J. Caleb Boggs

For the similarly named U.S. Representative from the same time period, see Hale Boggs.

James Caleb Boggs (May 15, 1909 – March 26, 1993) was an American lawyer and politician from Claymont, Delaware. A liberal Republican, he was commonly known by his middle name, Caleb, frequently shortened to Cale.

J. Caleb Boggs
Official portrait, 1947
United States Senator from Delaware
In office January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1973
Preceded by	J. Allen Frear Jr.
Succeeded by	Joe Biden
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office June 25, 1959 – June 26, 1960
Preceded by	LeRoy Collins
Succeeded by	Stephen McNichols
62nd Governor of Delaware
In office January 20, 1953 – December 30, 1960
Lieutenant	John W. Rollins David P. Buckson
Preceded by	Elbert N. Carvel
Succeeded by	David P. Buckson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware's at-large district
In office January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1953
Preceded by	Philip A. Traynor
Succeeded by	Herbert B. Warburton
Associate Judge of the New Castle County Family Court
In office November 9, 1942 – January 3, 1947
Preceded by	Billy Bickson
Succeeded by	Johnathan Taylor
Personal details
Born	James Caleb Boggs (1909-05-15)May 15, 1909 Cheswold, Delaware, U.S.
Died	March 26, 1993(1993-03-26) (aged 83) Newark, Delaware, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Elizabeth Muir ​ ​ (m. 1931; died 1992)​
Children	2
Education	University of Delaware (BA) Georgetown University (LLB)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1941–1946
Rank	Colonel
Unit	6th Armored Division
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Campaign Stars (5) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Croix de Guerre

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 lost re-election in 1972 in an upset by 3,162 votes (or 1.4%) to then–New Castle County councilman and future President of the United States Joe Biden.

Early life and education

Boggs was born on May 15, 1909, at Cheswold, Delaware, the son of Edgar Jefferson and Lettie Vaughn Boggs. Boggs joined the Delaware National Guard in 1926 and became a reserve officer that year.

In 1931, he married Elizabeth Muir; the couple had two children, and were members of the Methodist Church.

He graduated from the University of Delaware in 1931 with an A.B. degree and later graduated from Georgetown Law School in 1937 with an LLB degree.

Career

In 1938, he was admitted to the Delaware State Bar Association and began the practice of law at Dover, Delaware.

During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army 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 Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Croix de Guerre with palm from France.

U.S. House of Representatives

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. He won the election a total of three times, also defeating Democrats J. Carl McGuigan in 1948, and Henry M. Winchester in 1950. Boggs served in the U.S. House from January 3, 1947, to January 3, 1953.

Governor of Delaware

Boggs as governor

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 30, 1960, when he resigned because of his upcoming U.S. Senate term. On April 2, 1958, he signed the bill that ended capital punishment in Delaware.

U.S. Senate

Boggs with President Gerald Ford

Boggs was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1960, narrowly defeating incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator J. Allen Frear Jr. by 1.4 percentage points, 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. Boggs voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968, as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the confirmation of Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Boggs lost his bid for a third term in 1972 to the future 47th Vice President and 46th President, Democrat Joe Biden, then 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, questioning Boggs's age and ability, and went on to defeat Boggs by approximately 1.4 percentage points. In his last years, Boggs lived in Wilmington, Delaware, where he continued to practice law until retiring in the early 1980s.

Death and legacy

Boggs' health declined in his final years due to diabetes and cancer. His wife, Elizabeth, died on April 1, 1992, and he died just under a year later, on March 26, 1993, at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware. He is buried in the Old Presbyterian Cemetery in Dover, on the grounds of the Delaware State Museum. The J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building at 844 King Street in Wilmington, Delaware is named for him.

List of General Assembly sessions

Delaware General Assembly (sessions while Governor)
Year	Assembly		Senate Majority	President pro tempore		House Majority	Speaker
1953–1954	117th		Republican	Thomas L. Johnson		Republican	Frank A. Jones
1955–1956	118th		Democratic	Charles G. Moore		Democratic	James R. Quigley
1957–1958	119th		Democratic	Lemuel Hickman		Democratic	Harry E. Mayhew
1959–1960	120th		Democratic	Allen J. Cook		Democratic	Sherman W. Tribbitt

Elections

Election results
Year	Office		Subject	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%
1946	U.S. Representative		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	63,516	56%		Philip A. Traynor	Democratic	49,105	44%
1948	U.S. Representative		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	71,127	51%		J. Carl McGuigan	Democratic	68,909	49%
1950	U.S. Representative		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	73,313	57%		Henry M. Winchester	Democratic	56,091	43%
1952	Governor		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	88,977	52%		Elbert N. Carvel	Democratic	81,772	48%
1956	Governor		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	91,965	52%		J. H. Tyler McConnell	Democratic	85,047	48%
1960	U.S. Senator		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	98,874	51%		J. Allen Frear, Jr.	Democratic	96,090	49%
1966	U.S. Senator		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	97,268	59%		James M. Tunnell, Jr.	Democratic	67,263	41%
1972	U.S. Senator		J. Caleb Boggs	Republican	112,844	49%		Joe Biden	Democratic	116,006	50%

Bibliography

• Davis, Ned (2000). Charles L. Terry. Wilmington, Delaware: Delaware Heritage Press. LCCN 00133337. OCLC 47186751.
• Hoffecker, Carol E. (2000). Honest John Williams. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press.
• Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
• Martin, Roger A. (1984). History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press.
• Martin, Roger (1997). Elbert N. Carvel. Wilmington, Delaware: Delaware Heritage Press. ISBN 0-924117-08-7.
• Munroe, John A. (1993). History of Delaware. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 0-87413-493-5.

Images

• Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery; Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover.

External links

• Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States
• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Delaware's Governors
• Find a Grave
• The Political Graveyard