A. S. J. Carnahan
Encyclopedia
Albert Sidney Johnson Carnahan (January 9, 1897-March 24, 1968) was an American
politician
. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives
for southeastern Missouri
for 14 years, as well as the first member of the Carnahan Family
to serve in public office.
, Missouri
, and attended public schools in Ellsinore and Cape Girardeau
, Missouri
. Carnahan entered the Navy
in 1918, serving for two years before returning home. He attended the Missouri State Teachers College in Cape Girardeau, now Southeast Missouri State University
where he has a building named in his honor which houses the school's Political Science department among others. Carnahan taught in southeastern Missouri
for several years before enrolling at the University of Missouri
in Columbia, Missouri
, from which he graduated in 1934. For the next several years, Carnahan was a high school administrator, rising to the post of superintendent of schools in Ellsinore.
as a Democrat. He served only one term before being defeated in 1946, but ran again in 1948 and won. Carnahan served in the House for six consecutive terms, but failed to win the Democratic Party's nomination for his own seat in 1960. In 1961, Carnahan was appointed by President John F. Kennedy
as the first United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone
; he retired from this post in 1963. Carnahan died at the Mayo Clinic
in Rochester
, Minnesota
in 1968.
, who went on to become the Governor of Missouri from 1993 to 2000; his daughter-in-law (Mel's wife) was appointed a United States Senator following Mel's death just before his election to that body. His grandson Russ Carnahan
is now a Congressman, and his granddaughter Robin Carnahan
is Missouri Secretary of State
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for southeastern Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
for 14 years, as well as the first member of the Carnahan Family
Carnahan Family
The Carnahan Family is a prominent political family from Missouri. Members of the family have served in the United States House of Representatives, in the United States Senate and in various state offices in Missouri. Notable members of the family include:...
to serve in public office.
Early life
Carnahan was born near EllsinoreEllsinore, Missouri
Ellsinore is a city in Carter County, Missouri, United States. The population was 363 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ellsinore is located at ....
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, and attended public schools in Ellsinore and Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Cape Girardeau is a city located in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located approximately southeast of St. Louis and north of Memphis. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 37,941. A college town, it is the home of Southeast Missouri...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. Carnahan entered the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in 1918, serving for two years before returning home. He attended the Missouri State Teachers College in Cape Girardeau, now Southeast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University, is a public, accredited university located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States, near the banks of the Mississippi River. The institution, having started as a normal school, has a traditional strength in teacher education...
where he has a building named in his honor which houses the school's Political Science department among others. Carnahan taught in southeastern Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
for several years before enrolling at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
, from which he graduated in 1934. For the next several years, Carnahan was a high school administrator, rising to the post of superintendent of schools in Ellsinore.
Political career
In 1944, Carnahan was elected to the House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as a Democrat. He served only one term before being defeated in 1946, but ran again in 1948 and won. Carnahan served in the House for six consecutive terms, but failed to win the Democratic Party's nomination for his own seat in 1960. In 1961, Carnahan was appointed by President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
as the first United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone
United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone
The United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone is the official representative of the government of the United States to the government of Sierra Leone.-Ambassadors:*Herbert Reiner – Career FSO**Title: Chargé d'Affaires ad interim**Appointed: April 27, 1961...
; he retired from this post in 1963. Carnahan died at the Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
in Rochester
Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
, 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 1968.
Family legacy
A.S.J. Carnahan was the first of three generations of the family to serve in public office, and the Carnahans have become one of the best known and most enduring families in Missouri politics. He was the father of Mel CarnahanMel Carnahan
Melvin Eugene "Mel" Carnahan was an American politician. A Democrat, he served as the 51st Governor of Missouri from 1993 to 2000. He died in a plane crash on the Pevely and Hillsboro, Missouri border during a campaign for the U.S...
, who went on to become the Governor of Missouri from 1993 to 2000; his daughter-in-law (Mel's wife) was appointed a United States Senator following Mel's death just before his election to that body. His grandson Russ Carnahan
Russ Carnahan
John Russell "Russ" Carnahan is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes the southern third of the city of St. Louis and most of the southern St. Louis suburbs including most of Jefferson County and all of Ste. Genevieve County...
is now a Congressman, and his granddaughter Robin Carnahan
Robin Carnahan
Robin Carnahan is an American politician, daughter of Missouri politicians Mel and Jean Carnahan and the current Missouri Secretary of State. She is a member of the Democratic Party and was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2010, to replace retiring Republican Sen...
is Missouri Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
.