Joseph M. Pratt | |
|---|---|
 Pratt in 1944 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's2nd district | |
| In office February 8, 1944 – January 3, 1945 | |
| Preceded by | James P. McGranery |
| Succeeded by | William T. Granahan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Marmaduke Pratt (1891-09-04)September 4, 1891 Paterson, New Jersey, United States |
| Died | July 19, 1946(1946-07-19) (aged 54) Washington, D.C., United States |
| Resting place | Arlington Cemetery,Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Miriam Pratt |
| Alma mater | Temple University |
| Occupation |
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| Signature |  |
Joseph Marmaduke Pratt (September 4, 1891 – July 19, 1946) was aRepublican member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania.
Joseph M. Pratt was born inPaterson, New Jersey, but moved with his parents toPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1892. He graduated fromTemple University in Philadelphia in 1919. He went into the business of manufacturing industrial and marine products. He was a member of the Republican City Committee of Philadelphia from 1937 to 1946.[1]
Pratt was elected as a Republican to Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation ofJames P. McGranery, defeating future congressmanWilliam A. Barrett.[2] He was inaugurated on February 8, 1944.[3] During his term, he was redistricted to the third district, where he was pitted againstDemocratic incumbentMichael J. Bradley for a full term in1944. He lost the election and left office on January 3, 1945.[4]
Due to the nature of Pratt's tenure, he was in congress for less than a year, during which he participated in the78th Congress. He voted 44 times, missing 10.7 percent of roll call votes. His voting record was generally conservative, but less so than the median Republican, as he voted with his party 84 percent of the time as opposed to the median Republican score of 88 percent.[5][6] His most notable vote was in favor of the 1944G.I. Bill, which was signed into law byPresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt on June 22, 1944.[7] During his tenure, Pratt served on one committee, theHouse War Claims Committee.[8]
He resumed his former business pursuits in Philadelphia, but jumped back into politics in 1946, receiving the Republican nomination for State Senator in Pennsylvania's second state senate district. However, he died inWashington, D.C., from aheart attack while on a business trip before the election was held. Pratt was interred in Arlington Cemetery inUpper Darby Township, Pennsylvania.[9]
| Year | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Joseph M. Pratt | Republican | 24,991 | 56.59 | William A. Barrett | Democratic | 19,168 | 43.41 |
| Year | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Joseph M. Pratt (inc.) | Republican | 57,856 | 41.69 | Michael J. Bradley (inc.) | Democratic | 80,920 | 58.31 |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 2nd congressional district 1944-1945 | Succeeded by |
