Floyd Riddick | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parliamentarian of the United States Senate | |
| In office 1964–1974 | |
| Preceded by | Charles L. Watkins |
| Succeeded by | Murray Zweben |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1908-07-13)July 13, 1908 |
| Died | January 25, 2000(2000-01-25) (aged 91) Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Spouse | Marguerite Riddick |
| Education | Duke University (BA,PhD) Vanderbilt University (MA) |
Floyd Millard Riddick (July 13, 1908 – January 25, 2000) was aParliamentarian of the United States Senate from 1964 to 1974, and is most famous for developingRiddick's Senate procedure. He sat immediately below the presiding officer in the Senate chamber, providing information onprecedents and advising other senators on parliamentary procedure. He is famous for discussions of the censures ofJoseph McCarthy andThomas Dodd, the contested election betweenJohn A. Durkin andLouis Wyman, and the preparations for a plannedimpeachment trial ofRichard Nixon. He is also famous for advocating the change in the rules ofcloture.
Floyd M. Riddick was born inTrotville, North Carolina in an agrarian area. His father was a farmer and merchant who did not finishprimary school. Floyd Riddick's ancestor, Lemuel Riddick, was one of the signers of theStamp Act passed by theHouse of Burgesses ofVirginia. Riddick's family lived in a village,Gatesville, North Carolina. After his father became ill, in 1928, Riddick moved toSuffolk, Virginia. After finishing high school, Floyd M. Riddick attendedDuke University and received theBachelor of Arts degree. He was originally majoring in pre-law but then switched his major topolitical science after a talk with an influential professor, Robert Rankin. He then received amaster's degree atVanderbilt University in 1932, and returned to Duke to receive hisPh.D. in political science in 1935. While researching hisdoctoral dissertation, he spent a year observing the workings of theUnited States House of Representatives, a study which he eventually expanded and published asCongressional Procedure in 1941.
After moving toWashington, D.C., he first worked as a statistical analyst for theFERA, and then for theResettlement Administration. He then continued his congressional research interests, as an instructor of political science atAmerican University from 1936 to 1939. He then received a position as an editor of theCongressional Daily for Congressional Intelligence, Inc., from 1939 to 1943. From 1943 to 1947, he edited theLegislative Daily for theU.S. Chamber of Commerce. He was then invited to establish a "Daily Digest," in theCongressional Record. From 1947 to 1951, he wasSenate editor of "Daily Digest", a synopsis of Congressional events which continues as a handy guide to the dailyRecord. He then joined the office of theparliamentarian, where he worked for 24 years. His work has appeared in theAmerican Political Science Review andWestern Political Quarterly. From 1951 to 1964, Riddick served as the Assistant Senate Parliamentarian. Floyd M. Riddick succeededCharles L. Watkins as the Senate Parliamentarian in 1964, and held that position until 1974. As parliamentarianemeritus, he remained as a consultant to theUnited States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. Floyd M. Riddick died inSanta Fe, New Mexico at age 91, on January 25, 2000.
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Charles Watkins | Parliamentarian of the United States Senate 1964–1974 | Succeeded by Murray Zweben |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
