Donald W. Stewart
Encyclopedia
Donald Wilbur Stewart is a former Democratic
United States Senator
from the state
of Alabama
.
Stewart was born in Anniston
, the seat of Calhoun County
, and attended the University of Alabama
both in undergraduate and in law
school. During his years in law school, he ran a successful campaign for SGA president, one of the few to have beaten the Machine
. He served in the United States Army
. Stewart was an United States Magistrate. Stewart then served in the Alabama House of Representatives
in 1970-1974 and in the Alabama State Senate 1974-1978.
He was elected as a Democrat to fill the unexpired U.S. Senate term of James B. Allen
, who died in office, and whose seat was held in the interim by Maryon Pittman Allen
. Stewart defeated Mrs. Allen in the primary and the Republican
nominee, former Congressman James Douglas Martin, in the general election
. He served in the Senate from November 8, 1978, to his resignation on January 2, 1981, one day before his term was to end. He lost his bid for reelection in 1980, when he was defeated in the Democratic primary by Governor
Jim Folsom, Jr.
Folsom in turn was defeated by Republican Jeremiah Denton
, a prisoner of war
in Vietnam
.
One of the key reasons for his defeat in his run for re-election was the support of his opponents by the wealthy Hunt family of Texas. Herbert and Bunker Hunt, the sons of Texas oilman H. L. Hunt
, had a personal animosity towards Stewart for his role in the Senate hearings concerning the Hunts' alleged "cornering" of the silver markets in the late 1970s.
He presently practices law in Alabama, including as lead attorney on a recent class action
lawsuit against agricultural biotech giant Monsanto Company for PCB dumping in his hometown of Anniston. The case garnered national attention, including coverage by 60 Minutes
. As of 2002, the company had paid out as much as $160 million against various plaintiffs in Alabama, including those represented by Stewart.
He also serves on the advisory board of the Blackburn Institute, to which he has reportedly contributed significant funds.
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...
United States Senator
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 the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.
Stewart was born in Anniston
Anniston, Alabama
Anniston is a city in Calhoun County in the state of Alabama, United States.As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 24,276. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 23,741...
, the seat of Calhoun County
Calhoun County, Alabama
Calhoun County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of John C. Calhoun, famous member of the United States Senate from South Carolina. As of 2010 the population was 118,572. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, and attended the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
both in undergraduate and in law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
school. During his years in law school, he ran a successful campaign for SGA president, one of the few to have beaten the Machine
The Machine
The Machine, the former Alpha Rho chapter of Theta Nu Epsilon at the University of Alabama, is a coalition of traditionally white fraternities and sororities which formed a secret society with some degree of influence over campus and Alabama state politics...
. He served 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...
. Stewart was an United States Magistrate. Stewart then served in the Alabama House of Representatives
Alabama House of Representatives
The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal amount of districts, with each constituency containing at least 42,380 citizens. There are no term...
in 1970-1974 and in the Alabama State Senate 1974-1978.
He was elected as a Democrat to fill the unexpired U.S. Senate term of James B. Allen
James Allen (United States)
James Browning Allen was a Democratic U.S. Senator from Alabama. Allen was born in Gadsden, Alabama and attended the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama Law School. While attending the University of Alabama he was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi...
, who died in office, and whose seat was held in the interim by Maryon Pittman Allen
Maryon Pittman Allen
Maryon Pittman Allen is a former United States Senator from Alabama.In 1978, she was appointed as a Democrat to the United States Senate by Governor George Wallace, to succeed her late husband, James Allen....
. Stewart defeated Mrs. Allen in the primary and the 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...
nominee, former Congressman James Douglas Martin, in the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
. He served in the Senate from November 8, 1978, to his resignation on January 2, 1981, one day before his term was to end. He lost his bid for reelection in 1980, when he was defeated in the Democratic primary by Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Jim Folsom, Jr.
Jim Folsom, Jr.
James Elisha Folsom, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who was the 50th Governor of Alabama from April 22, 1993 to January 16, 1995.-Early life and career:...
Folsom in turn was defeated by Republican Jeremiah Denton
Jeremiah Denton
Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr. is a retired United States Navy rear admiral, naval aviator and a former Republican U.S. senator, for the state of Alabama...
, a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
.
One of the key reasons for his defeat in his run for re-election was the support of his opponents by the wealthy Hunt family of Texas. Herbert and Bunker Hunt, the sons of Texas oilman H. L. Hunt
H. L. Hunt
Haroldson Lafayette Hunt, Jr. , known throughout his life as "H. L. Hunt," was a Texas oil tycoon and conservative activist. He built one of the world's largest fortunes by trading poker winnings for oil rights, ultimately securing title to much of the East Texas Oil Field, one of the world's very...
, had a personal animosity towards Stewart for his role in the Senate hearings concerning the Hunts' alleged "cornering" of the silver markets in the late 1970s.
He presently practices law in Alabama, including as lead attorney on a recent class action
Class action
In law, a class action, a class suit, or a representative action is a form of lawsuit in which a large group of people collectively bring a claim to court and/or in which a class of defendants is being sued...
lawsuit against agricultural biotech giant Monsanto Company for PCB dumping in his hometown of Anniston. The case garnered national attention, including coverage by 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
. As of 2002, the company had paid out as much as $160 million against various plaintiffs in Alabama, including those represented by Stewart.
He also serves on the advisory board of the Blackburn Institute, to which he has reportedly contributed significant funds.