Earle C. Clements
| Earle C. Clements | |
|---|---|
Clements in 1947
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United States Senator from Kentucky |
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In office November 27, 1950 – January 3, 1957 |
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| Preceded by | Garrett L. Withers |
| Succeeded by | Thruston B. Morton |
| Senate Majority Whip | |
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In office January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1957 |
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| Leader | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Preceded by | Leverett Saltonstall |
| Succeeded by | Mike Mansfield |
| Senate Minority Whip | |
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In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955 |
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| Leader | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Preceded by | Leverett Saltonstall |
| Succeeded by | Leverett Saltonstall |
| 47th Governor of Kentucky | |
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In office December 9, 1947 – November 27, 1950 |
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| Lieutenant | Lawrence W. Wetherby |
| Preceded by | Simeon S. Willis |
| Succeeded by | Lawrence W. Wetherby |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 2nd district |
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In office January 3, 1945 – January 6, 1948 |
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| Preceded by | Beverly M. Vincent |
| Succeeded by | John A. Whitaker |
| Member of the Kentucky Senate | |
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In office 1941–1944 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Earle Chester Clements October 22, 1896 Morganfield, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | March 12, 1985 (aged 88) Morganfield, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Sara M. Blue |
| Alma mater | University of Kentucky |
| Profession | Farmer and politician |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917–1919 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
Earle Chester Clements (October 22, 1896 – March 12, 1985) was an American farmer and politician. He represented the state of Kentucky in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and was its 47th Governor, serving from 1947 to 1950. For three decades, he was the leader of a faction of the state's Democratic Party that stood in opposition to the faction led by two-time governor and senator A. B. "Happy" Chandler.
After following his father into the local politics of his home county, Clements agreed to chair the gubernatorial campaign of Thomas Rhea in 1935. Already committed to Rhea, he turned down an offer from Happy Chandler to chair his campaign, beginning the rift between the two men. Clements went on to the Kentucky Senate in 1941. In 1944, he was selected as Democratic floor leader of the senate and successfully campaigned for a larger budget than that proposed by Republican governor Simeon Willis. His stand against Willis made him popular in the Democratic Party, and he went on to serve two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1944 to 1948.
In 1947, Clements succeeded Willis as governor, defeating Harry Lee Waterfield, Chandler's preferred candidate, in the Democratic primary. As governor, Clements raised taxes and used the revenue to increase funding for the state park system and construct and maintain more roads. He also achieved advancements in education, including some progress toward desegregation. In 1950, Clements was elected to the U.S. Senate. He resigned as governor to accept his Senate seat. While in the Senate, he served as chairman of the Senate Democratic Reelection Committee and as Democratic party whip under party leader Lyndon Johnson. He was defeated by Thruston Morton in his re-election bid in 1956; a lack of support from Chandler (then serving his second term as governor) contributed to Clements' defeat. At Johnson's insistence, Clements resumed chairing the Senate Democratic Reelection Committee in 1957 and 1959.
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