Samuel L. Bodine
Encyclopedia
Samuel Louis Bodine was an American
Republican Party
politician
who served in the New Jersey Senate
and as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
.
in 1900 to Amplius B.C. and Ellen Schenk (Hoagland) Bodine. He was raised in Flemington, New Jersey
, where his father had established the Bodine Lumber Company in 1895. He was educated in Flemington schools and then attended Lafayette College
, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science
degree in 1920. After graduation he joined his father's lumber company. He married Ida Rittenhouse Stryker on July 6, 1932, and they had one child, Samuel (known as Tony), born January 14, 1934.
Bodine served as Mayor of Flemington, New Jersey from 1928 to 1936 and went on to serve on the Hunterdon County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
from 1937 to 1942. In 1943 he was elected to the New Jersey Senate
, where he served until 1953. In the Senate he was majority leader for one year and served another as Senate President and acting Governor.
In April 1953 Bodine was selected as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
by Paul L. Troast
, then the Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey
. He was credited with uniting party factions after Troast lost in a landslide to Robert B. Meyner
, as well as bringing the party together to support the nomination of Clifford P. Case
for United States Senate
in 1954.
In 1957 Republican gubernatorial nominee Malcolm Forbes
sought to remove him from the party chairmanship, but Forbes backed down from this move after Bodine was given strong support from county chairmen and he was reelected. He died of a heart ailment the following year at Point Pleasant
Hospital at the age of 58.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served in the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
and as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
New Jersey Republican State Committee
The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the Republican Party in New Jersey. The Committee was founded in 1880. The party is led by Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee Sam Raia of Saddle River, New Jersey.-Membership:...
.
Biography
Bodine was born in Pittstown, New JerseyPittstown, New Jersey
Pittstown is an unincorporated area within portions of Alexandria Township and Franklin Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States, named after William Pitt. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08867...
in 1900 to Amplius B.C. and Ellen Schenk (Hoagland) Bodine. He was raised in Flemington, New Jersey
Flemington, New Jersey
Flemington is a borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 4,581. It is the county seat of Hunterdon County....
, where his father had established the Bodine Lumber Company in 1895. He was educated in Flemington schools and then attended Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in 1920. After graduation he joined his father's lumber company. He married Ida Rittenhouse Stryker on July 6, 1932, and they had one child, Samuel (known as Tony), born January 14, 1934.
Bodine served as Mayor of Flemington, New Jersey from 1928 to 1936 and went on to serve on the Hunterdon County
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
from 1937 to 1942. In 1943 he was elected to the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
, where he served until 1953. In the Senate he was majority leader for one year and served another as Senate President and acting Governor.
In April 1953 Bodine was selected as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
New Jersey Republican State Committee
The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the Republican Party in New Jersey. The Committee was founded in 1880. The party is led by Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee Sam Raia of Saddle River, New Jersey.-Membership:...
by Paul L. Troast
Paul L. Troast
Paul Lyman Troast was a wealthy building contractor from Passaic, New Jersey, chairman of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority during its construction, and one-time failed gubernatorial candidate....
, then the Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
. He was credited with uniting party factions after Troast lost in a landslide to Robert B. Meyner
Robert B. Meyner
Robert Baumle Meyner of Phillipsburg, New Jersey was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 44th Governor of New Jersey, from 1954 to 1962...
, as well as bringing the party together to support the nomination of Clifford P. Case
Clifford P. Case
Clifford Philip Case was an American lawyer and Republican Party politician who represented in the United States House of Representatives and the State of New Jersey in the United States Senate .-Biography:Clifford P. Case was born in Franklin Park in Somerset County, New Jersey...
for United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1954.
In 1957 Republican gubernatorial nominee Malcolm Forbes
Malcolm Forbes
Malcolm Stevenson Forbes was publisher of Forbes magazine, founded by his father B. C. Forbes and today run by his son Steve Forbes.-Life and career:...
sought to remove him from the party chairmanship, but Forbes backed down from this move after Bodine was given strong support from county chairmen and he was reelected. He died of a heart ailment the following year at Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Point Pleasant is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 18,392...
Hospital at the age of 58.
External links
- Biographical information for Samuel L. Bodine from The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...