John Warren Cooke
Encyclopedia
John Warren Cooke was an American politician and newspaper
publisher. A Democrat
, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates
1942–1979 and was its Speaker from 1968 until his retirement.
minister, had been a major
in the Confederate States Army
, serving on the personal staff of Robert E. Lee
.
Attending both public and private schools, Cooke graduated from Lee-Jackson High School in Mathews. He spent one year at the Virginia Military Institute
, then went to work for the Mathews County
government, serving as clerk of the county school board, among other tasks.
Cooke married Anne Brown Rawn of Huntington, West Virginia
on May 10, 1947. They had a son and a daughter.
Cooke was president of Tidewater Newspapers, Inc. in Gloucester, Virginia and publisher of the Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal newspaper from 1954 until March 2009.
Counties on the Middle Peninsula
. In 1944, Middlesex County
was added to the district. That same year, he became secretary of the House Democratic caucus.
Cooke was an alternate delegate to the 1948 Democratic National Convention
. He became Democratic caucus leader in 1950 and majority floor leader
in 1956. In 1965, Charles City
and New Kent
Counties on the Virginia Peninsula
were added to the district.
Cooke was elected House Speaker on January 10, 1968, replacing the retiring E. Blackburn Moore
. That year he co-sponsored the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
In 1971 Cooke's district changed one more time, dropping Charles City and New Kent Counties and adding Essex
, King and Queen
and King William
Counties. Cooke retired in 1979.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
publisher. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
1942–1979 and was its Speaker from 1968 until his retirement.
Personal life; non-political career
Cooke was born in Mathews, Virginia, to Giles Buckner Cooke and Katharine Grosh. His father, an EpiscopalEpiscopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
minister, had been a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
, serving on the personal staff of Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
.
Attending both public and private schools, Cooke graduated from Lee-Jackson High School in Mathews. He spent one year at the Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
, then went to work for the Mathews County
Mathews County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 8,978 people, 3,932 households, and 2,823 families residing in the county. The population density was 108 people per square mile . There were 5,333 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile...
government, serving as clerk of the county school board, among other tasks.
Cooke married Anne Brown Rawn of Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
on May 10, 1947. They had a son and a daughter.
Cooke was president of Tidewater Newspapers, Inc. in Gloucester, Virginia and publisher of the Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal newspaper from 1954 until March 2009.
Political career
Cooke was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1941, representing Mathews and GloucesterGloucester County, Virginia
Gloucester County is within the Commonwealth of Virginia in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area in the USA. Formed in 1651 in the Virginia Colony, the county was named for Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester, third son of King Charles I of Great Britain. Located in the Middle Peninsula region, it...
Counties on the Middle Peninsula
Middle Peninsula
The Middle Peninsula is the second of three large peninsulas on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, in the United States. It lies between the Northern Neck and the Virginia Peninsula. This peninsula is bounded by the Rappahannock River on the north and the York River on the south...
. In 1944, Middlesex County
Middlesex County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,932 people, 4,253 households, and 2,913 families residing in the county. The population density was 76 people per square mile . There were 6,362 housing units at an average density of 49 per square mile...
was added to the district. That same year, he became secretary of the House Democratic caucus.
Cooke was an alternate delegate to the 1948 Democratic National Convention
1948 Democratic National Convention
The 1948 Democratic National Convention was held at Convention Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from July 12 to July 14, and resulted in the nominations of incumbent Harry S Truman for President and U.S. Senator Alben W...
. He became Democratic caucus leader in 1950 and majority floor leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
in 1956. In 1965, Charles City
Charles City County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,926 people, 2,670 households, and 1,975 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 2,895 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
and New Kent
New Kent County, Virginia
At the 2000 census, there were 13,462 people, 4,925 households and 3,895 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 per square mile . There were 5,203 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
Counties on the Virginia Peninsula
Virginia Peninsula
The Virginia Peninsula is a peninsula in southeast Virginia, USA, bounded by the York River, James River, Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay.Hampton Roads is the common name for the metropolitan area that surrounds the body of water of the same name...
were added to the district.
Cooke was elected House Speaker on January 10, 1968, replacing the retiring E. Blackburn Moore
Blackburn Moore
Edgar Blackburn "Blackie" Moore was an American politician. A Democrat, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates 1933–1967 and was its Speaker 1950–1967, making him the second longest serving Speaker after Linn Banks.-Personal life:Moore was born in Washington, D.C.. He attended...
. That year he co-sponsored the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
In 1971 Cooke's district changed one more time, dropping Charles City and New Kent Counties and adding Essex
Essex County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,989 people, 3,995 households, and 2,740 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile . There were 4,926 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile...
, King and Queen
King and Queen County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,630 people, 2,673 households, and 1,897 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile . There were 3,010 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
and King William
King William County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,146 people, 4,846 households, and 3,784 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile . There were 5,189 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile...
Counties. Cooke retired in 1979.