Frank Carlson
Encyclopedia
Frank Carlson was an American
politician
who served as the 30th Governor of Kansas
and United States Representative
and United States Senator
from Kansas
.
, he attended public schools and Kansas State University
before serving in World War I
as a Private. After the war, he returned to Concordia to farm. He was elected as a Republican
to first the Kansas House of Representatives
then to the United States House of Representatives
where he served from 1935 to 1947.
In 1946 he was elected governor of Kansas. As governor, he pushed mental health
programs as well as a long-term highway project. In 1949, Kansas senator Clyde M. Reed
died, and Carlson appointed Harry Darby
to fill the seat. Darby continued his service in the Senate until Carlson himself was elected to fill the seat in 1950. Instead of waiting until January to be sworn in, he took his seat on November 28, 1950 (it is very common for someone who is elected to a Senate seat that is at the time occupied by an unelected appointee to be sworn in early), leaving the office of governor to Frank L. Hagaman
who served less than two months.
In 1952, he campaigned to get fellow Kansan Dwight D. Eisenhower
into the White House
, and then brokered a deal through Ohio Senator Robert Taft
, known as "Mr. Republican", and became majority leader. According to Billy Graham
's biography Just As I Am, Carlson invited Eisenhower to the Senate Prayer Breakfast, which thus became the first Presidential Prayer Breakfast, thereafter an annual assembly of all three branches of government, continuing to this day. Carlson was re-elected twice, in 1956 and 1962, before returning to Concordia for retirement.
Carlson died in 1987 in Concordia and was buried there in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. The federal court building in Topeka is named in his honor, US 81 from the Nebraska
state line north of Belleville
to Salina
is named the "Frank Carlson Memorial Highway", the Frank Carlson Library
in Concordia is named in his honor, and Wichita State University
hosts the Frank Carlson Lecture Series. Carlson is the only Governor of Kansas to have served in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate.
Senator Carlson served a term as president of the United States Senate Prayer Breakfast Group. He was therein featured by U.S. News and World Report on July 1, 1968 by editor, David Lawrence, for his strong moral and spiritual influence in the nation's capital. He was also a member of the board of directors of World Vision
.
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...
who served as the 30th Governor of Kansas
Governor of Kansas
The Governor of the State of Kansas is the head of state for the State of Kansas, United States. Under the Kansas Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Kansas executive branch, of the government of Kansas. The Governor is the...
and United States Representative
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 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 Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
.
Biography
Born in 1893 near Concordia, KansasConcordia, Kansas
Concordia is a city in and the county seat of Cloud County, Kansas, United States. Located on the Republican River in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains, Concordia was founded in 1871 and is an economic and cultural center in north-central Kansas...
, he attended public schools and Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
before serving in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as a Private. After the war, he returned to Concordia to farm. 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 first the Kansas House of Representatives
Kansas House of Representatives
The Kansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kansas Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. State of Kansas. Composed of 125 state representatives from districts with roughly equal populations of at least 19,000, its members are responsible for crafting and voting on...
then 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 1935 to 1947.
In 1946 he was elected governor of Kansas. As governor, he pushed mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
programs as well as a long-term highway project. In 1949, Kansas senator Clyde M. Reed
Clyde M. Reed
Clyde Martin Reed was an American politician from Kansas who served as both the 24th Governor of Kansas and U.S. Senator from that state....
died, and Carlson appointed Harry Darby
Harry Darby
Harry Darby was an American politician from Kansas.Born in Kansas City, Kansas, he graduated from the University of Illinois, and served in the United States Army during the World War I, rising to the rank of captain...
to fill the seat. Darby continued his service in the Senate until Carlson himself was elected to fill the seat in 1950. Instead of waiting until January to be sworn in, he took his seat on November 28, 1950 (it is very common for someone who is elected to a Senate seat that is at the time occupied by an unelected appointee to be sworn in early), leaving the office of governor to Frank L. Hagaman
Frank L. Hagaman
Frank Leslie Hagaman was an American lawyer and politician. He served as Lieutenant Governor and later as the 31st Governor of Kansas.-Early life:...
who served less than two months.
In 1952, he campaigned to get fellow Kansan Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
into the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, and then brokered a deal through Ohio Senator Robert Taft
Robert Taft
Robert Alphonso Taft , of the Taft political family of Cincinnati, was a Republican United States Senator and a prominent conservative statesman...
, known as "Mr. Republican", and became majority leader. According to Billy Graham
Billy Graham
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
's biography Just As I Am, Carlson invited Eisenhower to the Senate Prayer Breakfast, which thus became the first Presidential Prayer Breakfast, thereafter an annual assembly of all three branches of government, continuing to this day. Carlson was re-elected twice, in 1956 and 1962, before returning to Concordia for retirement.
Carlson died in 1987 in Concordia and was buried there in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. The federal court building in Topeka is named in his honor, US 81 from the Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
state line north of Belleville
Belleville, Kansas
Belleville is a city in and the county seat of Republic County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,991.-Geography:Belleville is located at...
to Salina
Salina, Kansas
Salina is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 47,707. Located in one of the world's largest wheat-producing areas, Salina is a regional trade center for north-central Kansas...
is named the "Frank Carlson Memorial Highway", the Frank Carlson Library
Frank Carlson Library
The Frank Carlson Library is a public library in Concordia, Kansas. The library is named for former Governor of Kansas, Congressman, and Senator Frank Carlson, a long-time resident of Concordia. The library was constructed in 1976.-Special items:...
in Concordia is named in his honor, and Wichita State University
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
hosts the Frank Carlson Lecture Series. Carlson is the only Governor of Kansas to have served in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate.
Senator Carlson served a term as president of the United States Senate Prayer Breakfast Group. He was therein featured by U.S. News and World Report on July 1, 1968 by editor, David Lawrence, for his strong moral and spiritual influence in the nation's capital. He was also a member of the board of directors of World Vision
World Vision
World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...
.