David W. Dennis
Encyclopedia
David Worth Dennis II (June 7, 1912 – January 6, 1999) was an attorney and Republican United States Representative from Indiana
.
He was born in Washington, D.C.
and was named for his grandfather, David Worth Dennis who had been a professor at Earlham College
in Richmond, Indiana
. His father, William Cullen Dennis was president of Earlham College. He graduated from Sidwell Friends School
in 1929 and earned an A.B. degree from Earlham College in 1933. He also received an LL.B. (now J.D.) from Harvard Law School
in 1936. He was admitted to the bar in 1935 and commenced practice in Richmond, Indiana in 1936.
Dennis served as the prosecuting attorney for Wayne County, Indiana
from 1939-1943. He enlisted in the United States Army
and served from 1944-1946. He was commissioned a first lieutenant, JAG
department, and served in the Pacific Theater. He was elected state representative from Wayne County to the Indiana General Assembly
and served 1947-1949. He was also a joint State representative from Wayne and Union Counties from 1953 to 1959.
He was elected as a Republican
to the Ninety-first Congress and reelected twice (January 3, 1969 - January 3, 1975). Dennis was a staunch defender of President Richard M. Nixon during the Watergate scandal
.
As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, Dennis was in the minority voting to oppose impeachment of the president in 1974. He was defeated for reelection that same year. He resumed the practice of law until his death in Richmond in 1999.
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
He was born in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and was named for his grandfather, David Worth Dennis who had been a professor at Earlham College
Earlham College
Earlham College is a liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana. It was founded in 1847 by Quakers and has approximately 1,200 students.The president is John David Dawson...
in Richmond, Indiana
Richmond, Indiana
Richmond is a city largely within Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, United States, which borders Ohio. The city also includes the Richmond Municipal Airport, which is in Boston Township and separated from the rest of the city...
. His father, William Cullen Dennis was president of Earlham College. He graduated from Sidwell Friends School
Sidwell Friends School
Sidwell Friends School is a Quaker private school located in Bethesda, Maryland and Washington, D.C., offering pre-kindergarten through secondary school classes. Founded in 1883 by Thomas Sidwell, its motto is "Eluceat omnibus lux" , alluding to the Quaker concept of inner light...
in 1929 and earned an A.B. degree from Earlham College in 1933. He also received an LL.B. (now J.D.) from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1936. He was admitted to the bar in 1935 and commenced practice in Richmond, Indiana in 1936.
Dennis served as the prosecuting attorney for Wayne County, Indiana
Wayne County, Indiana
Wayne County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,917. The county seat is Richmond.-History:...
from 1939-1943. He enlisted 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...
and served from 1944-1946. He was commissioned a first lieutenant, JAG
JAG
JAG is an American adventure/legal drama television show that was produced by Belisarius Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television and, for the first season only, NBC Productions...
department, and served in the Pacific Theater. He was elected state representative from Wayne County to the Indiana General Assembly
Indiana General Assembly
The Indiana General Assembly is the state legislature, or legislative branch, of the state of Indiana. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the Indiana House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Indiana Senate...
and served 1947-1949. He was also a joint State representative from Wayne and Union Counties from 1953 to 1959.
He was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Ninety-first Congress and reelected twice (January 3, 1969 - January 3, 1975). Dennis was a staunch defender of President Richard M. Nixon during the Watergate scandal
Watergate scandal
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement...
.
As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, Dennis was in the minority voting to oppose impeachment of the president in 1974. He was defeated for reelection that same year. He resumed the practice of law until his death in Richmond in 1999.