Glen H. Taylor
Encyclopedia
Glen Hearst Taylor was an American
politician
, businessman and United States Senator
from Idaho
. He was the vice presidential candidate on the Progressive Party
ticket in the 1948 election. Taylor was otherwise a member of the Idaho Democratic Party
. By one measure Taylor was determined to be the second most liberal member of the United States Senate since World War II (trailing only Wayne Morse
of Oregon
), and the fourth most liberal member of Congress overall during the same period.
near Kooskia, Idaho
, as a child and attended the public schools. In 1919, he joined a stock theater company. Between 1926 and 1944, he became the owner and manager of various entertainment enterprises. Taylor was also a country-western singer; his older sister, Lena, became famous as a jazz singer under the name Lee Morse
in the 1920s.
He was inspired by King C. Gillette
's book The People's Corporation.
, but lost to John W. Thomas
with 47.1% to Thomas's 52.9%. He ran again in 1942 against Thomas and lost a close race, 48.5% to 51.5%.
Taylor ran for the Senate for a third time in 1944, defeating incumbent D. Worth Clark
in the Democratic primary and Governor C. A. Bottolfsen
in the general election.
On election night in 1946, Glen Taylor made national headlines by allegedly breaking the jaw of a local Republican leader, Ray McKaig. Taylor claimed that McKaig had called him an obscene name, and struck him first with a punch that broke his nose, but McKaig denied those claims. McKaig claimed that while he was lying on the floor Taylor proceeded to kick him, but Taylor denied that claim. Later when Taylor lost his next Senatorial race, McKaig sent a telegram that said "you may have broken my jaw, but I just broke your back!!!"
In July 1947, Taylor was asked by a United Press reporter what he thought about reports that remnants of a UFO had been found by the Air Force near Roswell, N.M. Taylor replied that he almost hoped flying saucers would turn out to be spaceships from another planet. "They could end our petty arguments on earth." He went on to say that no matter what the UFOs turned out to be, they "can't be laughed off."
"Even if it is only a psychological phenomenon, it is a sign of what the world is coming to," Taylor explained. "If we don't ease the tensions, the whole world will be full of psychological cases and eventually turn into a global nuthouse."
In 1948 Taylor was the vice presidential candidate on the Progressive ticket headed by former Vice President Henry A. Wallace
of Iowa
. The Wallace/Taylor ticket failed to carry any states and won only 2.4% of the nationwide popular vote.
Taylor was arrested on May 1, 1948, in Birmingham, Alabama
by police commissioner Eugene "Bull" Connor, for attempting to use a door reserved for African Americans, rather than the whites-only door, while attempting to attend a meeting of the Southern Negro Youth Congress
. He was subsequently convicted of disorderly conduct.
In 1950 Taylor ran for the Senate again but was defeated in the Democratic primary by Clark, who in turn lost in the general election to Republican Herman Welker
.
Taylor served as president of Coryell Construction Co. from 1950 to 1952. He ran again for the Senate in 1954 but was decisively beaten by Republican incumbent Henry Dworshak
, winning only 37.2% of the vote. His sixth and final Senate attempt came in 1956; he narrowly lost the Democratic primary to Frank Church
and then got 5.1% of the vote in the general election as a write-in candidate.
s in the United States. Taylor told the Washington Post in 1978 that it was something he was very familiar with. "I was 18, a juvenile leading man in a traveling show, and my hair had begun to fall out. There isn't much demand for bald juvenile leading men, and I tried everything - sheep dip, what have you - and that just made it fall out faster."
Taylor explained that he had run for Congress without the hairpiece and found that voters "didn't have much use for bald politicians", but "I ran the fourth time with it and won." His original toupee was made from a tin pie plate, which he lined with pink felt and swatches of human hair.
Glen and Dora Taylor were successful manufacturing hair pieces, and Taylor Toppers became famous.
They had a son born sometime between 1941-44. His name was AROD - Dora spelled backward.
When Senator Taylor moved to Washington, his family had a difficult time finding a place to live. Taylor stood outside and sang O GIVE US A HOME, NEAR THE CAPITAL DOME, WITH A YARD FOR TWO CHILDREN TO PLAY to the tune of Home, Home, on the Range. He and his family were offered several places to rent.
He is interred at Skylawn Memorial Park
in San Mateo, California
.
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...
, businessman 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 Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. He was the vice presidential candidate on the Progressive Party
Progressive Party (United States, 1948)
The United States Progressive Party of 1948 was a left-wing political party that ran former Vice President Henry A. Wallace of Iowa for president and U.S. Senator Glen H. Taylor of Idaho for vice president in 1948.-Foundation:...
ticket in the 1948 election. Taylor was otherwise a member of the Idaho Democratic Party
Idaho Democratic Party
The Idaho Democratic Party is an Idaho political party affiliated with the United States Democratic Party. Although the party has been in the minority for most of the state's history, it has produced several notable public figures, including the late U.S...
. By one measure Taylor was determined to be the second most liberal member of the United States Senate since World War II (trailing only Wayne Morse
Wayne Morse
Wayne Lyman Morse was a politician and attorney from Oregon, United States, known for his proclivity for opposing his parties' leadership, and specifically for his opposition to the Vietnam War on constitutional grounds....
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
), and the fourth most liberal member of Congress overall during the same period.
Early life
Taylor was the son of a wandering preacher. He moved to a homesteadHomestead (buildings)
A homestead is either a single building, or collection of buildings grouped together on a large agricultural holding, such as a ranch, station or a large agricultural operation of some other designation.-See also:* Farm house* Homestead Act...
near Kooskia, Idaho
Kooskia, Idaho
Kooskia is a city in Idaho County, Idaho, United States. The population was 675 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kooskia is located at ....
, as a child and attended the public schools. In 1919, he joined a stock theater company. Between 1926 and 1944, he became the owner and manager of various entertainment enterprises. Taylor was also a country-western singer; his older sister, Lena, became famous as a jazz singer under the name Lee Morse
Lee Morse
Lee Morse was an US jazz and blues singer and songwriter whose most popular years were in the 1920s and early 1930s, although her career began around 1917 and continued until her death in 1954...
in the 1920s.
He was inspired by King C. Gillette
King C. Gillette
King Camp Gillette was an American businessman popularly known as the inventor of the safety razor, although several models were in existence prior to Gillette's design...
's book The People's Corporation.
Political career
He ran for the Senate in 1940 in a special election to fill the remaining term of the late William E. BorahWilliam Edgar Borah
William Edgar Borah was a prominent Republican attorney and longtime United States Senator from Idaho noted for his oratorical skills and isolationist views. One of his nicknames later in life was "The Lion of Idaho."...
, but lost to John W. Thomas
John W. Thomas
John W. Thomas was an American Politician. A Republican, he served on two occasions as a United States Senator from Idaho, both times appointed after his predecessor died in office.-Early life:...
with 47.1% to Thomas's 52.9%. He ran again in 1942 against Thomas and lost a close race, 48.5% to 51.5%.
Taylor ran for the Senate for a third time in 1944, defeating incumbent D. Worth Clark
David Worth Clark
David Worth Clark aka D. Worth Clark was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate representing Idaho....
in the Democratic primary and Governor C. A. Bottolfsen
C. A. Bottolfsen
Clarence Alfred Bottolfsen was a politician from Idaho. He served as the 17th and 19th Governor of Idaho from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1943 to 1945. He was a member of the Idaho Republican Party....
in the general election.
On election night in 1946, Glen Taylor made national headlines by allegedly breaking the jaw of a local Republican leader, Ray McKaig. Taylor claimed that McKaig had called him an obscene name, and struck him first with a punch that broke his nose, but McKaig denied those claims. McKaig claimed that while he was lying on the floor Taylor proceeded to kick him, but Taylor denied that claim. Later when Taylor lost his next Senatorial race, McKaig sent a telegram that said "you may have broken my jaw, but I just broke your back!!!"
In July 1947, Taylor was asked by a United Press reporter what he thought about reports that remnants of a UFO had been found by the Air Force near Roswell, N.M. Taylor replied that he almost hoped flying saucers would turn out to be spaceships from another planet. "They could end our petty arguments on earth." He went on to say that no matter what the UFOs turned out to be, they "can't be laughed off."
"Even if it is only a psychological phenomenon, it is a sign of what the world is coming to," Taylor explained. "If we don't ease the tensions, the whole world will be full of psychological cases and eventually turn into a global nuthouse."
In 1948 Taylor was the vice presidential candidate on the Progressive ticket headed by former Vice President Henry A. Wallace
Henry A. Wallace
Henry Agard Wallace was the 33rd Vice President of the United States , the Secretary of Agriculture , and the Secretary of Commerce . In the 1948 presidential election, Wallace was the nominee of the Progressive Party.-Early life:Henry A...
of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. The Wallace/Taylor ticket failed to carry any states and won only 2.4% of the nationwide popular vote.
Taylor was arrested on May 1, 1948, in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
by police commissioner Eugene "Bull" Connor, for attempting to use a door reserved for African Americans, rather than the whites-only door, while attempting to attend a meeting of the Southern Negro Youth Congress
Southern Negro Youth Congress
The Southern Negro Youth Congress was established in 1937 at a conference in Richmond, Virginia. The first gathering of the Southern Negro Youth Congress consisted of a wide range of individuals...
. He was subsequently convicted of disorderly conduct.
In 1950 Taylor ran for the Senate again but was defeated in the Democratic primary by Clark, who in turn lost in the general election to Republican Herman Welker
Herman Welker
Herman Welker was a politician from the state of Idaho. He was a member of the Idaho Republican Party.Welker was born in Cambridge, Idaho. He was the youngest of seven children of John and Zelda Welker, who had moved from North Carolina and started a potato farm. He is the grandson of of North...
.
Taylor served as president of Coryell Construction Co. from 1950 to 1952. He ran again for the Senate in 1954 but was decisively beaten by Republican incumbent Henry Dworshak
Henry Dworshak
Henry Clarence Dworshak was a Republican United States Representative and a United States Senator from Idaho....
, winning only 37.2% of the vote. His sixth and final Senate attempt came in 1956; he narrowly lost the Democratic primary to Frank Church
Frank Church
Frank Forrester Church III was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a United States Senator from Idaho from 1957 to 1981....
and then got 5.1% of the vote in the general election as a write-in candidate.
Later life
After his 1956 loss, Taylor and his wife, Dora, moved to Millbrae, California, and began making hairpieces by hand. By 1960, Taylor Topper Inc. had become the major manufacturer of hair replacementToupee
A toupée is a hairpiece or partial wig of natural or synthetic hair worn to cover partial baldness or for theatrical purposes. While toupées and hairpieces are typically associated with male wearers, some women also use hairpieces to lengthen existing hair, or cover partially exposed scalp...
s in the United States. Taylor told the Washington Post in 1978 that it was something he was very familiar with. "I was 18, a juvenile leading man in a traveling show, and my hair had begun to fall out. There isn't much demand for bald juvenile leading men, and I tried everything - sheep dip, what have you - and that just made it fall out faster."
Taylor explained that he had run for Congress without the hairpiece and found that voters "didn't have much use for bald politicians", but "I ran the fourth time with it and won." His original toupee was made from a tin pie plate, which he lined with pink felt and swatches of human hair.
Glen and Dora Taylor were successful manufacturing hair pieces, and Taylor Toppers became famous.
They had a son born sometime between 1941-44. His name was AROD - Dora spelled backward.
When Senator Taylor moved to Washington, his family had a difficult time finding a place to live. Taylor stood outside and sang O GIVE US A HOME, NEAR THE CAPITAL DOME, WITH A YARD FOR TWO CHILDREN TO PLAY to the tune of Home, Home, on the Range. He and his family were offered several places to rent.
He is interred at Skylawn Memorial Park
Skylawn Memorial Park (San Mateo, California)
Skylawn Memorial Park is a cemetery, mausoleum, crematorium, columbarium and funeral home complex in San Mateo, California, directly accessible from State Route 92. Interment records are at 1,308...
in San Mateo, California
San Mateo, California
San Mateo is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a population of approximately 100,000 , it is one of the larger suburbs on the San Francisco Peninsula, located between Burlingame to the north, Foster City to the east, Belmont to the south,...
.