Adolph J. Sabath

Adolph J. Sabath (1936)

Adolph Joachim Sabath (born April 4, 1866 in Záboří , Bohemia , † November 6, 1952 in Bethesda , Maryland ) was an American lawyer and Democratic Party politician who represented the state of Illinois in the US House of Representatives for more than 45 years . With a term of office of 18 years, seven months and five days, he held the position of Dean of the US House of Representatives for the longest time .

Life

Sabath grew up as one of eleven children of Joachim Sabath and his wife Barbara, née Eissenschimmelová, in southern Bohemia. After attending schools in his birthplace, he immigrated to the USA alone in 1881 and lived with close relatives in Chicago . He financed his studies with odd jobs as a messenger and seller, later as a real estate agent. At the same time, he saved up to finance his family's trip to America. In 1885 he graduated from Bryant and Stratton College. He then studied at the Chicago College of Law, then at the Law School of Lake Forest College , graduating in 1891 with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.). After being admitted to the bar, he took up a position as a lawyer in Chicago in 1892.

In addition, he began his political career in the Democratic Party and was from 1890 until his death in 1952 a delegate at all Democratic Conventions in Illinois and from 1896 to 1944 at all Democratic National Conventions . He was also involved in local politics from 1892 to 1944, both as a member of a district council and as head of a district in Chicago. In 1895 he was appointed justice of the peace in Chicago. Then he was from 1897 to 1906 police magistrate ( Police Magistrate ).

In 1906 he was elected to the US House of Representatives for the first time and represented the interests of the fifth congressional electoral district of Illinois for more than 45 years until his death after 23 consecutive re-elections from March 4, 1907 to November 6, 1952 . Between 1909 and 1920 he was also a member of the Central Committee and the Executive Committee of the Democratic Party.

During his long term membership in parliament he was chairman of the US House Committee on Alcohol Liquor Traffic from March 1913 to March 1918 and one of its most bitter opponents during the subsequent period of Prohibition in the United States . During the First World War he was one of the supporters of the plans for a Czechoslovak state and in May 1917 brought a resolution in Congress to grant the Czechoslovak people the right to freedom and independence. Sabath prepared the reception of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk in Washington by 27 members of Congress in May 1918.

On New Year's Eve 1917 he married Mae Ruth Fuerst. After the death of Edward W. Pou on April 1, 1934, he was the longest serving Congressman Dean of the House . In the 1930s he was a staunch supporter of New Deal policies during the tenure of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt .

In March 1939, Sabath, who was a staunch supporter of the war against the Third Reich in World War II , became chairman of the influential US House Committee on Rules and held that office until March 1946. Between March 1949 and November 1952 he was chairman again of the Rules of Procedure committee.

After his death, Sabath was buried in the German Waldheim Cemetery in Forest Park . Successor as Dean of the House was Robert L. Doughton after his death . With a term of office of 18 years, seven months and five days, Sabath held the position of Dean of the US House of Representatives for the longest time .

Background literature

• Burton A. Boxerman: Adolph Joachim Sabath in Congress: The Early Years, 1907-1932 . In: Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society , Fall 1973, pp. 327-340
• ders .: Adolph Joachim Sabath in Congress: The Roosevelt and Truman Years . In: Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society , Winter 1973, 428-443

Web links

Commons : Adolph J. Sabath  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Adolph J. Sabath in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• Biography on synagoga.obec-slatina.eu