Adolph J. Sabath
Encyclopedia
Adolph Joachim Sabath was an American politician. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Chicago, Illinois, from 1907 until his death.
He immigrated to America at age 15, became active in real estate, and received his LL.B. degree in 1892 from Lake Forest University. He served in local offices until election to Congress from the Jewish West Side in 1907. He was active in state and national Democratic party affairs, attending many conventions. He was a leading opponent of prohibition
in the 1920s.
As a leading Democrat he chaired the powerful Rules Committee after 1937. He was an ineffective chairman, with a small weak staff, who proved unable to lead his committee, was frequently at odds with the House leadership, and was inclined to write the President little letters "informing" on Speaker William B. Bankhead
and Sam Rayburn
.[Robinson p 81]
Beginning on April 1, 1934, he was the Dean
(longest-serving member) of the House and he served as Dean for 18 years, 7 months, and 5 days: the longest time any person has served as Dean in the history of the Republic.
Sabath was an avid New Dealer
and an interventionist who strongly supported war against Germany
. It was Sabath who nominated a teenage (later Admiral
) Hyman G. Rickover
to the United States Naval Academy
.
He was buried at Forest Home Cemetery, in Forest Park
, Chicago.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Chicago, Illinois, from 1907 until his death.
He immigrated to America at age 15, became active in real estate, and received his LL.B. degree in 1892 from Lake Forest University. He served in local offices until election to Congress from the Jewish West Side in 1907. He was active in state and national Democratic party affairs, attending many conventions. He was a leading opponent of prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
in the 1920s.
As a leading Democrat he chaired the powerful Rules Committee after 1937. He was an ineffective chairman, with a small weak staff, who proved unable to lead his committee, was frequently at odds with the House leadership, and was inclined to write the President little letters "informing" on Speaker William B. Bankhead
William B. Bankhead
William Brockman Bankhead was an American politician from Alabama who served as U.S. Representative and Speaker of the House. He was a Democrat. Bankhead was a prominent supporter of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal of pro-labor union legislation, thus clashing with most other southern...
and Sam Rayburn
Sam Rayburn
Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn , often called "Mr. Sam," or "Mr. Democrat," was a Democratic lawmaker from Bonham, Texas, who served as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives for seventeen years, the longest tenure in U.S. history.- Background :Rayburn was born in Roane County, Tennessee, and...
.[Robinson p 81]
Beginning on April 1, 1934, he was the Dean
Dean of the United States House of Representatives
The Dean of the United States House of Representatives is the longest continuously serving member of the House. The present Dean is John Dingell, a Democrat of Michigan....
(longest-serving member) of the House and he served as Dean for 18 years, 7 months, and 5 days: the longest time any person has served as Dean in the history of the Republic.
Sabath was an avid New Dealer
New Deal coalition
The New Deal Coalition was the alignment of interest groups and voting blocs that supported the New Deal and voted for Democratic presidential candidates from 1932 until the late 1960s. It made the Democratic Party the majority party during that period, losing only to Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952...
and an interventionist who strongly supported war against Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It was Sabath who nominated a teenage (later Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
) Hyman G. Rickover
Hyman G. Rickover
Hyman George Rickover was a four-star admiral of the United States Navy who directed the original development of naval nuclear propulsion and controlled its operations for three decades as director of Naval Reactors...
to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
.
He was buried at Forest Home Cemetery, in Forest Park
Forest Park, Illinois
Forest Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in the United States. The population was 15,688 at the 2000 census...
, Chicago.