Who was Alben W. Barkley? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Alben Barkley

Died At Age: 78

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Dorothy Brower Barkley, Jane Hadley Barkley

Political Leaders American Men

Died on: April 30, 1956

place of death: Lexington city

Ideology: Democrats

U.S. State: Kentucky

More Facts

education: University of Virginia, Emory University, University of Virginia School of Law, Oxford College of Emory University

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1

What were Alben W. Barkley's political positions and accomplishments?

Alben W. Barkley served as the Vice President of the United States under President Harry S. Truman from 1949 to 1953. He also held various positions in the U.S. Senate, including Senate Majority Leader.
2

How did Alben W. Barkley contribute to the New Deal?

Alben W. Barkley supported and helped pass several key pieces of New Deal legislation during his time in the Senate, including the Social Security Act and the National Labor Relations Act.
3

What was Alben W. Barkley's stance on civil rights issues?

Alben W. Barkley was a supporter of civil rights and worked to pass anti-lynching legislation in the Senate. He was also a key figure in the desegregation of the military.
4

How did Alben W. Barkley impact U.S. foreign policy during his time as Vice President?

As Vice President, Alben W. Barkley played a role in shaping U.S. foreign policy, particularly during the early years of the Cold War. He supported the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan to contain communism.
5

What was Alben W. Barkley's role in the Democratic Party?

Alben W. Barkley was a prominent member of the Democratic Party and served as the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He played a key role in shaping the party's platform and policies.

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Childhood & Early Life

Alben William Barkley was born as Willie Alben Barkley, on November 24, 1877, near Lowes, Kentucky, U.S., to John Wilson Barkley, and his wife, Electra Eliza Smith. He was the eldest of the eight children of his parents, both of whom were tobacco farmers.

Barkley studied at the local public schools in Lowes, Kentucky, and soon changed his name to ‘Alben William’. Later, he attended the Marvin College, a Methodist school where he received scholarship in return of his work as a janitor.

In 1897, he completed his graduation with a Bachelor of Arts degree and then got enrolled at the Emory College, in Georgia. Later, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1901.

Subsequently, he commenced his practice in Paducah, Kentucky, while continuing his law studies alongside at the University of Virginia Law School. From 1905 to 1909, he was the prosecuting attorney for McCracken County, and then served as the judge of McCracken County Court, between 1909 and 1913.

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Career

In 1912, Barkley was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 1st district and went on to serve seven successive terms from 1913 to 1927.

Barkley faced a defeat in his 1923 gubernatorial campaign in Kentucky and thus, in 1926, he did not seek re-nomination as a Congressman, having earned a nomination to the U.S. Senate.

In 1926, Barkley became a United States Senator from Kentucky, and was re-elected in 1932, 1938, and 1944 to the post, serving until 1949. He also served as the keynote speaker at the 1932, 1936, and 1948 Democratic National Conventions.

A talented congressional strategist, Barkley served as the Senate Majority Leader in the cabinet from 1937 to 1947. Thereafter, he was the Senate Minority Leader in the administration, until he resigned from the senate in 1949.

In the meantime, Barkley chaired the Joint Committee on the Investigation of the Pearl Harbor Attack and also served as member of the Congressional Nazi War Crimes Committee.

In the 1948 Democratic Convention, Barkley was nominated for vice presidency on the ticket with President Harry S. Truman. In January 1949, he was inaugurated at the office and became the oldest Vice President of United States, at the age of 71.

After completing his term, Barkley made an attempt for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1952 but was turned down by labour leaders who considered him too old for the position. Subsequently, he was re-elected to the United States Senate, where he served from January 1955 until his death the following year.

Major Works

While serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Barkley served as a prominent figure in the passing the Volstead Act.

In the Senate, during the 1930s, he supported and played a significant role in passing much of the New Deal legislation, such as the Securities and Exchange Act, National Labor Relations Act, and the Social Security Act.

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Barkley also exerted considerable amount of influence on the committees on foreign affairs and finance, and also supported the formation of Israel as a nation-state. He served as a chief spokesperson on the domestic and international policies during the administration of President Roosevelt.

Awards & Achievements

In 1949, Barkley was conferred the Congressional Gold Medal.

Personal Life & Legacy

In June 1903, Barkley married Dorothy Brower and the couple had three children together: David Murrell Barkley, Marion Frances Barkley, and Laura Louise Barkley. Later, Dorothy suffered from a heart condition and unfortunately died in March 1947.

In July 1949, Barkley met Jane (Rucker) Hadley, a St. Louis widow who was almost half his age, and subsequently tied the knot with her. The couple had no children.

Barkley collapsed on stage and died on April 30, 1956, while delivering a keynote address at the Washington & Lee University, Lexington, Virginia. He was interred in Mount Kenton Cemetery, near Paducah, in Kentucky.

Lake Barkley, a man-made lake on the Cumberland River, and the Barkley Dam at the same lake are named after him.

Facts About Alben W. Barkley

Barkley, despite being a prominent politician, was known for his love of playing the harmonica.

Barkley was an avid baseball fan and enjoyed attending games whenever he had the chance.

In addition to his political career, Barkley was also a talented public speaker and was known for his eloquence and ability to connect with audiences.

Barkley had a great sense of humor and was known for his quick wit. He often used humor to defuse tense situations and connect with people from all walks of life.

Alben W. Barkley Biography

You wanted to know

What were Alben W. Barkley's political positions and accomplishments?

How did Alben W. Barkley contribute to the New Deal?

What was Alben W. Barkley's stance on civil rights issues?

How did Alben W. Barkley impact U.S. foreign policy during his time as Vice President?

What was Alben W. Barkley's role in the Democratic Party?