PAGE B2 The Knoxville Fo c u s January 9, 2012 January 9, 2012 www.knoxfocus.com PAGE B3 The Senate’s Dandy James Hamilton Lewis of Pages from “under a cloud” due to the Political his ties to the notorious Past Prendergast machine of Kansas City. Senator Truman was treated with astonishing rudeness by many New Deal officials, not the least of whom was President Roosevelt himself. It took FDR more than five months to find a fifteen minute By Ray Hill appointment to allow the [email protected] Missouri Senator to come and pay his respects and t seems highly Truman barely spent half unlikely anyone the allotted time in FDR’s could be elect- office, although he later edI to any office today if remembered Roosevelt he or she exhibited just as being as nice as he a few of the eccentrici- could be. Author David ties that were a part of McCullough, one of James Hamilton Lewis. Truman’s best biogra- Lewis was even for his phers, recorded a com- time somewhat eccen- ment made to Truman by tric in his appearance and J. Hamilton Lewis. dress, but he certainly Harry Truman was in made an impression and awe at being a member was highly popular in his of the Senate, despite adopted state of Illinois. the rude treatment he Lewis was born in received from much of Danville, Virginia on May official Washington and 18, 1863. As a very his fellow senators. Lewis small child, he moved wisely told Truman, “For with his parents to the first six months you’ll Augusta, Georgia. After wonder how the hell you attending the University got here. After that you’ll of Virginia, Lewis studied wonder how the hell the law privately in Savannah, rest of us got here.” Georgia. Lewis decid- The 73-year-old J. ed to move west to find Hamilton Lewis intend- his fortune and relo- ed to stay in the Senate cated in Washington and sought reelec- State while it was still tion in 1936. His photo from the author’s personal collection. a territory of the United Republican opponent States. Lewis arrived in Senator J. Hamilton Lewis was Otis F. Glenn, him- the Washington Territory self a former member knowing virtually no one who supported President would appear inside the J. Hamilton Lewis bided election contest, Lewis of the United States and almost penniless, William Howard Taft and Senate chamber without his time, waiting for the beat her badly, ending her Senate. Glenn was still yet it proved to be a wise the progressives, who his toupee on very hot opportunity to make a electoral career. a supporter of the unla- move for young Lewis favored former President days, although he didn’t comeback. That opportu- James Hamilton mented and unpopular as within a few years . seem to ever allow him- nity came in 1930 when Lewis returned to the former President Herbert he had been elected to Lewis was elected to self to be photographed the Illinois Republican Hoover, while Lewis was the Territorial legislature the Senate from Illinois, without his hairpiece. Party tore itself asun- in 1931 and quickly an unabashed advo- and when Washington making him one of the J. Hamilton Lewis der. Lewis’s successor, resumed his old posi- cate of Franklin Delano achieved statehood, very few individuals to was also something Medill McCormick, had tion as Democratic whip. Roosevelt. 1936 was the J. Hamilton Lewis was serve in the Congress of a clotheshorse and been defeated in the Mayor Anton same year FDR carried elected to Congress representing two different many enjoyed waiting 1924 Republican prima- Cermack promoted every state in the union in as Congressman-At- states. for his appearance on ry by former Governor Senator Lewis as a “favor- his reelection campaign, Large. Lewis only served Known affectionate- the Senate floor to see Charles Deneen. ite son” candidate for excepting Maine and one term in Congress, ly as either “Ham” or what he was wearing on McCormick was so dis- the presidency in 1932, . Lewis easily losing his reelection bid, “J. Ham”, Lewis was the a given day. Lewis fre- traught over his defeat largely to keep Franklin won another term in the although his ability as an first to serve as a party quently wore spats long he committed suicide, D. Roosevelt from win- Senate. orator made him so for- “whip” in the Senate. after they were out of a fact that was carefully ning the Democratic nom- J. Hamilton Lewis and midable in debate that The whip was respon- fashion. Senator Lewis hidden from the public. ination and giving the his wife, fondly known even the famously acer- sible for helping to line clearly enjoyed adding McCormick’s widow was powerful boss leverage as “Gypsy” to friends, bic Speaker of the House up votes for party mea- color to his wardrobe and Ruth Hanna McCormick, in naming the eventual remained fixtures on Thomas Reed preferred sures in the United States might appear inside the daughter of the legend- nominee. Senator Lewis the social circuit in the not to tangle with the Senate, as well as keep- Senate Chamber wear- ary , an himself had no desire nation’s Capitol. Senator freshman Congressman. ing an accurate tally for ing a dark suit with a extremely wealthy indus- to block FDR’s nomina- Lewis continued serv- Lewis was the how a pending vote might cream-colored waist- trialist, alter ego of the tion and to the Mayor’s ing as the Democratic Democratic nominee for go. Lewis proved to be a coat, a bright green tie late President William dismay, released the del- Whip in the Senate until the United States Senate skillful legislative strate- and matching socks. A McKinley and a Senator egates pledged to him, his sudden death on April in 1899, at a time when gist and did much to help silk handkerchief of some from Ohio. Ruth Hanna many of whom backed 9, 1939. A funeral ser- legislatures still elect- along President Woodrow sort would be careful- McCormick had been Roosevelt. Cermack’s vice was held for James ed senators; Lewis lost Wilson’s agenda. ly tucked into his breast elected Congressman- stubbornness in oppos- Hamilton Lewis inside his race for the Senate. In 1918, Lewis had pocket. At-Large from Illinois ing Franklin Roosevelt the Senate Chamber and America was then to make his appeal Lewis was once cau- in 1928 and proceed- later cost him his life; he was buried in a mau- engaged in the Spanish- directly to the people of tioned to tone down his ed to settle her politi- the Chicago Mayor was soleum beside Arlington American War and Lewis Illinois, as the legisla- dress before attending cal grudge with Senator in Miami, Florida stand- National Cemetery. That volunteered and while not ture no longer had the a political meeting in a Deneen in the GOP pri- ing near Roosevelt when mausoleum was later seeing actual combat, power to elect mem- poorer neighborhood, mary. As a woman, Ruth a would-be assassin torn down and Senator emerged from the conflict bers of the United States dominated by the labor- Hanna McCormick was started firing, missing Lewis’s remains were with the rank of Colonel. Senate. Lewis faced ing class. J. Hamilton something of a novelty FDR, but hitting the bulky moved, although no one Following the Spanish- wealthy Republican Lewis arrived that night candidate and received Mayor Cermack. The seri- seems to know just where American War, J. Hamilton Medill McCormick, broth- in full evening dress of widespread publicity in ously wounded Cermack his earthly body currently Lewis moved yet again, er of Colonel Robert top hat and tails. He told her Senate campaign was bundled into rests. settling in Chicago in McCormick, powerful the assembled working and she spent freely Roosevelt’s automobile Gypsy Lewis tried to 1903. Once again, his publisher of the staunchly people he came to pay from her vast personal and rushed to the hospi- keep her late husband’s personality and ability Republican and isolation- his respects and wore his wealth. She managed to tal where he died several memory alive as best she brought him recognition ist . finest clothes, as he felt beat Deneen decisively days later. could, donating an impos- and prominence. Lewis J. Hamilton Lewis was they deserved the best and faced the most formi- With Franklin D. ing portrait of J. Hamilton was made Corporation an excellent speaker with he had. Lewis left the dable foe the Democrats Roosevelt’s election to Lewis to the United Counsel to the City of a flamboyant appear- hall to the cheers of his could nominate: James the presidency in 1932 States Senate where it Chicago by the Mayor, ance. A man of slight pro- new supporters. Hamilton Lewis. and the Democrats remains on display to which was a very lucra- portions, Lewis sported After narrowly losing his Although sixty-seven taking control of the this very day. Lewis was tive position. By 1908, a a busy Van Dyke beard reelection campaign to years old at the time, United States Senate, J. fondly remembered by mere five years after he that was likely dyed as he Medill McCormick, Lewis Lewis had shown impec- Hamilton Lewis assumed those who knew him, but had moved to Chicago, aged; many contemporary remained quite active in cable shrewdness in even greater importance as the years have passed, J. Hamilton Lewis was a reports refer to the “pink- the Democratic Party and selecting the timing of his inside the Senate. Lewis this colorful figure has serious, albeit ultimate- ish” color of his whiskers. politics. He ran for gov- political comeback and was a warm-hearted been largely forgotten. ly unsuccessful candi- Lewis also wore a toupee; ernor in 1920, but lost. campaigned vigorously. person for all his elabo- date for governor. Lewis evidently J. Hamilton A recognized authority McCormick was haunted rate dress and he tried was again a candidate for Lewis made no effort to on both the Constitution throughout the general to befriend a little man the United States Senate purchase a hairpiece that and foreign affairs, Lewis election for her enormous from Missouri when in 1912 at a time when was suspect, as his own concentrated on interna- expenditures and Harry Truman came to the national Republican was quite obviously a tional law in his practice although she pumped the Senate in 1935. Party was deeply divid- toupee. In fact, there are and earned a handsome even more of her person- Truman himself later told ed between the regulars instances where Lewis living. al fortune into the general an aide that he arrived