Harley Orrin Staggers
Encyclopedia
Harley Orrin Staggers, Sr. (August 3, 1907 – August 20, 1991) was a Democratic
U.S. politician.
in 1931 and did graduate work at Duke University
.
Staggers served in the United States Navy
during World War II
. He was U.S. Representative from West Virginia
(2nd District) from 1949–1981, and served as Chairman of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. He was delegate to the Democratic National Convention
from West Virginia in 1960. He died on August 20, 1991.
could not block the New York Times from publishing the Pentagon Papers
. The next month, on July 12, 1971, Staggers ordered CBS News
to hand over film not used in the documentary, Selling of the Pentagon.
According to Staggers this was the only way to know if the documentary
had been accurately edited. The president of CBS News, Frank Stanton
, said he would go to jail before complying with Staggers' subpoena
s. The House supported Stanton and Staggers was forced to abandon his ultimatum.
of the railroads, such as allowing carriers to enter into contracts with shippers to set prices and services, without Interstate Commerce Commission
(ICC) approval. The Staggers Act is widely credited with freeing the industry from stagnation under an outdated regulatory structure, allowing it more freedom to compete with other modes of freight transportation such as trucking and air transport. Under the provisions of the Staggers Act, the former regulatory model which had contributed extensively to the massive financial failure of the Penn Central Railroad in the 1970s (which forced the creation of the money-losing Conrail) was largely rendered impotent. With new market freedoms, the Staggers Act led the railroad industry into a period of much greater stability and profitability, and in many cases, defied opponents predictions of higher shipping costs. Perhaps even to the amazement of supporters of the Staggers Act, Conrail became a profitable company, repaid its massive federal debts, and was soon a highly-desired acquisition target by other large railroad companies, with its lines eventually being sold at a premium to a combination of CSX Corporation
and Norfolk Southern interests, preserving competition even as this was accomplished.
Representative Staggers was also a strong supporter of the federally-created passenger railroad Amtrak
, which did not achieve the potential goal of self-sufficiency. However, creation of Amtrak freed the freight railroad industry from a massive burden of passenger service related-losses and helped preserve a national rail passenger system for the United States, providing some alternatives to an aging Interstate Highway System
.
The town and surviving family of Staggers honored him by naming the section of Water Street that runs beside New Creek, in front of the middle school and vocational center, and in front of the bridge to his residence,
Harley O. Staggers, Sr. Drive.
. His sons, Harley O. Staggers, Jr.
and Daniel Staggers practice law there. Harley, Jr. was also a Congressman from West Virginia before he lost his seat due to redistricting. Another daughter, Margaret Anne "Peggy" Staggers, from Beckley, West Virginia
, is a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
. Daughter Susan owned and managed two successful local businesses in Keyser until her and her husband's recent retirement. His daughter Ellen resides in Morgantown.
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...
U.S. politician.
Education
Staggers graduated from Emory and Henry CollegeEmory and Henry College
Emory & Henry College, known as E&H, Emory, or the College, is a private liberal arts college located in Emory, Virginia, United States. The campus comprises of Washington County, Virginia, which is part of the mountain region of Southwest Virginia...
in 1931 and did graduate work at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
.
Career
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was U.S. Representative from West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
(2nd District) from 1949–1981, and served as Chairman of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. He was delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
from West Virginia in 1960. He died on August 20, 1991.
First Amendment
On June 10, 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Nixon AdministrationRichard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
could not block the New York Times from publishing the Pentagon Papers
Pentagon Papers
The Pentagon Papers, officially titled United States – Vietnam Relations, 1945–1967: A Study Prepared by the Department of Defense, is a United States Department of Defense history of the United States' political-military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967...
. The next month, on July 12, 1971, Staggers ordered CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
to hand over film not used in the documentary, Selling of the Pentagon.
According to Staggers this was the only way to know if the documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
had been accurately edited. The president of CBS News, Frank Stanton
Frank Stanton
Frank Nicholas Stanton was an American broadcasting executive who served as the president of CBS between 1946 and 1971 and then vice chairman until 1973. He also served as the chairman of the Rand Corporation from 1961 until 1967.Along with William S. Paley, Stanton is credited with the...
, said he would go to jail before complying with Staggers' subpoena
Subpoena
A subpoena is a writ by a government agency, most often a court, that has authority to compel testimony by a witness or production of evidence under a penalty for failure. There are two common types of subpoena:...
s. The House supported Stanton and Staggers was forced to abandon his ultimatum.
Illegal Drugs in Sports
On May 11, 1973 the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce which was chaired by Staggers issued a press release http://reform.democrats.house.gov/documents/20050317132127-66425.pdf summarizing the results of an investigation that determined illegal drug use existed in all level of sports. The investigation also described the degree of use, including steroids and amphetamines, as alarming.Legacy
Nationally, his name is perhaps best known as for the federal Staggers Act of 1980, which allowed for enormous deregulationDeregulation
Deregulation is the removal or simplification of government rules and regulations that constrain the operation of market forces.Deregulation is the removal or simplification of government rules and regulations that constrain the operation of market forces.Deregulation is the removal or...
of the railroads, such as allowing carriers to enter into contracts with shippers to set prices and services, without Interstate Commerce Commission
Interstate Commerce Commission
The Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory body in the United States created by the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The agency's original purpose was to regulate railroads to ensure fair rates, to eliminate rate discrimination, and to regulate other aspects of common carriers, including...
(ICC) approval. The Staggers Act is widely credited with freeing the industry from stagnation under an outdated regulatory structure, allowing it more freedom to compete with other modes of freight transportation such as trucking and air transport. Under the provisions of the Staggers Act, the former regulatory model which had contributed extensively to the massive financial failure of the Penn Central Railroad in the 1970s (which forced the creation of the money-losing Conrail) was largely rendered impotent. With new market freedoms, the Staggers Act led the railroad industry into a period of much greater stability and profitability, and in many cases, defied opponents predictions of higher shipping costs. Perhaps even to the amazement of supporters of the Staggers Act, Conrail became a profitable company, repaid its massive federal debts, and was soon a highly-desired acquisition target by other large railroad companies, with its lines eventually being sold at a premium to a combination of CSX Corporation
CSX Corporation
CSX Corporation was formed in 1980 by the merger of Chessie System and Seaboard Coast Line Industries and eventually merged the various railroads owned by those predecessors into a single line that became known as CSX Transportation. Based in Richmond, Virginia, USA after the merger, in 2003...
and Norfolk Southern interests, preserving competition even as this was accomplished.
Representative Staggers was also a strong supporter of the federally-created passenger railroad Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, which did not achieve the potential goal of self-sufficiency. However, creation of Amtrak freed the freight railroad industry from a massive burden of passenger service related-losses and helped preserve a national rail passenger system for the United States, providing some alternatives to an aging Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
.
The town and surviving family of Staggers honored him by naming the section of Water Street that runs beside New Creek, in front of the middle school and vocational center, and in front of the bridge to his residence,
Harley O. Staggers, Sr. Drive.
Children
Staggers' daughter, Mary Kaye Staggers, is a professor at Potomac State College of West Virginia UniversityWest Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
. His sons, Harley O. Staggers, Jr.
Harley O. Staggers, Jr.
Harley O. "Buckey" Staggers, Jr. is a Democratic U.S. politician. He graduated from Harvard University and the West Virginia University College of Law, served as an assistant West Virginia Attorney General, served one term in the West Virginia Senate, and served five terms in the United States...
and Daniel Staggers practice law there. Harley, Jr. was also a Congressman from West Virginia before he lost his seat due to redistricting. Another daughter, Margaret Anne "Peggy" Staggers, from Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley is a city in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States, which was founded on April 4, 1838. The 2008 population was estimated to be 16,832 by the U.S. Census Bureau. Early in its history, the town was known as Beckleyville and Raleigh Court House...
, is a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
West Virginia House of Delegates
The West Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the West Virginia Legislature. Only three states—Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia—refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates.-Historical:-Current:-District organization:...
. Daughter Susan owned and managed two successful local businesses in Keyser until her and her husband's recent retirement. His daughter Ellen resides in Morgantown.
See also
- List of United States Representatives from West Virginia
- Staggers Rail ActStaggers Rail ActThe Staggers Rail Act of 1980 is a United States federal law that deregulated the American railroad industry to a significant extent, and replaced the regulatory structure that existed since the 1887 Interstate Commerce Act.-Background:...