Mendel Jackson Davis
Encyclopedia
Mendel Jackson Davis was a lawyer and a United States Representative
from South Carolina
.
to Felix Charles Davis and Elizabeth Jackson Davis. He was raised in Garco Village and graduated from North Charleston High School in 1960 where he participated in sports and student government. Three days after graduating from high school, Davis went to work in the office of Representative
L. Mendel Rivers
, his godfather
and for whom he was named. While serving as an assistant to Rivers, Davis obtained a degree in history from the College of Charleston
in 1966 and later graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law
.
during a heart surgery operation in December 1970 (after having been re-elected the previous month), Davis ran in the ensuing special election to replace his mentor for the 1st congressional district
, which spread along the southern portion of the state's Atlantic coastline from Jasper County to Georgetown County. The close ties between Davis and Rivers enabled Davis to defeat future governor James B. Edwards
by 5,100 votes in the first competitive election for the district in memory. He was held to 54 percent of the vote in his bid for a full term in 1972, but was reelected three more times without serious difficulty.
In Congress, Davis worked to create comprehensive health care for the district and to increase the minimum wage
. He was the sponsor of a bill that brought the Yorktown aircraft carrier
to Patriot's Point
and Davis was a member of the House Leadership Committee that brought about the resignation of President Nixon
. Davis displayed a voting pattern typical of a Southern Democrat
; he scored a high conservative rating by the American Conservative Union
for his first year in office. However, his rating steadily deteriorated through his ten years in office.
to practice law, perform consultant work, host a radio talk show, and function as chairman of the Charleston County Democratic Party (Republicans have held the district since his retirement). He tried to regain his congressional seat in 1985, but lost to Jimmy Stuckey in the Democratic primary election
. For his efforts to bring the Yorktown to Patriot's Point, Davis was honored by having a traffic circle near the aircraft carrier named in his honor. Davis died on May 13, 2007 after being disabled for several years by emphysema
.
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...
from South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
Early life and career
Davis was born in the city of North CharlestonNorth Charleston, South Carolina
North Charleston is the 3rd largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina with incorporated areas in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. On June 12, 1972 the city of North Charleston incorporated and was the 9th largest city in South Carolina. According to the 2010 Census, North...
to Felix Charles Davis and Elizabeth Jackson Davis. He was raised in Garco Village and graduated from North Charleston High School in 1960 where he participated in sports and student government. Three days after graduating from high school, Davis went to work in the office of 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...
L. Mendel Rivers
L. Mendel Rivers
Lucius Mendel Rivers was a Democratic U.S. Representative from South Carolina, representing the Charleston based 1st congressional district for nearly thirty years...
, his godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
and for whom he was named. While serving as an assistant to Rivers, Davis obtained a degree in history from the College of Charleston
College of Charleston
The College of Charleston is a public, sea-grant and space-grant university located in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States...
in 1966 and later graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law
University of South Carolina School of Law
The University of South Carolina School of Law, also known as South Carolina Law or SC Law, is one of the professional schools of the University of South Carolina. South Carolina Law was founded in 1867 in Columbia, South Carolina and is the only public and non-profit law school in the state of...
.
Political career
When Rivers died in BirminghamBirmingham, 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...
during a heart surgery operation in December 1970 (after having been re-elected the previous month), Davis ran in the ensuing special election to replace his mentor for the 1st congressional district
South Carolina's 1st congressional district
The 1st Congressional District of South Carolina is a coastal congressional district in South Carolina. It stretches from Seabrook Island in the south to the North Carolina border and includes parts of Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley and Georgetown counties and all of Horry county...
, which spread along the southern portion of the state's Atlantic coastline from Jasper County to Georgetown County. The close ties between Davis and Rivers enabled Davis to defeat future governor James B. Edwards
James B. Edwards
James Burrows Edwards is a politician and administrator from South Carolina. He was the first Republican to be elected the Governor of South Carolina since Reconstruction.-Early life and career:...
by 5,100 votes in the first competitive election for the district in memory. He was held to 54 percent of the vote in his bid for a full term in 1972, but was reelected three more times without serious difficulty.
In Congress, Davis worked to create comprehensive health care for the district and to increase the minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
. He was the sponsor of a bill that brought the Yorktown aircraft carrier
USS Yorktown (CV-10)
USS Yorktown is one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. She is named after the Battle of Yorktown of the American Revolutionary War, and is the fourth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name...
to Patriot's Point
Patriot's Point
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is located in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, at the mouth of the Cooper River on the Charleston Harbor, across from Charleston.-Museum ships and exhibits:...
and Davis was a member of the House Leadership Committee that brought about the resignation of President Nixon
Richard 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...
. Davis displayed a voting pattern typical of a Southern Democrat
Southern Democrats
Southern Democrats are members of the U.S. Democratic Party who reside in the American South. In the 19th century, they were the definitive pro-slavery wing of the party, opposed to both the anti-slavery Republicans and the more liberal Northern Democrats.Eventually "Redemption" was finalized in...
; he scored a high conservative rating by the American Conservative Union
American Conservative Union
The American Conservative Union is an American political organization advocating conservative policies, and is the oldest such conservative lobbying organization in the country.-Organization:...
for his first year in office. However, his rating steadily deteriorated through his ten years in office.
Later life and career
In 1980, Davis declined to seek re-election because of a recurring back problem and returned to CharlestonCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
to practice law, perform consultant work, host a radio talk show, and function as chairman of the Charleston County Democratic Party (Republicans have held the district since his retirement). He tried to regain his congressional seat in 1985, but lost to Jimmy Stuckey in the Democratic primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. For his efforts to bring the Yorktown to Patriot's Point, Davis was honored by having a traffic circle near the aircraft carrier named in his honor. Davis died on May 13, 2007 after being disabled for several years by emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
.