Walter Judd
Encyclopedia
Walter Henry Judd was an American politician best known for his battle in Congress (1943-63) to define the conservative position on China
as all-out support for the Nationalists under Chiang Kai-sheck and opposition to the Communists under Mao. After the Nationalists fled to Formosa (Taiwan) in 1949 Judd redoubled his support.
After serving in the United States Army in World War I, he earned his medical degree
at the University of Nebraska in 1923, then was Traveling Secretary for the Student Volunteer Movement
. He was medical missionary in China, 1925–31 and 1934-1938, with a stint at the Mayo Clinic in between.
He came back to the United States to urge Americans not to be isolationists but to support China against Japanese aggression
. Elected to the U.S. Congress from Minnesota
in 1942, where he became a powerful voice in support of China. He served for 20 years from 1943 until 1963 in the 78th
, 79th
, 80th
, 81st
, 82nd
, 83rd
, 84th
, 85th
, 86th
, and 87th congresses
.
In the early 1950s Judd helped organize the Committee of One Million, a citizens' group dedicated to keeping the People's Republic of China out of the United Nations.
Judd gave the keynote address at the 1960 Republican National Convention
in Chicago. In 1962, Judd was defeated for reelection by liberal Democrat Donald M. Fraser
. In 1964 Judd's name was placed in nomination at the Republican National Convention for President and he received a smattering of votes. In 1981, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
(the nation's highest civilian award). He was an outspoken anti-communist and critic of U.S. rapprochement with China at the expense of the Republic of China
on Taiwan
. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, he was actively involved in the Council Against Communist Aggression in Washington DC. He was known for his eloquent oratory and expertise in US foreign policy. He died in 1994.
He was the last person to attempt to run for president on a major party ticket to be born in the 19th century, though he did not make it past the primaries. While this is technically still possible, it is extremely unlikely, since a candidate would be at least 111.
, an educational and internship program that works in partnership with Georgetown University, annually presents the The Walter Judd Freedom Award in cooperation with the Center for International Relations to recognize individuals who have advanced the cause of freedom in the United States and abroad. Past recipients have included former United States President Ronald Reagan
, Jack Kemp
, Jeane Kirkpatrick
, and George J. Viksnins, Emeritus Professor at Georgetown University
.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
as all-out support for the Nationalists under Chiang Kai-sheck and opposition to the Communists under Mao. After the Nationalists fled to Formosa (Taiwan) in 1949 Judd redoubled his support.
After serving in the United States Army in World War I, he earned his medical degree
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
at the University of Nebraska in 1923, then was Traveling Secretary for the Student Volunteer Movement
Student Volunteer Movement
The Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions was an organization founded in 1886 that sought to recruit college and university students in the United States for missionary service abroad. It also sought to publicize and encourage the missionary enterprise in general...
. He was medical missionary in China, 1925–31 and 1934-1938, with a stint at the Mayo Clinic in between.
He came back to the United States to urge Americans not to be isolationists but to support China against Japanese aggression
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
. Elected to the U.S. Congress from Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
in 1942, where he became a powerful voice in support of China. He served for 20 years from 1943 until 1963 in the 78th
78th United States Congress
The Seventy-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1943 to January 3, 1945, during the last two years...
, 79th
79th United States Congress
The Seventy-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1945 to January 3, 1947, during the last months of...
, 80th
80th United States Congress
The Eightieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1947 to January 3, 1949, during the third and fourth...
, 81st
81st United States Congress
The Eighty-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives...
, 82nd
82nd United States Congress
The Eighty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1951 to January 3, 1953, during the last two years...
, 83rd
83rd United States Congress
The Eighty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1953 to January 3, 1955, during the first two years...
, 84th
84th United States Congress
The Eighty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1955 to January 3, 1957, during the third and...
, 85th
85th United States Congress
The Eighty-fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1957 to January 3, 1959, during the fifth and sixth...
, 86th
86th United States Congress
The Eighty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1959 to January 3, 1961, during the last two years...
, and 87th congresses
87th United States Congress
-House of Representatives :-Senate:* President: Richard Nixon , until January 20, 1961** Lyndon Johnson , from January 20, 1961* President pro tempore: Carl Hayden -House of Representatives:...
.
In the early 1950s Judd helped organize the Committee of One Million, a citizens' group dedicated to keeping the People's Republic of China out of the United Nations.
Judd gave the keynote address at the 1960 Republican National Convention
1960 Republican National Convention
The 1960 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held in Chicago, Illinois, from July 25 to July 28, 1960, at the International Amphitheatre....
in Chicago. In 1962, Judd was defeated for reelection by liberal Democrat Donald M. Fraser
Donald M. Fraser
Donald MacKay Fraser is an American politician from Minneapolis, Minnesota.-Early life:Donald Fraser played a critical role in making human rights an important part of U.S. policy. Fraser was born on 20 February 1924 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Everett and Lois Fraser. His parents were émigrés...
. In 1964 Judd's name was placed in nomination at the Republican National Convention for President and he received a smattering of votes. In 1981, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
(the nation's highest civilian award). He was an outspoken anti-communist and critic of U.S. rapprochement with China at the expense of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
on Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, he was actively involved in the Council Against Communist Aggression in Washington DC. He was known for his eloquent oratory and expertise in US foreign policy. He died in 1994.
He was the last person to attempt to run for president on a major party ticket to be born in the 19th century, though he did not make it past the primaries. While this is technically still possible, it is extremely unlikely, since a candidate would be at least 111.
Walter Judd Freedom Award
The Fund for American StudiesThe Fund for American Studies
The Fund for American Studies is an educational non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1967, the organization’s stated goal is to “prepare young people for honorable leadership by educating them in the theory, practice and benefits of a free society.”-History:In 1967, Charles...
, an educational and internship program that works in partnership with Georgetown University, annually presents the The Walter Judd Freedom Award in cooperation with the Center for International Relations to recognize individuals who have advanced the cause of freedom in the United States and abroad. Past recipients have included former United States President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, Jack Kemp
Jack Kemp
Jack French Kemp was an American politician and a collegiate and professional football player. A Republican, he served as Housing Secretary in the administration of President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993, having previously served nine terms as a congressman for Western New York's 31st...
, Jeane Kirkpatrick
Jeane Kirkpatrick
Jeane Jordan Kirkpatrick was an American ambassador and an ardent anticommunist. After serving as Ronald Reagan's foreign policy adviser in his 1980 campaign and later in his Cabinet, the longtime Democrat-turned-Republican was nominated as the U.S...
, and George J. Viksnins, Emeritus Professor at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
.
External links
- Background
- Publications
- Congress info
- The Papers of Walter Judd are available for research use at the Minnesota Historical Society.
- Oral History Interview, Truman Library http://www.trumanlibrary.org/oralhist/judd.htm
- The Walter Henry Judd Papers, 1922-1988 at the Hoover Institution Archives.
- The Lee Edwards papers at the Hoover Institution Archives contains information and oral histories about Judd.