Charles Abraham Halleck (August 22, 1900 – March 3, 1986) was a Republican leader of the United States House of Representatives from the second district of Indiana. Halleck was born near De Motte, in Jasper County, Indiana. He served in the Infantry of the United States Army, during World War I. After military service, Halleck attended Indiana University at Bloomington. In 1924 Halleck was admitted to the bar and began practicing in Rensselaer. From 1924 and 1934 he was the Prosecuting Attorney for the thirteenth district court. Following the death of the congressman-elect Frederick Landis in 1935, Halleck replaced him and remained in that position until 1969. A prominent member of the Conservative coalition, he served as the House Majority Leader after the elections of 1946 and 1954; he was House Minority Leader 1959-1964. He was a strong opponent of the liberal social proposals of Democrats John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, but supported the Vietnam War and was one of the strongest advocates for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Along with Senator Everett Dirksen he was the face of the Republican Party during most of the 1960s, and made frequent appearances on television news and talk programs. The press jocularly nicknamed his joint appearances with Mr. Dirksen the "Ev and Charlie Show." After the 1964 election, Halleck was defeated in his bid to remain Minority Leader by Gerald Ford, who was the leader of a younger faction. Charles Halleck died in Lafayette, Indiana on March 3, 1986 and is buried in Rensselaer.
References
- Peabody, Robert L. The Ford-Halleck Minority Leadership Contest 1966;
- Scheele, Henry Z. Charlie Halleck: A Political Biography. Exposition Press, 1966.
External links
- Charles A. Halleck at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Charles A. Halleck at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
| Preceded by George R. Durgan |
U.S. Representative of Indiana's 2nd Congressional District 1935–1969 |
Succeeded by Earl F. Landgrebe |
| Preceded by John W. McCormack |
House Majority Leader 1947 – 1949; 1953 – 1955 |
Succeeded by John W. McCormack |
| Preceded by Joseph W. Martin |
House Minority Leader 1959–1965 |
Succeeded by Gerald Ford |
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| Payne • Underwood • Kitchin • Mondell • Longworth • Tilson • Rainey • Byrns • Bankhead • Rayburn • McCormack • Halleck • McCormack • Halleck • McCormack • Albert • Boggs • O'Neill • Wright • Foley • Gephardt • Armey • DeLay • Blunt (acting) • Boehner • Hoyer |
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