Phil Swing
Encyclopedia
Philip David "Phil" Swing (November 30, 1884–August 8, 1963) is a former American
Republican politician from Imperial County, California
.
to James and Mary Swing. He attended the public schools and graduated in 1905 from Stanford University
. He was a first lieutenant in the California National Guard
during 1906–1908. Swing studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1907. He was city attorney of Brawley, California
in 1908 and 1909, deputy district attorney of Imperial County
1908–1911, district attorney 1911–1915, chief counsel of the Imperial Irrigation District
1916–1919, and Judge of the Imperial County Superior Court 1919–1921. During 1920–1932 Swing was delegate to the Republican State conventions at Sacramento
, serving as chairman in 1926. During World War I
he served as a private in the Officers Training Camp in 1918.
Swing was married to Nell Cremeens in 1912.
Swing was first elected to the House of Representatives
in 1920. He replaced William Kettner
in representing the 11th District, which included both Imperial County and San Diego County. He had a folksy manner and during his six terms, 1921–1933, as a progressive Republican, he focused on water issues. He work especially hard to obtain water from the Colorado River by building Boulder Dam. His single-minded determination resulted in 1928 in the Swing-Johnson Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Hiram Johnson
, which authorized Boulder Dam. This was in the face of opposition from the State of Arizona
, private power companies, and bureaucratic inertia. The proejct brought water to Southern California
and enabled San Diego
to grow and prosper.
In 1932 he chose not to run for re-election, and joined a law firm in San Diego. In 1933, as one of his last acts in Congress, he introduced a bill to establish Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
, which passed in March.
In 1945, Swing was appointed a member of the California State Water Resources Board, serving until 1958.
Swing died 1963 in San Diego and is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park
. A water fountain at the Community Concourse at Third and C Streets is dedicated to Phil Swing, "The Father of Boulder Dam."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican politician from Imperial County, California
Imperial County, California
Imperial County is a county located in the Imperial Valley, in the far southeast of the U.S. state of California, bordering both Arizona and Mexico. It is part of the El Centro Metropolitan Area, which encompasses all of Imperial County. The population as of 2000 was 142,361. The county seat is the...
.
Biography
Swing was born 1884 in San Bernardino, CaliforniaSan Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
to James and Mary Swing. He attended the public schools and graduated in 1905 from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. He was a first lieutenant in the California National Guard
California National Guard
The California National Guard is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. state of California. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components and is the largest national guard force in the United States with a total authorized strength of 22,900 soldiers and airmen...
during 1906–1908. Swing studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1907. He was city attorney of Brawley, California
Brawley, California
Brawley is a city in Imperial County, California, United States. Brawley is located north of El Centro. The population was 24,953 at the 2010 census, up from 22,052 at the 2000 census. The town has a significant cattle and feed industry, and hosts the annual Cattle Call Rodeo. Year-round...
in 1908 and 1909, deputy district attorney of Imperial County
Imperial County, California
Imperial County is a county located in the Imperial Valley, in the far southeast of the U.S. state of California, bordering both Arizona and Mexico. It is part of the El Centro Metropolitan Area, which encompasses all of Imperial County. The population as of 2000 was 142,361. The county seat is the...
1908–1911, district attorney 1911–1915, chief counsel of the Imperial Irrigation District
Imperial Irrigation District
The Imperial Irrigation District was formed in 1911 under the California Irrigation District Act to acquire the properties of the bankrupt California Development Company and its Mexican subsidiary. The IID had acquired 13 mutual water companies, which had developed and operated distribution canals...
1916–1919, and Judge of the Imperial County Superior Court 1919–1921. During 1920–1932 Swing was delegate to the Republican State conventions at Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, serving as chairman in 1926. 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 served as a private in the Officers Training Camp in 1918.
Swing was married to Nell Cremeens in 1912.
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...
in 1920. He replaced William Kettner
William Kettner
William "Bill" Kettner was a former US Democratic politician from San Diego, California. He served four terms in Congress from 1913 through 1921 and is credited with bringing many U.S. Navy facilities to San Diego....
in representing the 11th District, which included both Imperial County and San Diego County. He had a folksy manner and during his six terms, 1921–1933, as a progressive Republican, he focused on water issues. He work especially hard to obtain water from the Colorado River by building Boulder Dam. His single-minded determination resulted in 1928 in the Swing-Johnson Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Hiram Johnson
Hiram Johnson
Hiram Warren Johnson was a leading American progressive and later isolationist politician from California; he served as the 23rd Governor from 1911 to 1917, and as a United States Senator from 1917 to 1945.-Early life:...
, which authorized Boulder Dam. This was in the face of opposition from the State of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, private power companies, and bureaucratic inertia. The proejct brought water to Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
and enabled San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
to grow and prosper.
In 1932 he chose not to run for re-election, and joined a law firm in San Diego. In 1933, as one of his last acts in Congress, he introduced a bill to establish Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a state park located within the Colorado Desert of Southern California. The park takes its name from 18th century, Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and borrego, the Spanish word for bighorn sheep...
, which passed in March.
In 1945, Swing was appointed a member of the California State Water Resources Board, serving until 1958.
Swing died 1963 in San Diego and is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park
Greenwood Memorial Park (San Diego)
Greenwood Memorial Park is a cemetery located on county-owned land at 4300 Imperial Avenue in San Diego County, California. The cemetery is adjacent to Mount Hope Cemetery.Opened in 1908, Greenwood covers approximately five miles east of Downtown San Diego...
. A water fountain at the Community Concourse at Third and C Streets is dedicated to Phil Swing, "The Father of Boulder Dam."
See also
- Phiip David Swing Papers, UCLA Research Library
- Phil Swing and Boulder Dam (UC Press, 1971) by Beverly B. Moeller. Also her Ph.D. dissertation, UCLA 1968. Biography, pp. 147–148; includes portrait
External links
- Biography (San Diego Historical Society)
- "Chapter 1: Envy of Cities" and "Chapter 6: The Boom Fades", History of San Diego (1967) by Richard Pourade. Covers Swing and Boulder Dam history