Dennis Chavez
Encyclopedia
Dionisio "Dennis" Chavez (April 8, 1888 November 18, 1962) was a Democratic politician from the U.S.
State of New Mexico
who served in the United States House of Representatives
, and in the United States Senate
from 1935 to 1962.
, Valencia County
, New Mexico
. His parents, David and Paz Chavez, were members of families that had lived in Los Chaves for generations. In 1895, David Chavez moved his family to the Barelas
section of Albuquerque
where Dennis attended school until financial hardships necessitated that he work. His first job was delivering groceries at the Highland Grocery store. Later on, he studied engineering and surveying at night, and worked as an engineer for the City of Albuquerque for several years.
In 1911, Chavez married Imelda Espinosa, a member of a prominent New Mexico family. In 1914, they moved to Belen
. He worked briefly as editor of a Belen weekly newspaper, as a court interpreter, and as a private contractor until 1916, when he obtained temporary employment as a Spanish interpreter for Senator Andrieus A. Jones
' election campaign. In 1917, he was offered a position as assistant executive clerk of the Senate in Washington, D.C.
by Senator Jones. He accepted this position, passed a special admission exam at Georgetown University Law Center
and studied law at night. He graduated from Georgetown in 1920, and returned to Albuquerque to establish a law practice.
as a Democrat
, and was re-elected in 1932. Chavez served as chairman of the House Committee on Indian Affairs.
was the first Hispanic to be elected to the U.S. Senate, but he was only elected to a remainder of an unexpired term.) Chavez was re-elected in 1940, 1946, 1952, and 1958, and served till his death in 1962.
He was the first native-born Hispanic
elected to the U. S. Senate, and only the second Hispanic in its history. Chavez was a minority politician in the Senate. He was also the first person born in New Mexico elected by the state to the Senate. By a large margin, he is the longest serving Hispanic U.S. Senator.
He was honored by the United States Postal Service
with a 35¢ Great Americans series
(1980–2000) postage stamp
.
A granddaughter, Gloria Tristani
, followed in public service, serving as chair of the New Mexico State Corporations Commission in 1996, as a member of the Federal Communications Commission
from 1997 to 2001, and as the Democratic candidate to the United States Senate
seat from New Mexico in the 2002 elections.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
State of New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
who served in 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...
, and in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from 1935 to 1962.
Early life
Chavez was born in Los ChavesLos Chaves, New Mexico
Los Chavez is a census-designated place in Valencia County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 5,033 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Los Chavez is located at ....
, Valencia County
Valencia County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*73.2% White*1.4% Black*3.8% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*4.0% Two or more races*17.0% Other races*58.3% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. His parents, David and Paz Chavez, were members of families that had lived in Los Chaves for generations. In 1895, David Chavez moved his family to the Barelas
Barelas
Barelas is an inner-city neighborhood of Albuquerque, New Mexico, located immediately south of Downtown. It consists of the triangular area bounded by Coal Avenue, the BNSF railroad tracks, and the Rio Grande. Originally a separate village, it was absorbed into Albuquerque during the...
section of Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
where Dennis attended school until financial hardships necessitated that he work. His first job was delivering groceries at the Highland Grocery store. Later on, he studied engineering and surveying at night, and worked as an engineer for the City of Albuquerque for several years.
In 1911, Chavez married Imelda Espinosa, a member of a prominent New Mexico family. In 1914, they moved to Belen
Belen, New Mexico
Belen is a city in Valencia County, New Mexico, United States. Belen is Spanish for Bethlehem, and over time has gained the nickname "Hub City" because of the Belen Cutoff of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The Cutoff made it possible for many more trains to travel east and west across...
. He worked briefly as editor of a Belen weekly newspaper, as a court interpreter, and as a private contractor until 1916, when he obtained temporary employment as a Spanish interpreter for Senator Andrieus A. Jones
Andrieus A. Jones
Andrieus Aristieus Jones was a Democratic Party politician from New Mexico who represented the state in the United States Senate from 1917 until his death.-Biography:...
' election campaign. In 1917, he was offered a position as assistant executive clerk of the Senate 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....
by Senator Jones. He accepted this position, passed a special admission exam at Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
and studied law at night. He graduated from Georgetown in 1920, and returned to Albuquerque to establish a law practice.
Early political career
In 1922, Chavez was elected to the New Mexico state legislature, but he did not seek another term. In 1930, he was elected to New Mexico's one statewide seat in the United States 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
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...
, and was re-elected in 1932. Chavez served as chairman of the House Committee on Indian Affairs.
Senate career
Chavez was the Democratic Party nominee for U.S. Senator from New Mexico in 1934, a very close election he lost, but became the first person of Hispanic descent to be elected to an entire six year term as a U.S. Senator in 1940. (Octaviano LarrazoloOctaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo
Octavio Ambrosio Larrazolo served as the fourth Governor of New Mexico and a United States Senator. He was the first United States Senator of Mexican-American heritage....
was the first Hispanic to be elected to the U.S. Senate, but he was only elected to a remainder of an unexpired term.) Chavez was re-elected in 1940, 1946, 1952, and 1958, and served till his death in 1962.
Death
Chavez died of a heart attack on November 18, 1962 in Washington D.C., and was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Albuquerque. Congress honored his memory with a minute of silence, and then-Vice-President Lyndon Johnson spoke at his funeral. At the time of his death, he was fourth-ranking in Senate seniority.Legacy
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
elected to the U. S. Senate, and only the second Hispanic in its history. Chavez was a minority politician in the Senate. He was also the first person born in New Mexico elected by the state to the Senate. By a large margin, he is the longest serving Hispanic U.S. Senator.
He was honored by the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
with a 35¢ Great Americans series
Great Americans series
The Great Americans series is a set of definitive stamps issued by the United States Postal Service, starting on December 27, 1980 with the 19¢ stamp depicting Sequoyah, and continuing through 2002, the final stamp being the 78¢ Alice Paul self-adhesive stamp. The series, noted for its simplicity...
(1980–2000) postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
.
A granddaughter, Gloria Tristani
Gloria Tristani
Gloria Tristani served from 1997 to 2001 as the first Hispanic woman member of the Federal Communications Commission . Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, she is married to Judge Gerard W. Thomson and is the mother of Vanesa and Jorge. A graduate of Barnard College, she obtained her Juris...
, followed in public service, serving as chair of the New Mexico State Corporations Commission in 1996, as a member of the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
from 1997 to 2001, and as the Democratic candidate to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
seat from New Mexico in the 2002 elections.
External links
- The Dennis Chavez Foundation – Established in 1988
- Documentary Film About Dennis Chavez