Alton Asa Lennon | |
|---|---|
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNorth Carolina's7th district | |
| In office January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1973 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Ertel Carlyle |
| Succeeded by | Charlie Rose |
| United States Senator fromNorth Carolina | |
| In office July 10, 1953 – November 28, 1954 | |
| Appointed by | William B. Umstead |
| Preceded by | Willis Smith |
| Succeeded by | William Kerr Scott |
| Member of theNorth Carolina Senate from the9th district | |
| In office 1947–1951 | |
| Preceded by | Roy Rowe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1906-08-17)August 17, 1906 |
| Died | December 28, 1986(1986-12-28) (aged 80) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Karine Welch |
| Profession | Politician |
Alton Asa Lennon (August 17, 1906 – December 28, 1986) was an AmericanDemocratic politician who representedNorth Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. He first served as an interim appointment to the Senate from 1953 to 1954, unsuccessfully sought re-election, and later represented theCape Fear region in the House from 1957 to 1973. Lennon is one of very few former senators in modern times to serve in the House after leaving the Senate.[a]
Lennon was born inWilmington, North Carolina August 17, 1906. He was the son of Rosser Yates Lennon and Minnie (High) Lennon. He attended the public schools, and graduated fromWake Forest College in 1929. He was admitted to the bar in 1929 and began practice in Wilmington. He married Karine Welch on October 12, 1933.
Lennon served as the judge of New Hanover County Recorder's Court from 1934 to 1942. He was elected to theNorth Carolina State Senate in 1947, and served until 1951. Lennon was appointed on July 10, 1953, as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death ofWillis Smith and served from July 10, 1953, to November 28, 1954. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the nomination in 1954 to fill the vacancy. He resumed law practice, then was elected as a Democrat to the85th Congress, and was reelected to the seven succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1973).[1]
Lennon voted in Congress against civil rights and social legislation, although about half of the constituents in his district wereAfrican Americans orNative Americans. Lennon voted against theCivil Rights Acts of 1957,[2] theCivil Rights Acts of 1960,[3] theCivil Rights Acts of 1964,[4] and theCivil Rights Acts of 1968[5] as well as the24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution[6] and theVoting Rights Act of 1965.[7] In 1966, he was the only Southerner to vote against citing sevenKu Klux Klan leaders for contempt of Congress. He said, "I never heard it said that Klansmen were subversive or affiliated with any foreign government to overthrow the United States." In 1966, Lennon urged thatNorth Vietnamese ports be bombed, and in 1967 he called for theJustice Department to prosecuteStokely Carmichael, the black activist, for making statements against the military draft.[8]
He declined to seek reelection in 1972. Although he was a Democrat, Lennon campaigned for the re-election of SenatorJesse Helms, the conservative Republican, in 1978.
He was a resident of Wilmington, N.C., until his death there December 28, 1986.
In 1976, theFederal Building and Courthouse at Wilmington was named in his honor.
| U.S. Senate | ||
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| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 2) from North Carolina July 10, 1953 – November 28, 1954 Served alongside:Clyde Roark Hoey,Sam Ervin | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNorth Carolina's 7th congressional district 1957–1973 | Succeeded by |
| Class 2 |  | |
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| Class 3 | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
