Paul Cunningham | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Cunningham in 1953 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's5th district | |
| In office January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1959 | |
| Preceded by | Karl M. LeCompte |
| Succeeded by | Neal Smith |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's6th district | |
| In office January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1943 | |
| Preceded by | Robert K. Goodwin |
| Succeeded by | Fred C. Gilchrist |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1890-06-15)June 15, 1890 |
| Died | July 16, 1961(1961-07-16) (aged 71) Brainerd, Minnesota, U.S |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | University of Michigan |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917–1919 |
| Rank |  First lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | |
Paul Harvey Cunningham (June 15, 1890 – July 16, 1961) served nine consecutive terms as a RepublicanU.S. Representative fromIowa. First elected in 1940, he was re-elected eight times, and defeated in 1958.
Born on a farm inIndiana County, Pennsylvania near Kent, Cunningham attended the public schools.He graduated fromState Teachers College,Indiana, Pennsylvania, in 1911, from the literary department of theUniversity of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1914, and from itsLaw School in 1915.He wasadmitted to the bar in 1915 and commenced practice inGrand Rapids, Michigan.
During theFirst World War, from 1917 to 1919, he served as a first lieutenant in the Infantry.
He moved toDes Moines, Iowa, in 1919 and continued the practice of law. He served as member of the Iowa National Guard from 1920 to 1923. He was elected to theIowa House of Representatives in 1933, and served until 1937.
On February 4, 1940, CongressmanCassius C. Dowell died, thereby creating a vacancy inIowa's 6th congressional district. Cunningham fell four votes short of receiving the Republican Party's nomination as its candidate in the March 5, 1940 special election.[1] AlthoughRobert K. Goodwin received the nomination and won the special election, Cunningham received his party's nomination for the 1940 general election,[2] where he defeated E. Frank Fox.[3]
Iowa's districts were reapportioned before the next election to reflect the loss of one Iowa seat, placing Cunningham's home county (Polk) inIowa's 5th congressional district. In 1942, and in the next eight elections, Cunningham was re-elected to Congress from that district.
In 1958, Cunningham faced a challenge fromNeal Smith, then seeking his first term. Two weeks before the election, Cunningham was slightly favored to win, based on a split within the Polk County Democratic Party's organization.[4] However, Smith defeated Cunningham, winning his first of eighteen terms. Cunningham's congressional service began January 3, 1941, and ended January 3, 1959. Cunningham voted in favor of theCivil Rights Act of 1957.[5]
After his defeat, Cunningham resumed the practice of law. He died at his summer home on Gull Lake,Brainerd, Minnesota, on July 16, 1961. He was interred in Masonic Cemetery,Des Moines, Iowa.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's 6th congressional district 1941 – 1943 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's 5th congressional district 1943 – 1959 | Succeeded by |
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
| International | |
|---|---|
| People | |
| Other | |
