Cale Boggs

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix =
name = J. Caleb Boggs
honorific-suffix =


imagesize =
small

office = U. S. Senator from Delaware
term_start = January 3 1961
term_end = January 3 1973
predecessor = J. Allen Frear, Jr.
successor = Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
office2 = Governor of Delaware
term_start2 = January 20 1953
term_end2 = December 30 1960
predecessor2 = Elbert N. Carvel
successor2 = David P. Buckson
office3 = U. S. Representative from Delaware
term_start3 = January 3 1947
term_end3 = January 3 1953
predecessor3 = Philip A. Traynor
successor3 = Herbert B. Warburton
birth_date = birth date|1909|5|15|mf=y
birth_place = Cheswold, Delaware
death_date = death date and age|1993|3|26|1909|5|15
death_place = Wilmington, Delaware
spouse = Elizabeth Muir
party = Republican
residence = Cheswold, Delaware
alma_mater = University of Delaware
occupation =
profession = lawyer
religion = Methodist

James Caleb "Cale" Boggs (May 15 1909ndash March 26 1993) was an American lawyer and politician from Claymont, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a veteran of World War II, and a member of the Republican Party, who served three terms as U.S. Representative from Delaware, two terms as Governor of Delaware, and two terms as U.S. Senator from Delaware. He was known by his middle name.

Early life and family

Boggs was born May 15 1909 at Cheswold, Delaware, son of Edward Jefferson and Lettie Vaughn Boggs. He married Elizabeth Muir and had two children, J. C., Jr. and Marilu. They were members of the Methodist Church. He graduated from the University of Delaware in 1931 and from Georgetown University Law School in 1937. In 1938 he was admitted to the Bar and began the practice of law at Dover, Delaware. During World War II, he served with the 6th Armored Division fighting in Normandy, the Rhineland, the Ardennes and central Europe. He earned five Campaign Stars, the Legion of Merit, the Croix de Guerre with palm and the Bronze Star with cluster.

United States Representative

Boggs was appointed Associate Judge of the Family Court of New Castle County in 1946. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1946, defeating incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Philip A. Traynor, and won election three times in all, also defeating Democrats J. Carl McGuigan in 1948, and Henry M. Winchester in 1950. He served from January 3 1947 to January 3 1953.

Governor of Delaware

Boggs was elected Governor of Delaware in 1952, defeating incumbent Democratic Governor Elbert N. Carvel, and won a second term in 1956, defeating Democrat J. H. Tyler McConnell. He served as Governor from January 20 1953 to December 18 1960, when he resigned to begin his U.S. Senate term.

United States Senator

Boggs was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1960, defeating incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator J. Allen Frear, Jr., and becoming the only Republican to defeat an incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator that year. He was again elected to the U.S. Senate in 1966, defeating Democrat James M. Tunnell, Jr., son of the former U.S. Senator. He served two terms from January 3 1961 to January 3 1973. As U.S. Senator he supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Boggs lost his bid for a third term in 1972 to Democrat Joseph R. Biden, Jr., a New Castle County Councilman. Boggs was a reluctant candidate that year, being persuaded to run only to help avoid a divisive primary election. Biden waged an energetic campaign and went on to defeat Boggs in a tight race, by approximately 1.4% of the votes cast. In his last years Boggs lived in Wilmington, Delaware where he continued the practice of law.

Death and legacy

Boggs died March 26 1993 in Wilmington, Delaware, aged 83, and is buried at the Old Presbyterian Cemetery, Dover, Delaware. The J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building at 844 King Street in Wilmington, is named for him.

Among the many tributes received by his fellow Senators was the following from U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia:"On an objective, senatorial level, Senator Boggs was a militant, but rational environmentalist. A co-sponsor of the National Air Quality Standards Act of 1970, Senator Boggs helped to win congressional approval of this bill, which was signed into law by President Nixon. Further, Cale Boggs was a co-sponsor and helped to write the Water Quality Act of 1965. In 1970, Senator Boggs helped to strengthen State authority to prohibit sewage and pesticide discharge into rivers and lakes and to provide for coordinated Federal attacks on river and lake pollution in the Water Quality Act of 1970.

"Through those and other vital contributions in education, medicine, agriculture, transportation, and other domestic concerns, Senator Boggs left an enviable record of legislation aimed at improving the quality of life of all Americans and at widening opportunities for all of our citizens. But, above all, Cale Boggs will probably be best remembered by his friends still serving in the Senate and by the people of Delaware as a friend, a man of warm humanity, and as a gentleman who sought ever to set people at ease through his common touch and deep consideration of other people's feelings. Cale Boggs was a man whose friendship one easily sought and, once secured, was long treasured."