Charles H. Wilson
Encyclopedia
Charles Herbert Wilson (February 15, 1917 – July 21, 1984) was a California
Democratic
politician
from the Los Angeles
area. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from 1963 to 1981.
, and moved with his parents in 1922 to Los Angeles, California
. He attended public schools in Los Angeles and Inglewood
, where he was later an employee at a bank, from 1935 to 1942.
Wilson served as a Staff Sergeant
in the United States Army
from June 1942 to December 1945, where he gained experience overseas in the European Theater of Operations
. He returned home and in 1945 opened his own insurance agency in Los Angeles.
Wilson served as a member of the California State Assembly
from the 66th District from 1954-1962.
He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives
, where he served from January 3, 1963, to January 3, 1981. On June 10, 1980, Wilson was censured by the House of Representatives, for financial misconduct stemming from the Koreagate
scandal. Wilson was defeated in the 1980 primary election
for the Democratic Party
nomination to the Ninety-seventh Congress, when he was defeated by former California Lieutenant Governor
Mervyn M. Dymally
. Wilson is, to date, the last white Congressman to represent the 31st District. This loss was due in part due to the vote of censure by the House of Representatives.
, on July 21, 1984. He is interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery
, in Inglewood, California
.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area. He served as a member of the U.S. 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...
from 1963 to 1981.
Early life
Wilson was born in Magna, UtahMagna, Utah
Magna is a census-designated place and township in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. The population was 26,505 at the 2010 census, a moderate increase over the 2000 figure of 22,770...
, and moved with his parents in 1922 to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He attended public schools in Los Angeles and Inglewood
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
, where he was later an employee at a bank, from 1935 to 1942.
Wilson served as a Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from June 1942 to December 1945, where he gained experience overseas in the European Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
. He returned home and in 1945 opened his own insurance agency in Los Angeles.
Political career
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
from the 66th District from 1954-1962.
He was elected as a Democrat to 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...
, where he served from January 3, 1963, to January 3, 1981. On June 10, 1980, Wilson was censured by the House of Representatives, for financial misconduct stemming from the Koreagate
Koreagate
"Koreagate" was an American political scandal in 1976 involving South Korean political figures seeking influence from 10 Democratic members of Congress. An immediate goal of the scandal seems to have been reversing President Richard Nixon's decision to withdraw troops from South Korea...
scandal. Wilson was defeated in the 1980 primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
for the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nomination to the Ninety-seventh Congress, when he was defeated by former California Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of California
The Lieutenant Governor of California is a statewide constitutional officer elected separately from the Governor who serves as the "vice-executive" of California. The Lieutenant Governor of California is elected to serve a four year term and can serve a maximum of two terms...
Mervyn M. Dymally
Mervyn M. Dymally
Mervyn Malcolm Dymally is a California Democratic politician of mixed Indian and Afro-Trinidadian heritage. He served in the California State Assembly and the California State Senate , as the 41st Lieutenant Governor of California , and in the U.S. House of Representatives...
. Wilson is, to date, the last white Congressman to represent the 31st District. This loss was due in part due to the vote of censure by the House of Representatives.
Death
Wilson resided in Tantallon, Maryland, towards the end of his life, and died in Clinton, MarylandClinton, Maryland
Clinton is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Clinton was formerly known as Surrattsville until after the time of the American Civil War. The population of Clinton was 26,064 at the 2000 census. However, as of 2007, there is an...
, on July 21, 1984. He is interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery
Inglewood Park Cemetery
Inglewood Park Cemetery was founded in 1905 in Inglewood, California. A number of notable people, including entertainment and sports personalities, have been interred or entombed here.-List of notable and celebrity interments at Inglewood Park:...
, in Inglewood, California
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
.
See also
- Unification Church