Jonas, Charles R. (Charles Raper), 1904-1988

Charles Raper Jonas, of Lincolnton, who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1953 to 1973, holds the distinction of being the only North Carolina Republican to serve more than a single term in Congress between the turn of the century and 1962. Son of Charles Anderson Jonas, a prominent Lincolnton lawyer and Republican who served in Congress from 1929 to 1931, Jonas was active in the North Carolina Bar, the Republican party, and the North Carolina National Guard prior to his election. As a congressman he used his position on the Appropriations Committee to work for fiscal responsibility in the federal government. The highest ranking Republican in the state for much of his congressional career, Jonas was known as Mr. Republican and the Watchdog of the Treasury and was a fiscal and social conservative.

• 9 December 1904: Born in Lincolnton, son of Rose Petrie and Charles Anderson Jonas.
• 1925: Received his A.B. from the University of North Carolina, where his activities included serving as president of the Dialectic Society.
• 1927: Passed the North Carolina Bar exam.
• 27 December 1927: Commissioned as a first lieutenant in the North Carolina National Guard.
• 1928: Received his J.D. from the University of North Carolina, where he served as editor of the law review.
• 14 August 1929: Married Annie Eliott Lee.
• 1929: Formed the Lincolnton law firm of Jonas and Jonas with his father.
• 1941 - 1946 : Served in the United States Army in Raleigh, North Carolina, on the state draft board and Judge Advocates Office.
• 1946: Resigned his commission as a lieutenant colonel.
• 1952: Defeated Congressman Hamilton C. Jones in the 10th North Carolina district, consisting of Mecklenburg, Lincoln, Mitchell, Avery, Burke, and Catawba counties, with 57% of the vote. He carried urban and black areas and lost in rural areas.
• January 1953: Seated in the 83rd Congress and appointed to the Committee on Committees and to the Appropriations Committee, where he served on the subcommittee on Independent Offices.
• September 1954: The Jonas Motor Pool Bill passed by Congress, organizing the federal government's vehicles into a more economical structure.
• 1954: Reelected in the 10th district, with 57% of the vote, defeating J.C. Sedberry.
• January 1955: Seated in the 84th Congress; appointed to the Committee on Government Operations and its subcommittees on Executive and Legislative Reorganization, Public Works and Resources, and Donable Property; reappointed to the Appropriations Committee and its subcommittee on Independent Offices; chosen a vice chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
• 1956: Reelected in the 10th district, with 63% of the vote, defeating Ben Douglas.
• January 1957: Seated in the 85th Congress and reappointed to the Appropriations Committee and its subcommittee on Independent Offices.
• 1958: Reelected in the 10th district, with 52% of the vote, defeating David Clark.
• January 1959: Seated in the 86th Congress, reappointed to the Appropriations Committee and its subcommittee on Independent Office, and appointed to its subcommittee on Military Construction.
• 1960: Reelected in the 10th district, with 59% of the vote, defeating David Clark.
• January 1961: Seated in the 87th Congress and reappointed to previous positions.
• 1962: Elected in the new 8th district, consisting of Mecklenburg, Lincoln, Union, Anson, Richmond, Montgomery, Moore, and Lee counties, with 56% of the vote, defeating fellow incumbent Paul Kitchin.
• January 1963: Seated in the 88th Congress and reappointed to previous positions.
• 1964: Declined invitations to run for governor; reelected in the 8th district, with 54% of the vote, defeating W. D. James.
• January 1965: Seated in the 89th Congress and reappointed to previous positions.
• 1966: Reelected in the 8th district, with 71% of the vote, defeating John Plumides.
• January 1967: Seated in the 90th Congress and reappointed to previous positions.
• 1968: Elected in the new 9th district, consisting of Mecklenburg, Lincoln, Wilkes, and Iredell counties, in an uncontested election.
• January 1969: Seated in the 91st Congress and reappointed to previous positions.
• 1970: Reelected in the 9th district, with 67% of the vote, defeating Cy Bahakel.
• January 1971: Seated in the 92nd Congress and reappointed to previous positions.
• 1972: Second ranking Republican on the Appropriation Committee, Jonas announced he would not seek an eleventh term in Congress.
• 1973: Returned to private legal practice in Lincolnton.
• 1984: Charles Raper Jonas Highway, N.C. Route 27, between Lincolnton and Charlotte, named.
• 28 September 1988: Died at his home in Lincolnton

From the guide to the Charles R. Jonas Papers, 1806, ;, 1918-1984, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)