William L. Scott
Encyclopedia
William Lloyd Scott was a Republican politician from Virginia
.
Scott was born in Williamsburg, Virginia
. He received a law degree from George Washington University
, and was employed by the federal government 1934–1961, principally as trial attorney with Department of Justice
. He engaged in private practice of law in Fairfax, Virginia
, 1961–1966.
Scott won the Republican nomination for Virginia's 8th congressional district
in 1966. He expected to face 18-term Democratic incumbent and House Rules Committee chairman Howard W. Smith
in November, but Smith was defeated by a more liberal Democrat, State Delegate George Rawlings
, in the Democratic primary. Gaining support from more conservative Democrats, Scott handily defeated Rawlings in November. He was easily re-elected twice.
In 1972, he won the Republican nomination for the United States Senate
and defeated freshman Democrat William B. Spong, Jr.
in a close race, making him the first Republican Senator from Virginia since Reconstruction. Scott probably would not have won had it not been for Richard Nixon
's landslide victory in that year's presidential election. Nixon won Virginia by almost 38 points and carried all but one of the state's counties. Scott did not run for re-election in 1978 and resigned on January 1, 1979.
Scott was a resident of Fairfax Station, Virginia
, but confined to a nursing center in Fairfax, Virginia
for Alzheimer's Disease
until his death. Interment was in Fairfax Memorial Park, Fairfax, Va.
New Times Magazine
reported in 1974 that he had been ranked "Dumbest Congressman" by a Ralph Nader
-affiliated research group; Scott held a press conference to deny this judgment. The author of the article in New Times Magazine (Harry Stein) has since admitted the label of "Dumbest Senator" was a political hit piece and not based on any objective criteria. How the Press Got Political & How I Accidentally Joined the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy : (and Found Inner Peace)
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Scott was born in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
. He received a law degree from George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
, and was employed by the federal government 1934–1961, principally as trial attorney with Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
. He engaged in private practice of law in Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
, 1961–1966.
Scott won the Republican nomination for Virginia's 8th congressional district
Virginia's 8th congressional district
Virginia's Eighth Congressional District is a U.S. congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The residents of the 8th District are currently represented by Democratic Congressman Jim Moran, first elected to the 8th's seat in the U.S...
in 1966. He expected to face 18-term Democratic incumbent and House Rules Committee chairman Howard W. Smith
Howard W. Smith
Howard Worth Smith , Democratic U.S. Representative from Virginia, was a leader of the conservative coalition who supported both racial segregation and women's rights.-Early life and education:...
in November, but Smith was defeated by a more liberal Democrat, State Delegate George Rawlings
George Rawlings
George Chancellor Rawlings, Jr. was an American politician and Attorney at law from the U.S. state of Virginia. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1963 to 1969....
, in the Democratic primary. Gaining support from more conservative Democrats, Scott handily defeated Rawlings in November. He was easily re-elected twice.
In 1972, he won the Republican nomination for the 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...
and defeated freshman Democrat William B. Spong, Jr.
William B. Spong, Jr.
William Belser Spong, Jr. was a Democratic Party politician and a United States Senator who represented the state of Virginia from 1966 to 1973....
in a close race, making him the first Republican Senator from Virginia since Reconstruction. Scott probably would not have won had it not been for 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...
's landslide victory in that year's presidential election. Nixon won Virginia by almost 38 points and carried all but one of the state's counties. Scott did not run for re-election in 1978 and resigned on January 1, 1979.
Scott was a resident of Fairfax Station, Virginia
Fairfax Station, Virginia
Fairfax Station is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, ZIP code 22039. The population as of the 2010 Census was 12,030. As a suburb of Washington, DC, it is a bedroom community for many who work in the federal government.-Averages:...
, but confined to a nursing center in Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
for Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
until his death. Interment was in Fairfax Memorial Park, Fairfax, Va.
New Times Magazine
New Times Magazine
New Times was an American glossy bi-weekly national magazine published from 1973 to 1979 by George A. Hirsch. Hirsch had been publisher of New York magazine, but resigned after conflicts with founder/editor Clay Felker. New Times began as a bridge between the newsweeklies and the more reflective...
reported in 1974 that he had been ranked "Dumbest Congressman" by a Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government....
-affiliated research group; Scott held a press conference to deny this judgment. The author of the article in New Times Magazine (Harry Stein) has since admitted the label of "Dumbest Senator" was a political hit piece and not based on any objective criteria. How the Press Got Political & How I Accidentally Joined the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy : (and Found Inner Peace)