William Hildenbrand
Encyclopedia
William F. Hildenbrand was an American
government officer who served as the Secretary of the United States Senate
from 1981 to 1985.
Hildenbrand was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania
, on November 28, 1921. He enlisted in the United States Army
in 1942 during World War II
and was sent to Europe in the infantry
. He returned to Philadelphia following the end of World War II, where he worked as a radio announcer. He was once again deployed by the Army during the Korean War
.
Hildenbrand was hired as a congressional staffer by Rep. Harry Haskell, a Republican from Delaware, in 1957, based moved to Washington D.C. Haskell lost his bid for re-election in 1958, so Hildenbrand took a position with the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. In 1969, Hildenbrand returned to the Capitol when he was hired as a staff member for the Republican Minority Whip, Senator Hugh Scott
of Pennsylvania
.
Hildenbrand became the Secretary for the Minority of the Senate in 1974. Republicans won control of the United States Senate in the 1980 Senate elections
and took control of the chamber in January 1981. Hildenbrand aided Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker
in the transition from Democratic control to Republican control, the first such transfer of party control in the Senate in twenty-six years.
The Republicans named Hildenbrand as the Secretary of the United States Senate
in 1981. He served as Secretary until his retirement in 1985.
Hildenbrand released a memoir
entitled, When the Senate Cared, in 2007. He also added his stories and history to the Senate's oral history
archive
for preservation.
Hildenbrand died on July 21, 2011, at the age of 89. The United States Senate passed a resolution honoring him for his service to the chamber.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government officer who served as the Secretary of the United States Senate
Secretary of the United States Senate
The Secretary of the Senate is an elected officer of the United States Senate. The Secretary supervises an extensive array of offices and services to expedite the day-to-day operations of that body...
from 1981 to 1985.
Hildenbrand was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Pottstown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States northwest of Philadelphia and southeast of Reading, on the Schuylkill River. Pottstown was laid out in 1752–53 and named Pottsgrove in honor of its founder, John Potts. The old name was abandoned at the time of the...
, on November 28, 1921. He enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1942 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was sent to Europe in the infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
. He returned to Philadelphia following the end of World War II, where he worked as a radio announcer. He was once again deployed by the Army during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
Hildenbrand was hired as a congressional staffer by Rep. Harry Haskell, a Republican from Delaware, in 1957, based moved to Washington D.C. Haskell lost his bid for re-election in 1958, so Hildenbrand took a position with the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. In 1969, Hildenbrand returned to the Capitol when he was hired as a staff member for the Republican Minority Whip, Senator Hugh Scott
Hugh Scott
Hugh Doggett Scott, Jr. was a politician from Pennsylvania who served in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and who also served as Chairman of the Republican National Committee.- Early life :He was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on November 11, 1900...
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Hildenbrand became the Secretary for the Minority of the Senate in 1974. Republicans won control of the United States Senate in the 1980 Senate elections
United States Senate elections, 1980
The 1980 U.S. Senate elections coincided with Ronald Reagan's election to the Presidency. Reagan's large margin of victory over incumbent Jimmy Carter pulled in many Democratic voters and gave a huge boost to Republican senate candidates....
and took control of the chamber in January 1981. Hildenbrand aided Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker
Howard Baker
Howard Henry Baker, Jr. is a former Senate Majority Leader, Republican U.S. Senator from Tennessee, White House Chief of Staff, and a former United States Ambassador to Japan.Known in Washington, D.C...
in the transition from Democratic control to Republican control, the first such transfer of party control in the Senate in twenty-six years.
The Republicans named Hildenbrand as the Secretary of the United States Senate
Secretary of the United States Senate
The Secretary of the Senate is an elected officer of the United States Senate. The Secretary supervises an extensive array of offices and services to expedite the day-to-day operations of that body...
in 1981. He served as Secretary until his retirement in 1985.
Hildenbrand released a memoir
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
entitled, When the Senate Cared, in 2007. He also added his stories and history to the Senate's oral history
Oral history
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews...
archive
Archive
An archive is a collection of historical records, or the physical place they are located. Archives contain primary source documents that have accumulated over the course of an individual or organization's lifetime, and are kept to show the function of an organization...
for preservation.
Hildenbrand died on July 21, 2011, at the age of 89. The United States Senate passed a resolution honoring him for his service to the chamber.