Thomas B. Curtis
Encyclopedia
Thomas Bradford Curtis was a U.S. Representative
from Missouri
.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri
, Curtis attended the public schools of Webster Groves, Missouri
. He attended Dartmouth College
in Hanover, New Hampshire
, earning an A.B. in 1932. He was admitted to the bar in 1934 and commenced the practice of law in St. Louis. He received an LL.B. degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1935. He received an M.A. from Dartmouth in 1951, and a J.D. from Westminster College in 1964.
He served as member of the Board of Election Commissioners of St. Louis County in 1942. He served in the United States Navy
from April 8, 1942, until discharged as a lieutenant commander December 21, 1945. He served as member of the Missouri State Board of Law Examiners 1947-1950.
Curtis was elected as a Republican
to the Eighty-second and to the eight succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1951-January 3, 1969). He was not a candidate for reelection in 1968 to the House of Representatives but was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate
, losing to Democrat Thomas Eagleton
by a 51% to 49% margin.
Mr. Curtis was a noted economist, considered by most Republicans and some Democrats to be the most knowledgeable and insightful economist in Washington during his tenure as a Member of Congress. He predicted the massive inflation that would become reality during the presidency of Jimmy Carter, and generally foresaw the pattern of change in U.S. balance of payments that actually occurred.
At the time of his unsuccessful campaign for the United States Senate vs. Thomas Eagleton, Mr. Curtis was ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Against the recommendations of his political staff, Mr. Curtis spent his week days in Washington on the job, campaigning only on the weekends, while Eagleton campaigned virtually every day. Mr. Curtis argued that his place was in Washington, doing his job as a Congressman.
He served as delegate to the Republican National Convention
, 1964, 1976 and 1980. He served as vice president and general counsel, Encyclopædia Britannica
, from 1969 to 1973. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate
in 1974, winning only 39% of the vote against incumbent Thomas Eagleton
. He served as chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
from 1972 to 1973. He served as chairman of the Federal Election Commission
from April 1975 to May 1976. He was a consultant for the National Association of Technical and Trade Schools.
He was a resident of Pier Cove, Michigan, until his death in Allegan, Michigan
, on January 10, 1993.
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 Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Curtis attended the public schools of Webster Groves, Missouri
Webster Groves, Missouri
Webster Groves is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 22,995 at the 2010 census. The city is named after New England politician Daniel Webster....
. He attended Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
, earning an A.B. in 1932. He was admitted to the bar in 1934 and commenced the practice of law in St. Louis. He received an LL.B. degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1935. He received an M.A. from Dartmouth in 1951, and a J.D. from Westminster College in 1964.
He served as member of the Board of Election Commissioners of St. Louis County in 1942. He served in the United States Navy
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...
from April 8, 1942, until discharged as a lieutenant commander December 21, 1945. He served as member of the Missouri State Board of Law Examiners 1947-1950.
Curtis was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Eighty-second and to the eight succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1951-January 3, 1969). He was not a candidate for reelection in 1968 to the House of Representatives but was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, losing to Democrat Thomas Eagleton
Thomas Eagleton
Thomas Francis Eagleton was a United States Senator from Missouri, serving from 1968–1987. He is best remembered for briefly being the Democratic vice presidential nominee under George McGovern in 1972...
by a 51% to 49% margin.
Mr. Curtis was a noted economist, considered by most Republicans and some Democrats to be the most knowledgeable and insightful economist in Washington during his tenure as a Member of Congress. He predicted the massive inflation that would become reality during the presidency of Jimmy Carter, and generally foresaw the pattern of change in U.S. balance of payments that actually occurred.
At the time of his unsuccessful campaign for the United States Senate vs. Thomas Eagleton, Mr. Curtis was ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Against the recommendations of his political staff, Mr. Curtis spent his week days in Washington on the job, campaigning only on the weekends, while Eagleton campaigned virtually every day. Mr. Curtis argued that his place was in Washington, doing his job as a Congressman.
He served as delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
, 1964, 1976 and 1980. He served as vice president and general counsel, Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
, from 1969 to 1973. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1974, winning only 39% of the vote against incumbent Thomas Eagleton
Thomas Eagleton
Thomas Francis Eagleton was a United States Senator from Missouri, serving from 1968–1987. He is best remembered for briefly being the Democratic vice presidential nominee under George McGovern in 1972...
. He served as chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a non-profit corporation created by an act of the United States Congress, funded by the United States’ federal government to promote public broadcasting...
from 1972 to 1973. He served as chairman of the Federal Election Commission
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
from April 1975 to May 1976. He was a consultant for the National Association of Technical and Trade Schools.
He was a resident of Pier Cove, Michigan, until his death in Allegan, Michigan
Allegan, Michigan
Allegan is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 4,838. It is the county seat of Allegan County. The city lies within Allegan Township, but is administratively autonomous....
, on January 10, 1993.