt.[6]

Congress

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Barrett ran for Congress again in the November elections later that year, defeating incumbent Republican James A. Gallagher, but lost to him in a rematch during the Republican sweep of Congress two years later. Despite his loss, Barrett was dead set on returning to Congress, succeeding in November of 1948. He won re-election thirteen subsequent times.

 
U.S. President John F. Kennedy meets with Barrett (furthest right) and other members of Pennsylvania's congressional delegation, 1961

In the House, Barrett quickly established himself as a mainstream liberal Democrat. However, the peak of his legislative career started in 1965, when he became the chairman of the Housing Subcommittee of the Banking, Currency and Housing, a position he excelled in due to his background in real estate and housing. Serving in this capacity, Barrett was instrumental in passing the Housing and Urban Development Acts of 1965, 1968, 1969, and 1970, the Emergency Home Finance Act of 1970, the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 and many more pieces of significant housing legislation. He was also crucial in passing the Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act of 1970 and the Federal Disaster Prevention Act of 1973. By the time of his death in 1976, he was also the ranking member of the larger Banking, Currency, and Housing committee, one of the most powerful committees in the House. According to fellow Pennsylvania congressman William J. Green, "The legislation for which Bill Barrett was responsible during his years as chairman of [the Housing Subcommittee on Banking, Currency and Housing] would form a proud legacy for any 10 Members of Congress."[7] Barrett was also a staunch supporter of civil rights, voting for the 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968 Civil Rights Acts.[8][9][10][11] Barrett also introduced legislation to designate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. as a legal public holiday in January 1973, thirteen years before its first official observance in 1986.[12] Due to his Catholic faith, Barrett was a strong opponent of abortion, unsuccessfully introducing a constitutional amendment to outlaw it in 1975.[13]

During his tenure in Congress, he also acquired a reputation for being extremely devoted to his constituents. Most days, after working on Capitol Hill, he would fly back to Philadelphia to see his constituents in the evening, the only congressman to do so. "His interest in serving his constituents was unmatched," said Florida congressman Bob Sikes about Barrett. "Few people have worked harder for the people they represent."[14] Russell W. Nigro, a Republican opponent of Barrett's in 1974, blamed his loss on all the favors Barrett did for various voters over the years. "He just called in a lot of IOUs," explained Nigro shortly after Barrett's death. "There aren't many people in the First Congressional District who aren't related to, or at least a close friend of, someone who has been helped out by Bill Barrett."[15] Barrett himself, however, simply maintained: "I do this because I love people."[16] But his devotion to his constituents sometimes earned him criticism. Ralph Nader's Congressional Study Group criticized Barrett for his provincialism, characterizing him as a "districter" who overlooked the affairs of state in concern for his district. Barrett embraced their description of him, explaining "I am very much pleased with what the book says. It hits on my activity most accurately. It is what my district needs. This is a procedure I've been following ever since I've been in public life."[17]

 
Portrait of Barrett taken later in his congressional career

In office, Barrett built his own political organization in Philadelphia politics. Local Republicans tried to defeat him, but never achieved success, so much so that it became a joke that the Republican Party had to "scour the voter rolls trying to find someone with the courage to run against him." After Barrett's death, rival ward leader Bill Black explained how influential he was, commenting "When I found out that a lot of my Republican committeemen had jobs through the Democratic party, then I knew why Bill Barrett was a giant in politics."[18]

During the 1972 Democratic National Convention, one convention delegate voted for Barrett to be the Democratic vice-presidential nominee alongside Senator George McGovern, despite Barrett never seeking the office. Thomas Eagleton was nominated instead, winning 1,742 delegates.[19]

As Barrett's time in office grew longer, the demographics of South Philadelphia neighborhoods changed. At the time of his death, his house was the only one on his block occupied by a white family.[20] Even so, Barrett remained overwhelmingly popular with his constituents, never once falling below 60% of the vote in his re-election bids after 1950, sometimes winning well over 70% of the vote.[21]

Death

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Barrett died from pneumonia at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 12, 1976, at age 79.[22]

Barrett was eulogized greatly by his colleagues on the House floor immediately after his death. Congressman Robert Giaimo characterized Barrett as "a compassionate man, gentle and kind, sensitive to the feelings of others, a man who had a firm faith in the essential goodness of his fellow man," while Minnesota Senator and former Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey also applauded Barrett's service, stating that "the House of Representatives – and indeed this entire Congress – has lost one of its most outstanding Members." House Speaker Carl Albert also praised Barrett highly, stating that "No problem was too small, none too difficult to resolve, for this dedicated and diligent servant of the people."[23]

Barrett's funeral was held on April 14, 1976, at the Philadelphia Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. He was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania.[24]

At the time of his death, Barrett had already announced his intention to run for reelection. Fifteen days after his death, Philadelphia voters renominated him posthumously. He was replaced on the ballot by state representative Ozzie Myers.[25]

Electoral history

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Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district: January 1944 special election[26]
Year Subject Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes %
1944 William A. Barrett Democratic 19,168 43.41 Joseph M. Pratt Republican 24,991 56.59
Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district: Results 1944-1974[27]
Year Subject Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes %
1944 William A. Barrett Democratic 73,289 58.42 James A. Gallagher (inc.) Republican 52,159 41.58
1946 William A. Barrett (inc.) Democratic 52,593 42.66 James A. Gallagher Republican 70,680 57.34
1948 William A. Barrett Democratic 70,165 53.43 John De Niro Republican 61,165 46.57
1950 William A. Barrett (inc.) Democratic 69,300 53.77 Robert M. Sebastian Republican 59,593 46.23
1952 William A. Barrett (inc.) Democratic 89,879 68.18 James Iannucci Republican 41,948 31.82
1954 William A. Barrett (inc.) Democratic 68,531 61.50 Joseph A. Graham Republican 42,893 38.50
1956 William A. Barrett (inc.) Democratic 74,511 62.70 A.J. Cammarota Republican 44,333 37.30
1958 William A. Barrett (inc.) Democratic 67,531 64.69 Gerard Iannelli Republican 36,854 35.31
1960 William A. Barrett (inc.) Democratic 88,505 76.89 Michael Grasso Jr. Republican 26,601 23.11
1962 William A. Barrett (inc.) Democratic 102,722 63.54 Winifred H. Malinowski Republican 58,953 36.46
1964 William A. Barrett (inc.) Democratic 129,471 71.83 Alvin J. Bello Republican 50,780 28.17
1966 William A. Barrett (inc.) Democratic 90,100 66.07 Beatrice K. Chernock Republican 46,280 33.93
1968 William A. Barrett (inc.) Democratic 113,696 74.74 Leslie J. Carson, Jr Republican 38,432 25.26
1970 William A. Barrett (inc.) Democratic 79,425 69.22 Joseph S. Ziccardi Republican 34,649 30.20
1972 William A. Barrett (inc.) Democratic 118,953 66.11 Gus A. Pedicone Republican 59,807 33.24
1974 William A. Barrett (inc.) Democratic 96,988 75.83 Russell M. Nigro Republican 29,772 23.28

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "United States Census, 1900", FamilySearch, retrieved March 25, 2018
  2. ^ "Rep. William A. Barrett, of South Phila., Dies", Newspapers.com, retrieved August 6, 2022
  3. ^ "The Barrett Household in the 1940 Census", FamilySearch, retrieved August 8, 2022
  4. ^ "Rep. William A. Barrett, of South Phila., Dies", Newspapers.com, retrieved August 6, 2022
  5. ^ "Rep. William A. Barrett, of South Phila., Dies", Newspapers.com, retrieved August 6, 2022
  6. ^ "PA - District 02 - Special Election", OurCampaigns, retrieved August 7, 2022
  7. ^ "Memorial Service for William A. Barrett", Family Search, retrieved November 18, 2022
  8. ^ "HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.", govtrack.us, retrieved August 6, 2022
  9. ^ "HR 8601. PASSAGE.", govtrack.us, retrieved August 6, 2022
  10. ^ "H.R. 7152. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION (H. RES. 789) PROVIDING FOR HOUSE APPROVAL OF THE BILL AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE.", govtrack.us, retrieved August 6, 2022
  11. ^ "TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR INTERFERENCE WITH CIVIL RIGHTS. INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON ENGAGED IN ONE OF THE 8 ACTIVITIES PROTECTED UNDER THIS BILL MUST BE RACIALLY MOTIVATED TO INCUR THE BILL'S PENALTIES.", govtrack.us, retrieved August 6, 2022
  12. ^ "H.R. 1984 (93rd): A bill to designate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., as a legal public holiday.", govtrack.us, retrieved August 6, 2022
  13. ^ "H.J.Res. 525 (94th): Joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to insure that due process and protection are afforded to an individual from conception.", govtrack.us, retrieved August 6, 2022
  14. ^ "Memorial Service for William A. Barrett", Family Search, retrieved November 18, 2022
  15. ^ "Rep. William A. Barrett, of South Phila., Dies", Newspapers.com, retrieved August 6, 2022
  16. ^ "Memorial Service for William A. Barrett", Family Search, retrieved November 18, 2022
  17. ^ "Rep. William A. Barrett, of South Phila., Dies", Newspapers.com, retrieved August 6, 2022
  18. ^ "Rep. William A. Barrett, of South Phila., Dies", Newspapers.com, retrieved August 31, 2022
  19. ^ "US Vice President - D Convention", OurCampaigns, retrieved August 8, 2022
  20. ^ "Rep. William A. Barrett, of South Phila., Dies", Newspapers.com, retrieved August 6, 2022
  21. ^ "Barrett, William A.", OurCampaigns, retrieved August 7, 2022
  22. ^ "U.S. Representative Dies - Kansas City Times", newspapers.com, retrieved August 6, 2022
  23. ^ "122 Cong. Rec. (Bound) - Volume 122, Part 9 (April 9, 1976 to April 27, 1976)", govinfo.gov, retrieved September 23, 2022
  24. ^ "122 Cong. Rec. (Bound) - Volume 122, Part 9 (April 9, 1976 to April 27, 1976)", govinfo.gov, retrieved September 23, 2022
  25. ^ "PA District 01 - D Primary", OurCampaigns, retrieved August 8, 2022
  26. ^ "PA - District 02 - Special Election", OurCampaigns, retrieved August 7, 2022
  27. ^ "Barrett, William A.", OurCampaigns, retrieved August 7, 2022

Sources

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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district

1945–1947
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district

1949–1976
Succeeded by