Roger Kent
Encyclopedia
Roger Kent, was the son of William Kent (U.S. Congressman)
and Elizabeth (Thacher) Kent. His father served in the U.S. Congress between 1910 and 1917. After his family returned to California, Kent attended Tamalpais High School
in Mill Valley
beginning in 1919. He then boarded for three years at the Thacher School to prepare for college. He graduated from Yale College
in 1928. He stayed in New Haven after graduation, attending Yale Law School
, from which he graduated in 1931. Kent practiced law in California
and was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1937.
During World War II, he was a Naval officer, receiving the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry in action at Guadalcanal.
After two unsuccessful campaigns as a Democratic candidate for Congress in 1948 and 1950, Kent went to Washington in 1952, at the close of the Truman Administration, as General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Defense, at a time when the Pentagon was under attack by Senator Joseph McCarthy.
Returning to California, Kent became Chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee, helping to elect Edmund G. "Pat" Brown, the second Democratic Governor of the century in what had long been a traditionally Republican state. He remained Democratic Party chair until Brown's re-election defeat by Ronald Reagan in 1966. In the interim, he was also co-chairman of Lyndon Baines Johnson's 1964 Presidential campaign. He was a close, personal friend of Johnson's vice-president, Hubert Humphrey
and a favorite political bete noire of fiery San Francisco Congressman Phillip Burton
.
Kent married Alice Cooke in Honolulu, Hawaii, on August 26, 1930. They had four children, one of whom died at a young age. Roger Kent died in 1980.
He was also the brother of historian Sherman Kent
, a veteran official of the US Central Intelligence Agency
who has been called the American "father of intelligence analysis".
William Kent (U.S. Congressman)
William Kent was an American who served as a United States Congressman representing the State of California. He spearheaded the movement to create the Muir Woods National Monument by donating land to the Federal Government for the Monument.Kent was born in Chicago, Illinois...
and Elizabeth (Thacher) Kent. His father served in the U.S. Congress between 1910 and 1917. After his family returned to California, Kent attended Tamalpais High School
Tamalpais High School
Tamalpais High School is a public secondary school located in Mill Valley, California. It is named after nearby Mount Tamalpais, which rises more than above Mill Valley....
in Mill Valley
Mill Valley, California
Mill Valley is a city in Marin County, California, United States located about north of San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge. The population was 13,903 at the 2010 census.Mill Valley is located on the western and northern shores of Richardson Bay...
beginning in 1919. He then boarded for three years at the Thacher School to prepare for college. He graduated from Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
in 1928. He stayed in New Haven after graduation, attending Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
, from which he graduated in 1931. Kent practiced law in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1937.
During World War II, he was a Naval officer, receiving the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry in action at Guadalcanal.
After two unsuccessful campaigns as a Democratic candidate for Congress in 1948 and 1950, Kent went to Washington in 1952, at the close of the Truman Administration, as General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Defense, at a time when the Pentagon was under attack by Senator Joseph McCarthy.
Returning to California, Kent became Chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee, helping to elect Edmund G. "Pat" Brown, the second Democratic Governor of the century in what had long been a traditionally Republican state. He remained Democratic Party chair until Brown's re-election defeat by Ronald Reagan in 1966. In the interim, he was also co-chairman of Lyndon Baines Johnson's 1964 Presidential campaign. He was a close, personal friend of Johnson's vice-president, Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. , served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
and a favorite political bete noire of fiery San Francisco Congressman Phillip Burton
Phillip Burton
Phillip Burton was a United States Representative from California. A Democrat, he was instrumental in creating the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Burton was one of the first members of Congress to acknowledge the need for AIDS research and introduce an AIDS bill. He was the brother of...
.
Kent married Alice Cooke in Honolulu, Hawaii, on August 26, 1930. They had four children, one of whom died at a young age. Roger Kent died in 1980.
He was also the brother of historian Sherman Kent
Sherman Kent
Sherman Kent, , was a Yale University history professor who, during World War II and through 17 years of Cold War-era service in the Central Intelligence Agency, pioneered many of the methods of intelligence analysis...
, a veteran official of the US Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
who has been called the American "father of intelligence analysis".
External links
- Roger Kent Papers
- Roger Kent - Marin County Free Library
- Guide to the Roger Kent Papers at The Bancroft Library