Frank W. Boykin
Encyclopedia
Frank William Boykin, Sr. (February 21, 1885, in Bladon Springs, Alabama
– March 12, 1969, in Washington, D.C.
) served as a Democratic
Congressman
in Alabama's 1st congressional district
from 1935-1963.
Boykin had little formal education, but became a successful businessman with interests in lumber and turpentine. During World War I
, he was an executive with several shipbuilding companies. He was one of the more prominent defendants in Mobile's whiskey trials of 1924 and 1925.
In 1935, he was elected to Congress from the Mobile
-based 1st District following John McDuffie
's appointment to a federal judgeship. He hadn't voted in any election himself since the 1920s, and had to pay 14 years' worth of back poll tax
es to cast a vote for himself. He won the seat in his own right in 1936 and was reelected 12 more times. He was chairman of the House Patents Committee from 1943 to 1947. He ran in a special election for the United States Senate
in 1946, but finished a distant third.
Boykin was considered a mediocre congressman. Although his seniority allowed him to steer millions of federal dollars to his district, he was known for missing roll call votes more often than any other member of the state's congressional delegation.
Although Boykin was an ardent supporter of racial segregation
(as were most Alabama politicians of the time), he had a reputation for helping black constituents even if they couldn't vote. He had a particularly warm relationship with Alex Herman, the father of Bill Clinton
's Secretary of Labor
, Alexis Herman
. For example, he encouraged Herman to deliver black votes in the Mobile area to Senator
Lister Hill during Hill's contentious 1962 election. It is believed that Hill's 6,000-vote margin of victory in that election was due mostly to heavy black turnout in Mobile.
He lost his seat when Alabama's congressional delegation was cut from nine to eight members after the 1960 United States Census
. The state legislature couldn't agree on which district to eliminate, so all nine incumbents ran against each other in an unusual statewide election. The last-place finisher would be dropped, while the eight survivors would become at-large congressmen. Boykin finished last, trailing the eighth-place finisher, Kenneth A. Roberts
of the 4th District, by 100,000 votes. He even lost Mobile, which came as a particular embarrassment.
Boykin was convicted of bribery, but pardoned by President Johnson
in 1964, at the request of departing Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy
.
Boykin was married to Ocllo Gunn Boykin for almost 56 years, even though he frequently cheated on her--something about which he openly bragged in the House cloakroom. According to one of his sons, Ocllo knew all along about her husband's numerous affairs.
Boykin died in Washington, D.C. but is interred in Pine Crest Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama
.
Bladon Springs State Park
Bladon Springs State Park is a state park in Bladon Springs, Choctaw County, Alabama, centered around four mineral springs. Park facilities include campsites, shelters, tables, and grills.-History:...
– March 12, 1969, 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....
) served as a 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...
Congressman
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in Alabama's 1st congressional district
Alabama's 1st congressional district
Alabama's 1st congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It includes the counties of Washington, Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia and Monroe counties...
from 1935-1963.
Boykin had little formal education, but became a successful businessman with interests in lumber and turpentine. During 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...
, he was an executive with several shipbuilding companies. He was one of the more prominent defendants in Mobile's whiskey trials of 1924 and 1925.
In 1935, he was elected to Congress from the Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
-based 1st District following John McDuffie
John McDuffie
John McDuffie was born in River Ridge, Alabama in Monroe County on September 25, 1883. He was educated by private tutors. He attended college at Southern University in Greensboro. He later attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute in Auburn, Alabama, where he in graduated in 1904...
's appointment to a federal judgeship. He hadn't voted in any election himself since the 1920s, and had to pay 14 years' worth of back poll tax
Poll tax
A poll tax is a tax of a portioned, fixed amount per individual in accordance with the census . When a corvée is commuted for cash payment, in effect it becomes a poll tax...
es to cast a vote for himself. He won the seat in his own right in 1936 and was reelected 12 more times. He was chairman of the House Patents Committee from 1943 to 1947. He ran in a special election for 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...
in 1946, but finished a distant third.
Boykin was considered a mediocre congressman. Although his seniority allowed him to steer millions of federal dollars to his district, he was known for missing roll call votes more often than any other member of the state's congressional delegation.
Although Boykin was an ardent supporter of racial segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
(as were most Alabama politicians of the time), he had a reputation for helping black constituents even if they couldn't vote. He had a particularly warm relationship with Alex Herman, the father of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
's Secretary of Labor
United States Secretary of Labor
The United States Secretary of Labor is the head of the Department of Labor who exercises control over the department and enforces and suggests laws involving unions, the workplace, and all other issues involving any form of business-person controversies....
, Alexis Herman
Alexis Herman
Alexis Margaret Herman was the 23rd U.S. Secretary of Labor, serving under President Bill Clinton. Prior to her appointment, she was Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.-Background:The daughter of politician Alex Herman and schoolteacher Gloria...
. For example, he encouraged Herman to deliver black votes in the Mobile area to 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...
Lister Hill during Hill's contentious 1962 election. It is believed that Hill's 6,000-vote margin of victory in that election was due mostly to heavy black turnout in Mobile.
He lost his seat when Alabama's congressional delegation was cut from nine to eight members after the 1960 United States Census
United States Census
The United States Census is a decennial census mandated by the United States Constitution. The population is enumerated every 10 years and the results are used to allocate Congressional seats , electoral votes, and government program funding. The United States Census Bureau The United States Census...
. The state legislature couldn't agree on which district to eliminate, so all nine incumbents ran against each other in an unusual statewide election. The last-place finisher would be dropped, while the eight survivors would become at-large congressmen. Boykin finished last, trailing the eighth-place finisher, Kenneth A. Roberts
Kenneth A. Roberts
Kenneth Allison Roberts was a U.S. Representative from Alabama.Born in Piedmont, Alabama, Roberts attended the public schools and Howard College, Birmingham, Alabama. He was graduated from the University of Alabama Law School in 1935 and admitted to the bar in 1936...
of the 4th District, by 100,000 votes. He even lost Mobile, which came as a particular embarrassment.
Boykin was convicted of bribery, but pardoned by President Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
in 1964, at the request of departing Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
.
Boykin was married to Ocllo Gunn Boykin for almost 56 years, even though he frequently cheated on her--something about which he openly bragged in the House cloakroom. According to one of his sons, Ocllo knew all along about her husband's numerous affairs.
Boykin died in Washington, D.C. but is interred in Pine Crest Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
.