Harris B. McDowell Jr.

Harris B. McDowell Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware's At-large district
In office January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1967
Preceded by	Harry G. Haskell Jr.
Succeeded by	William V. Roth Jr.
In office January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1957
Preceded by	Herbert B. Warburton
Succeeded by	Harry G. Haskell Jr.
Member of the Delaware Senate
In office January 3, 1943 - January 3, 1947
Member of the Delaware House of Representatives
In office January 3, 1941 - January 3, 1943
Personal details
Born	February 10, 1906 Middletown, Delaware, U.S.
Died	November 1, 1988 (aged 82) Middletown, Delaware, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Children	Harris McDowell III
Residence	Middletown, Delaware
Alma mater	Beacom Business College
Occupation	farmer

Harris Brown McDowell Jr. (February 10, 1906 – November 1, 1988) was an American farmer and politician from Middletown, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and five terms as U.S. Representative from Delaware.

Early life and family

McDowell was born near Middletown, Delaware. He attended the public schools of Middletown, and graduated from Beacom Business College in Wilmington. He lived in Middletown, was engaged in farming, also in the insurance and real estate business, and was a member of the State Board of Agriculture from 1937 until 1940.

Political career

McDowell served in the State House during the 1941/42 session and then in the State Senate for the 1943/44 and 1945/46 sessions. During those years he was a director of Interstate Milk Producers Cooperative and member of Delaware Farm Bureau from 1941 until 1948. He served as Secretary of State for Delaware during Governor Elbert N. Carvel's first term, from 1949 until 1953 and was a member of New Castle County Zoning Commission in 1953 and 1954.

McDowell was elected to the U.S. Representatives in 1954, defeating Republican Lillian I. Martin. During this term, he served with the Democratic majority in the 84th Congress. He lost his bid for a second term in 1956 to Republican Harry G. Haskell Jr. McDowell then was elected again to the U.S. Representatives in 1958, defeating incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Harry G. Haskell Jr., and won election three more times, also defeating Republicans James T. McKinstry in 1960, Wilmer F. Williams in 1962, and James H. Snowden in 1964. During these terms, he served with the Democratic majority in the 86th, 87th, 88th, and 89th Congress. Finally, he lost his bid for a sixth term in 1966 to William V. Roth Jr., then a Wilmington lawyer. His support of President Lyndon Johnson's war policies may have contributed to his defeat. In all, he served twice, once from January 3, 1955 until January 3, 1957, and again from January 3, 1959 until January 3, 1967, during the administrations of U.S. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Death and legacy

McDowell died in Middletown, Delaware and is buried in the Forest Presbyterian Cemetery there. His son, Harris McDowell III, has served in the Delaware Senate since 1977.

Almanac

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. Members of the General Assembly take office the second Tuesday of January. State Senators have a four-year term and State Representatives have a two-year term. U.S. Representatives take office January 3 and have a two-year term.

Public Offices
Office	Type	Location	Began office	Ended office	notes
State Representative	Legislature	Dover	January 3, 1941	January 3, 1943
State Senator	Legislature	Dover	January 3, 1943	January 3, 1947
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	January 3, 1955	January 3, 1957
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	January 3, 1959	January 3, 1961
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	January 3, 1961	January 3, 1963
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	January 3, 1963	January 3, 1965
U.S. Representative	Legislature	Washington	January 3, 1965	January 3, 1967

United States Congressional service
Dates	Congress	Chamber	Majority	President	Committees	Class/District
1955–1957	84th	U.S. House	Democratic	Dwight D. Eisenhower		at-large
1959–1961	86th	U.S. House	Democratic	Dwight D. Eisenhower		at-large
1961–1963	87th	U.S. House	Democratic	John F. Kennedy		at-large
1963–1965	88th	U.S. House	Democratic	John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson		at-large
1965–1967	89th	U.S. House	Democratic	Lyndon B. Johnson		at-large

Election results
Year	Office		Subject	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%
1954	U.S. Representative		Harris B. McDowell Jr.	Democratic	79,201	55%		Lillian I. Martin	Republican	65,035	45%
1956	U.S. Representative		Harris B. McDowell Jr.	Democratic	84,644	48%		Harry G. Haskell Jr.	Republican	91,538	52%
1958	U.S. Representative		Harris B. McDowell Jr.	Democratic	76,797	50%		Harry G. Haskell Jr.	Republican	76,099	50%
1960	U.S. Representative		Harris B. McDowell Jr.	Democratic	98,227	50%		James T. McKinstry	Republican	96,337	50%
1962	U.S. Representative		Harris B. McDowell Jr.	Democratic	81,166	53%		Wilmer F. Williams	Republican	71,934	47%
1964	U.S. Representative		Harris B. McDowell Jr.	Democratic	112,361	57%		James H. Snowden	Republican	86,254	43%
1966	U.S. Representative		Harris B. McDowell Jr.	Democratic	72,142	44%		William V. Roth Jr.	Republican	90,961	56%
1968	U.S. Representative		Harris B. McDowell Jr.	Democratic	82,993	41%		William V. Roth Jr.	Republican	117,827	59%

References

• Martin, Roger (1997). Elbert N. Carvel. Wilmington, Delaware: Delaware Heritage Press. ISBN 0-924117-08-7.
• Hoffecker, Carol E. (2000). Honest John Williams. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press.
• Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, Delaware: Roger A. Martin.
• Cohen, Celia (2002). Only in Delaware, Politics and Politicians in the First State. Newark, Delaware: Grapevine Publishing.

External links

• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Delaware’s Members of Congress
• Harris Brown McDowell Jr. entry at The Political Graveyard