Key Pittman
Encyclopedia
Key Denson Pittman was a United States Senator from Nevada
. He was a Democrat.
Pittman was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi
, in 1872 and was educated by private tutors and at the Southwestern Presbyterian University in Clarksville, Tennessee
. He studied law, then later became a lawyer. In 1897, he joined in the Klondike Gold Rush
and worked as a miner until 1901. Pittman moved to Tonopah, Nevada
, in 1902 and continued the practice of law. He represented Nevada at the St. Louis Exposition
, the Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition, and the irrigation congress. In 1910, he made an unsuccessful run for the Senate. Later, he was elected as a Democrat
to the Senate in 1913 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of George S. Nixon
, and served until his death in 1940. Between 1933 and 1940 he was the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations
and was also a member of the Committee on Territories and the Committee on Industrial Expositions
. In addition, during those years Pittman was President pro tempore of the United States Senate
.
Among his legislation is the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 which set up a formula for federal sharing of ammunition tax revenue for establishing state wildlife areas. The program is still in effect. The Key Pittman Wildlife Management Area near Hiko, Nevada
, which encompasses the Frenchy and Nesbitt Lakes, is named in his honor.
before the election, and died after the election at the Washoe General Hospital in Reno, Nevada
.
His brother, Vail M. Pittman
, served as the Governor of Nevada.
Several pieces of legislation bore his name, including the Pittman Act
of 1918 and the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937.
The Pittman section of the Alaska Railroad
, more commonly known today as the community of Meadow Lakes
west of Wasilla, was also named for him. Pittman Road runs north from its intersection with the George Parks Highway
at "downtown" Meadow Lakes.
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. He was a Democrat.
Pittman was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
, in 1872 and was educated by private tutors and at the Southwestern Presbyterian University in Clarksville, Tennessee
Clarksville, Tennessee
Clarksville is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States, and the fifth largest city in the state. The population was 132,929 in 2010 United States Census...
. He studied law, then later became a lawyer. In 1897, he joined in the Klondike Gold Rush
Klondike Gold Rush
The Klondike Gold Rush, also called the Yukon Gold Rush, the Alaska Gold Rush and the Last Great Gold Rush, was an attempt by an estimated 100,000 people to travel to the Klondike region the Yukon in north-western Canada between 1897 and 1899 in the hope of successfully prospecting for gold...
and worked as a miner until 1901. Pittman moved to Tonopah, Nevada
Tonopah, Nevada
Tonopah is a census-designated place located in and the county seat of Nye County, Nevada. It is located at the junction of U.S. Routes 6 and 95 approximately mid-way between Las Vegas and Reno....
, in 1902 and continued the practice of law. He represented Nevada at the St. Louis Exposition
St. Louis Exposition
St. Louis Exposition can refer to either:*Saint Louis Exposition *Louisiana Purchase Exposition...
, the Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition, and the irrigation congress. In 1910, he made an unsuccessful run for the Senate. Later, he was elected as a Democrat
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...
to the Senate in 1913 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of George S. Nixon
George S. Nixon
George Stuart Nixon was a United States Senator from Nevada.He was born in Placer County, California. He went to work for a railroad company and studied telegraphy. Later, he was transferred in 1881 to Nevada and organized and became cashier of a bank at Winnemucca, Nevada...
, and served until his death in 1940. Between 1933 and 1940 he was the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is a standing committee of the United States Senate. It is charged with leading foreign-policy legislation and debate in the Senate. The Foreign Relations Committee is generally responsible for overseeing and funding foreign aid programs as...
and was also a member of the Committee on Territories and the Committee on Industrial Expositions
United States Senate Committee on Industrial Expositions
The Senate Committee on Industrial Expositions was a committee of the United States Senate between 1899 and 1921. It was originally established as a select committee, but became a standing committee in 1909...
. In addition, during those years Pittman was President pro tempore of the United States Senate
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
The President pro tempore is the second-highest-ranking official of the United States Senate. The United States Constitution states that the Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate and the highest-ranking official of the Senate despite not being a member of the body...
.
Among his legislation is the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 which set up a formula for federal sharing of ammunition tax revenue for establishing state wildlife areas. The program is still in effect. The Key Pittman Wildlife Management Area near Hiko, Nevada
Hiko, Nevada
Hiko, Nevada, is a small, agrarian community of the Tonopah Basin on State Route 318 in Lincoln County, Nevada. At one time Hiko was the county seat, and a few hundred residents lived nearby, due largely to silver mines in the area...
, which encompasses the Frenchy and Nesbitt Lakes, is named in his honor.
Pittman "On Ice"
It was rumored for years that he died before his final election in 1940, and that party leaders kept his body on ice in a hotel bathtub until he was re-elected; this story has been disproven. In fact, he suffered a severe heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
before the election, and died after the election at the Washoe General Hospital in Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
.
His brother, Vail M. Pittman
Vail M. Pittman
Vail Montgomery Pittman was an American politician. He was the 19th Governor of Nevada. He was a member of the Democratic Party....
, served as the Governor of Nevada.
Several pieces of legislation bore his name, including the Pittman Act
Pittman Act
The Pittman Act was a United States federal law sponsored by Senator Key Pittman of Nevada and enacted on April 23, 1918. The act authorized the conversion of not exceeding 350,000,000 standard silver dollars into bullion and its sale, or use for subsidiary silver coinage, and directed purchase of...
of 1918 and the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937.
The Pittman section of the Alaska Railroad
Alaska Railroad
The Alaska Railroad is a Class II railroad which extends from Seward and Whittier, in the south of the state of Alaska, in the United States, to Fairbanks , and beyond to Eielson Air Force Base and Fort Wainwright in the interior of that state...
, more commonly known today as the community of Meadow Lakes
Meadow Lakes, Alaska
Meadow Lakes is a census-designated place in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, United States. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area...
west of Wasilla, was also named for him. Pittman Road runs north from its intersection with the George Parks Highway
George Parks Highway
The George Parks Highway , usually called simply the Parks Highway, runs 323 miles from the Glenn Highway 35 miles north of Anchorage to Fairbanks in the Alaska Interior...
at "downtown" Meadow Lakes.