William B. Saxbe
Encyclopedia
William Bart "Bill" Saxbe (June 24, 1916 August 24, 2010) was an American
politician affiliated with the Republican Party, who served as a U.S. Senator
from Ohio
, as U.S. Attorney General
under Presidents Richard Nixon
and Gerald R. Ford
, and as United States Ambassador to India
.
At the time of his death, Saxbe was the second-oldest living Senator over all, after Harry F. Byrd, Jr.
of Virginia, and the oldest living Republican Senator.
, to Bart Rockwell and Faye "Maggie" Henry Carey Saxbe.
He received a bachelor's degree
from the Ohio State University
, Class of 1940, where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity. He served in the Army Air Corps
during World War II
, from 1940 to 1945.
When he returned from World War II, he entered Ohio State University law school
. However, while still in law school, he ran for a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives
in 1947 and won. In 1948, near the end of second term, he received a law degree
.
He remained in the Ohio National Guard
and was on active duty during the Korean War
, from 1951 to 1952. He was discharged from the reserve with the rank of colonel in 1963. He served as the Ohio House majority leader in 1951 and 1952, and as speaker of the House in 1953 and 1954.
, defeating Democrat Stephen M. Young
. He was re-elected three times and held that office until 1968. In this capacity, Saxbe argued the murder case of Doctor Sam Sheppard before the United States Supreme Court in 1966. He went up against Sheppard's attorney F. Lee Bailey.
He was a member of the Ohio Crime Commission from 1967 to 1968. In 1968, Saxbe was elected to the U.S. Senate, defeating the Democrat's candidate former Ohio Rep. (1965–67) John J. Gilligan
. He served in the Senate until December 1973, when he was appointed U.S. Attorney General by President Nixon
. Saxbe was the permanent replacement for Elliot Richardson
, who had been fired by Nixon during the "Saturday Night Massacre
" at the height of the Watergate scandal
. Saxbe took over for Robert Bork
, who had served as interim Attorney General during the two months following the "Massacre".
There was some minor controversy regarding Saxbe's appointment and the Ineligibility Clause
of the Constitution. That provision states that a legislator cannot be appointed to an executive position during the same term that the legislature had voted to increase the salary of said position. Nixon addressed the problem by having Congress reduce the salary of the Attorney General to the level it assumed before Saxbe's term in the Senate had begun. This maneuver had only occurred once before, when Senator Philander C. Knox
had been appointed Secretary of State
in 1909, and has since become known as the "Saxbe fix
". Because there was no perception that anything intentional had been done to benefit Saxbe, the matter was largely ignored.
Gilligan, who had been elected Governor of Ohio in 1970, appointed Howard Metzenbaum
to fill out Saxbe's term. Later that year, former astronaut John Glenn
, another Democrat, was elected to replace Saxbe.
Saxbe served as Attorney General for the first few months of the Ford Administration before stepping down in early 1975, when he was appointed United States Ambassador to India
. He served in that capacity until 1977. After that, Saxbe returned to Mechanicsburg and resumed the practice of law.
. Charles served four terms in the Ohio House of Representatives
, and was later an attorney in private practice.
Saxbe was known for his quips. Asked about Sen. Robert Dole, he commented that Dole was so unpopular with his fellow senators that "he couldn't sell beer on a troop ship."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician affiliated with the Republican Party, who served as a U.S. 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...
from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, as U.S. Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
under Presidents Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
and Gerald R. Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
, and as United States Ambassador to India
United States Ambassador to India
American Embassy New Delhi was established Nov 1, 1946, with George R. Merrell as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim.-Chiefs of Mission to India:-See also:*Embassy of India, Washington, D.C.*India – United States relations*Foreign relations of India...
.
At the time of his death, Saxbe was the second-oldest living Senator over all, after Harry F. Byrd, Jr.
Harry F. Byrd, Jr.
Harry Flood Byrd, Jr. is a retired American politician. He represented Virginia in the United States Senate from 1965 to 1983. He is most notable for leaving the Democratic Party in 1970 and becoming an Independent, although he continued to caucus with the Democrats. He is the son of Harry F....
of Virginia, and the oldest living Republican Senator.
Early life and career
Saxbe was born in Mechanicsburg, OhioMechanicsburg, Ohio
Mechanicsburg is a village in Champaign County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,744 at the 2000 census.Mechanicsburg laid out in 1814 on the site of the Shawnee Indian Village of Chief Ohito...
, to Bart Rockwell and Faye "Maggie" Henry Carey Saxbe.
He received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, Class of 1940, where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity. He served in the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, from 1940 to 1945.
When he returned from World War II, he entered Ohio State University law school
Moritz College of Law
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law is a public law school and charter member of the Association of American Law Schools. According to the 2010 U.S. News & World Report rankings, the Moritz College of Law is 35th in the nation overall and is in the top ten among public law schools. The...
. However, while still in law school, he ran for a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
in 1947 and won. In 1948, near the end of second term, he received a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
.
He remained in the Ohio National Guard
Ohio National Guard
The Ohio National Guard comprises:* Ohio Army National Guard* Ohio Air National Guard-External links:* compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History...
and was on active duty during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, from 1951 to 1952. He was discharged from the reserve with the rank of colonel in 1963. He served as the Ohio House majority leader in 1951 and 1952, and as speaker of the House in 1953 and 1954.
Higher political office
In 1957, Saxbe was elected Ohio Attorney GeneralOhio Attorney General
The Ohio Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Ohio in the United States. The office is filled by general election, held every four years. The Ohio Attorney General is Mike DeWine.-History:...
, defeating Democrat Stephen M. Young
Stephen M. Young
Stephen Marvin Young was an American politician of the Democratic Party from Ohio. He was a United States Senator from Ohio from 1958 until 1971....
. He was re-elected three times and held that office until 1968. In this capacity, Saxbe argued the murder case of Doctor Sam Sheppard before the United States Supreme Court in 1966. He went up against Sheppard's attorney F. Lee Bailey.
He was a member of the Ohio Crime Commission from 1967 to 1968. In 1968, Saxbe was elected to the U.S. Senate, defeating the Democrat's candidate former Ohio Rep. (1965–67) John J. Gilligan
John J. Gilligan
John Joyce Gilligan is a American Democratic politician from the state of Ohio who served as a U.S. Representative and the 62nd Governor of Ohio. He is the father of Kathleen Sebelius...
. He served in the Senate until December 1973, when he was appointed U.S. Attorney General by President Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. Saxbe was the permanent replacement for Elliot Richardson
Elliot Richardson
Elliot Lee Richardson was an American lawyer and politician who was a member of the cabinet of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. As U.S...
, who had been fired by Nixon during the "Saturday Night Massacre
Saturday night massacre
The "Saturday Night Massacre" was the term given by political commentators to U.S. President Richard Nixon's executive dismissal of independent special prosecutor Archibald Cox, and the resignations of Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus on October 20,...
" at the height of the Watergate scandal
Watergate scandal
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement...
. Saxbe took over for Robert Bork
Robert Bork
Robert Heron Bork is an American legal scholar who has advocated the judicial philosophy of originalism. Bork formerly served as Solicitor General, Acting Attorney General, and judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit...
, who had served as interim Attorney General during the two months following the "Massacre".
There was some minor controversy regarding Saxbe's appointment and the Ineligibility Clause
Ineligibility Clause
The Ineligibility Clause, one of the two clauses often called the Emoluments Clause, and sometimes also referred to as the Incompatibility Clause or the Sinecure Clause, is found in Article 1, Section 6, Clause 2 of the United States Constitution...
of the Constitution. That provision states that a legislator cannot be appointed to an executive position during the same term that the legislature had voted to increase the salary of said position. Nixon addressed the problem by having Congress reduce the salary of the Attorney General to the level it assumed before Saxbe's term in the Senate had begun. This maneuver had only occurred once before, when Senator Philander C. Knox
Philander C. Knox
Philander Chase Knox was an American lawyer and politician who served as United States Attorney General , a Senator from Pennsylvania and Secretary of State ....
had been appointed Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
in 1909, and has since become known as the "Saxbe fix
Saxbe fix
The Saxbe fix, or salary rollback, is a mechanism by which the President of the United States, in appointing a current or former member of the United States Congress whose elected term has not yet expired, can avoid the restriction of the United States Constitution's Ineligibility Clause...
". Because there was no perception that anything intentional had been done to benefit Saxbe, the matter was largely ignored.
Gilligan, who had been elected Governor of Ohio in 1970, appointed Howard Metzenbaum
Howard Metzenbaum
Howard Morton Metzenbaum was an American politician who served for almost 20 years as a Democratic member of the U.S. Senate from Ohio . He also served in the Ohio House of Representatives and Senate from 1943 to 1951.-Early life:Metzenbaum was born in Cleveland, to a poor Jewish family, the son...
to fill out Saxbe's term. Later that year, former astronaut John Glenn
John Glenn
John Herschel Glenn, Jr. is a former United States Marine Corps pilot, astronaut, and United States senator who was the first American to orbit the Earth and the third American in space. Glenn was a Marine Corps fighter pilot before joining NASA's Mercury program as a member of NASA's original...
, another Democrat, was elected to replace Saxbe.
Saxbe served as Attorney General for the first few months of the Ford Administration before stepping down in early 1975, when he was appointed United States Ambassador to India
United States Ambassador to India
American Embassy New Delhi was established Nov 1, 1946, with George R. Merrell as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim.-Chiefs of Mission to India:-See also:*Embassy of India, Washington, D.C.*India – United States relations*Foreign relations of India...
. He served in that capacity until 1977. After that, Saxbe returned to Mechanicsburg and resumed the practice of law.
Personal life
In 1940, he married the former Ardath Louise "Dolly" Kleinhans. They had three children: William Bart Jr., Juliet Louise, and Charles RockwellCharles R. Saxbe
Charles Rockwell Saxbe is an attorney in Ohio and former American politician of the Republican Party. He is the son of former U.S. Attorney General and Senator William B. Saxbe.-Early life and education:...
. Charles served four terms in the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
, and was later an attorney in private practice.
Saxbe was known for his quips. Asked about Sen. Robert Dole, he commented that Dole was so unpopular with his fellow senators that "he couldn't sell beer on a troop ship."