Scott W. Lucas
Encyclopedia
Scott Wike Lucas was a two-term Democratic
United States Senator
(1939–1951) from Illinois
, and the United States Senate Majority Leader from 1948 to 1950.
After graduating from the law school
of Illinois Wesleyan University
, Lucas entered private practice; he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War I
, later serving as a lieutenant
.
He served in a variety of governmental posts in Illinois before he was first elected to the United States House of Representatives
in 1934, and was elected senator in 1938. He was re-elected in 1944. With support from Harry Truman, he was elected party whip in 1946. Lucas, a moderate, drew support from conservative and liberal wings of the party. He took over the midwest campaign for President Truman and was credited with assisting not only Truman's 1948 reelection but bringing nine Democrats into the Senate. When Alben Barkley became vice-president and resigned his Senate seat, Lucas became majority leader. However, he was unable to build a consensus as Senate majority leader with the onset of the anti-Communist era, and lost re-election in 1950 to Republican Everett Dirksen
. Lucas had become a target of Republican wrath with loss of political power in the Senate and the White House. His 1950 reelection campaign featured the active intervention into Illinois politics of Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy
who traveled the state with Rep. Dirksen saying that Senator Lucas was "soft on communism". Dirksen would go on to easily defeat Lucas with a 54% to 46% victory, one of several results that allowed the Republicans to reclaim the senate majority.
He was succeeded as Democratic leader by Ernest McFarland
, who also lost his reelection bid two years after assuming the leadership. The McCarthy intervention into other Senate campaigns was a factor in alienating his colleagues and his censure in 1954. Thanks to McFarland's successor, Lyndon Johnson, the Senate Democratic leadership became much more consolidated and more powerful.
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...
United States Senator
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...
(1939–1951) from Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and the United States Senate Majority Leader from 1948 to 1950.
After graduating from the law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
of Illinois Wesleyan University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Illinois Wesleyan University is an independent undergraduate university located in Bloomington, Illinois. Founded in 1850, the central portion of the present campus was acquired in 1854 with the first building erected in 1856...
, Lucas entered private practice; he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, later serving as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
.
He served in a variety of governmental posts in Illinois before he was first elected to the United States House of Representatives
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...
in 1934, and was elected senator in 1938. He was re-elected in 1944. With support from Harry Truman, he was elected party whip in 1946. Lucas, a moderate, drew support from conservative and liberal wings of the party. He took over the midwest campaign for President Truman and was credited with assisting not only Truman's 1948 reelection but bringing nine Democrats into the Senate. When Alben Barkley became vice-president and resigned his Senate seat, Lucas became majority leader. However, he was unable to build a consensus as Senate majority leader with the onset of the anti-Communist era, and lost re-election in 1950 to Republican Everett Dirksen
Everett Dirksen
Everett McKinley Dirksen was an American politician of the Republican Party. He represented Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate...
. Lucas had become a target of Republican wrath with loss of political power in the Senate and the White House. His 1950 reelection campaign featured the active intervention into Illinois politics of Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
who traveled the state with Rep. Dirksen saying that Senator Lucas was "soft on communism". Dirksen would go on to easily defeat Lucas with a 54% to 46% victory, one of several results that allowed the Republicans to reclaim the senate majority.
He was succeeded as Democratic leader by Ernest McFarland
Ernest McFarland
Ernest William McFarland was an American politician and, with Warren Atherton, is considered one of the "Fathers of the G.I. Bill". He is the only Arizonan to serve in the highest office in all three branches of Arizonan government—two at the state level, one at the federal level...
, who also lost his reelection bid two years after assuming the leadership. The McCarthy intervention into other Senate campaigns was a factor in alienating his colleagues and his censure in 1954. Thanks to McFarland's successor, Lyndon Johnson, the Senate Democratic leadership became much more consolidated and more powerful.