Pepper, Claude, 1900-1989

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Claude Denson Pepper (September 8, 1900 – May 30, 1989) was an American politician of the Democratic Party, and a spokesman for left-liberalism and the elderly. He represented Florida in the United States Senate from 1936 to 1951 and the Miami area in the United States House of Representatives from 1963 until 1989.

Born in Chambers County, Alabama, Pepper established a legal practice in Perry, Florida after graduating from Harvard Law School. After serving a single term in the Florida House of Representatives, Pepper won a 1936 special election to succeed Senator Duncan U. Fletcher. Pepper became one of the most prominent liberals in Congress, supporting legislation such as the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. After World War II, Pepper's conciliatory views towards the Soviet Union and opposition to President Harry Truman's 1948 re-nomination engendered opposition within the party. Pepper lost the 1950 Senate Democratic primary to Congressman George Smathers and returned to private legal practice the following year.

In 1962, Pepper won election to a newly-created district in the United States House of Representatives. He emerged as a staunch anti-Communist and strongly criticized Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Pepper served as Chairman of the House Committee on Aging and pursued reforms to Social Security and Medicare. From 1983 to 1989, he served as Chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee. He died in office in 1989 and was honored with a state funeral. In 2000, the United States Postal Service issued a 33¢ Distinguished Americans series postage stamp honoring Pepper.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn "March of Time" Collection. 1934 - 1951. March of Time Documentary/Newsreel Films Relating to U.S. History, Government, Politics, Culture, and International Affairs. 1935 - 1953. LIFE WITH GRANDPA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Presidential Papers of, Charles Norman Millican, 1963-1978 Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries,
referencedIn Cohen, Wilbur J. (Wilbur Joseph), 1913-1987. Wilbur J. Cohen papers, 1930-1987 (bulk 1935-1979). Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Brown, Barbara Colquhoun Trigg. Scrapbooks [manuscript] 1941. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Fuller, Walter P. (Walter Pliny), 1894-. Walter P. Fuller papers, 1918-1973. University of South Florida, USF Library
referencedIn "March of Time" Collection. 1934 - 1951. March of Time Documentary/Newsreel Films Relating to U.S. History, Government, Politics, Culture, and International Affairs. 1935 - 1953. SPOTLIGHT ON CONGRESS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Robert N. "Bert" Dosh Papers, 1920-1965 Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida
creatorOf Pepper, Claude, 1900-1989. Letter, 1940, to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970. Papers, 1833-1975 (bulk: 1884-1972) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Peterson, Esther, 1906-1997. Papers, 1884-1998 (inclusive), 1929-1998 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Pepper, Claude, 1900-1989. Letters to A[lbert] Craig Baird. Washington, DC. 1940-1944. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn March, Fredric, 1897-1975. Papers, 1899-1970. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn William R. Ratchford Papers, undated, 1961-1986. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Southern Conference for Human Welfare. National Committee to Abolish the Poll Tax records, 1941-1948. Atlanta University Center, Robert W. Woodruff Library
referencedIn Pepper-Smathers Campaign Collection, 1948-1950 Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida
referencedIn Photographs of Peace Corps Activities and Personnel (Contact Sheet File), 1961 - 1990 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Arthur E. Scott photograph collection George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [DEC. 29] National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Pepper, Claude, 1900-1989. Claude Pepper collection, 1915-1993. Florida State University
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [MAY 29] National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Cigar Makers' International Union of America. Archives of the Cigar Makers' International Union [microform], 1856-1974. University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Hodges, James B., 1877-1939. Papers, 1907-1941. University of Florida
referencedIn Carleton, William G. (William Graves), 1901-1982. Correspondence files, 1928-1982. University of Florida
referencedIn Harvard Law School Forums Records Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn James C. Clark research papers, 1930-1993. University of Central Florida, UCF
referencedIn Kitchelt, Florence Ledyard Cross, 1874-1961. Papers, 1885-1961 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn James Velma Keen Papers, 1922-1967, 1955-1967
creatorOf Durr, Virginia Foster. Papers, 1904-1991. Alabama Department of Archives and History
referencedIn National Organization for Women. Videotape collection of the National Organization for Women. 1977-1988. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Jacob Potofsky presidential correspondence, 1946-1974, 1960-1970 (bulk) Cornell University Library
referencedIn Hay, Marion Jewell. Marion Hay collection, 1891-1980. Florida State University
referencedIn Francis Bowes Sayre Papers, 1861-1967, (bulk 1915-1961) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Sanford, Terry, 1917-1998. Terry Sanford Papers, 1926-1996 (bulk 1986-1992) David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Ludlow mss., 1898-1948 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
creatorOf Adamic, Louis, 1899-1951,. Letters to Alfred Kreymborg [manuscript], 1921-1956. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Hannah Kahn Papers, 1939-1987 Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida
referencedIn Douglas, Helen Gahagan, 1900-1980. Oral history interviews of the Biography: Helen Gahagan Douglas Oral History Project, 1973-1983. Indiana University
creatorOf Carl Bert Albert Congressional papers, 1910-1998, bulk 1946-1998. University of Oklahoma, Bizzell Memorial Library
referencedIn Griffith, Leon Odell, 1921-1984. Papers, 1946-1981. University of West Florida, John C. Pace Library
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Robins, Raymond, 1873-1954. Papers, 1878-1956. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Papers of Drew Pearson. Files from the Merry-Go-Round Farm, 1919-1969 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Murphy, Frank, 1890-1949. Papers, 1908-1949 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Pepper, Claude, 1900-1989. Scrapbooks, 1948-1958. University of Florida
referencedIn Sheldon Glueck papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
creatorOf Pepper, Claude, 1900-1989. [Claude Pepper letters to Arthur J. Goldsmith]. Baylor University Libraries, Moody Memorial Library
referencedIn Fox Movietone News Collection. 1957 - 1963. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 1957 - 1963. MOVIETONE NEWS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paul A. Freund papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn James B. Hodges Collection, 1902-1938 Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [SEPT. 3] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn National Council of American-Soviet Friendship (U.S.). Records, 1919-1990. Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Kahn, Hannah. Papers, 1940-1987. University of Florida
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [APR. 20] National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Mitford, Jessica, 1917-1996. Papers, 1949-1973 (bulk 1961-1973). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
Pepper, Claude, 1900-1989. Claude Pepper collection, 1915-1993. Florida State University
creatorOf Slemp, C. Bascom (Campbell Bascom), 1870-1943. Papers of C. Bascom Slemp [manuscript], 1866-1944. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn James C. Clark, Research Papers, 1930-1993 Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries,
referencedIn Scrapbooks Regarding Claude Pepper, 1948-1958 Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida
referencedIn R. Buckminster Fuller Papers Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Durr, Virginia Foster. Papers: Series II, 1929-1991 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn National Organization for Women. Videotape collection of the National Organization for Women. 1977-1988. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Mainor, Charles L. Charles L. Mainor papers, 11-22 Dec 1950, May-5 Dec 1999. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn Carter, Jerry Williams, 1887-1971. Papers, 1923-1971. Florida State University
referencedIn National Council of American-Soviet Friendship Records, 1919-1990 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Dosh, Robert N., 1886-1970. Papers, 1920-1965. University of Florida
referencedIn Papers of James McCauley Landis Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Douglas, Helen Gahagan, 1900-1980. Papers, 1922-1980, bulk 1940-1951. University of Oklahoma, Bizzell Memorial Library
referencedIn Thomas G. Corcoran Papers, 1792-1982, (bulk 1965-1980) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Bruce A. Morrison Papers., undated, 1980-2000. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn The Nation, records, 1879-1974 (inclusive), 1920-1955 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn University of Washington Collection. 1931 - 1977. Audio Recordings Forming the Milo Ryan Phonoarchive of Radio Newscasts Relating to World War II and Special Coverage of Other Historical Events. 1931 - 1977. A CONGRESS SPEAKS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Florence Jaffray Hurst Harriman Papers, 1857-1982, (bulk 1910-1960) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 10/4/78 Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [MAY 24] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Pepper-Smathers Campaign Collection, 1948-1950. University of Florida
referencedIn Papers of Mary E. (Mary Elisabeth) Dreier, 1797-1968 (inclusive), 1897-1968 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970. Papers: Series III-IV, 1900-1972 (inclusive) [microform]. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn 8/6/81, Pres. Anwar Sadat and Rep. Jim Wright (T-30123) Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Isidore Sydney Falk papers, 1918-1984 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Pepper, Claude, 1900-1989. Correspondence with Theodore Dreiser, 1944. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn President's alphabetical file, 1933-1945. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS {OCT. 21} National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Willett, Suzanne. Suzanne Willett play, "Red Pepper", 2010. Florida State University
creatorOf Pepper, Claude, 1900-1989. Reminiscences of Claude Denson Pepper : oral history, 1967. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Nancy Hanks Papers, 1894-1987, (bulk 1945-1983) David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Falk, I. S. (Isidore Sydney), 1899-1984. Isidore Sydney Falk papers, 1918-1984 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Germer, Adolph. Papers, 1898-1966. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Eldridge mss., 1941-1978 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Papers, 1884-1998 (inclusive), 1929-1988 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Baldwin, Calvin Benham, 1902-1975. Papers of C.B. Baldwin, 1933-1975. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Ben C. Willis Addresses and Article, 1972, 1986
referencedIn Keen, James Velma. James Velma Keen papers, 1922-1967 (inclusive) (bulk 1955-1967). Florida State University
referencedIn Florida State College for Women / Florida State University Phi Beta Kappa Alpha of Florida Chapter., 1935-1965, 1984, 1935-1965
referencedIn Nancy L. Johnson Papers, undated, 1983-2006. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn President's alphabetical file, 1933-1945. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Miller, Francis Pickens, 1895-1978. Papers of Francis Pickens Miller [manuscript], 1885-1976. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Papers of Mary E. (Mary Elisabeth) Dreier, 1797-1968 (inclusive), 1897-1968 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Robertson, William D., Papers, 1933-1961 University of West Florida Libraries
creatorOf Pepper, Claude, 1900-. Miscellaneous papers. Jacksonville University, Carl S. Swisher Library
referencedIn Cigar Makers' International Union of America. Archives of the Cigar Makers' International Union [microform], 1856-1974. University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Papers, 1941-1944. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Graham, Frank Porter, 1886-1972. Frank Porter Graham papers, 1908-1990. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Sullivan, Patricia, 1950-. Progressive Party oral history interviews, 1975-1982. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 6/12/80 [1] Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. DEDICATION OF KEY WEST DESALINIZATION PLANT BY VICE PRESIDENT HUMPHREY Key West, Fla National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Hutchinson, Martin Ashton, 1892-1962. Papers of Martin Ashton Hutchinson [manuscript] 1923-62. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Papers of Virginia Foster Durr, 1919-2007 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Florida AFL-CIO. Flordia AFL-CIO records, 1965-1968. Georgia State University
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS. [OCT. 15] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn National Council of American-Soviet Friendship Records, Bulk, 1943-1988, 1919-1990 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Papers of Drew Pearson. 1915 - 1969. Files from the Georgetown Office and Residence Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
Relation Name
associatedWith Albert, Carl Bert, 1908-2000. person
associatedWith Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. President. corporateBody
associatedWith Arthur E. Scott, 1917-1976 person
associatedWith Baird, Albert Craig, 1883-1979, person
associatedWith Baldwin, Calvin Benham, 1902-1975. person
associatedWith Carleton, William G. (William Graves), 1901-1982. person
associatedWith Carter, Jerry Williams, 1887-1971. person
associatedWith Charles Norman Millican person
associatedWith Cigar Makers International Union corporateBody
associatedWith Cigar Makers' International Union of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Clark, James C., 1947- person
associatedWith Cohen, Wilbur J. (Wilbur Joseph), 1913-1987. person
associatedWith Communist Party of the United States of America. corporateBody
correspondedWith Corcoran, Thomas G. person
associatedWith Corning, Peter A., 1935-, person
associatedWith Created by Ben C. Willis person
associatedWith Created by FSCW/FSU Phi Beta Kappa. person
associatedWith Dosh, Robert N., 1886-1970 person
associatedWith Douglas, Helen Gahagan, 1900-1980. person
associatedWith Dreier, Mary E. (Mary Elisabeth), 1875-1963 person
associatedWith Durr, Virginia Foster person
associatedWith Eldridge, James Anthony, 1920-1978 person
associatedWith Falk, Isadore Sydney, 1899-1984 person
associatedWith Florida AFL-CIO. corporateBody
associatedWith Florida. Legislature. House of Representatives. corporateBody
associatedWith Fuller, R. Buckminster (Richard Buckminster), 1895-1983 person
associatedWith Fuller, Walter P. (Walter Pliny), 1894- person
associatedWith Germer, Adolph. person
associatedWith Glueck, Sheldon, 1896- person
correspondedWith Goldsmith, Arthur J. person
associatedWith Graham, Frank Porter, 1886-1972. person
correspondedWith Griffith, Leon Odell, 1921-1984. person
associatedWith Hanks, Nancy, 1927-1983 person
correspondedWith Harriman, Florence Jaffray, 1870-1967. person
correspondedWith Harvard Law School Forum corporateBody
correspondedWith Hay, Marion Jewell. person
associatedWith Hodges, James B., 1877-1939 person
associatedWith Holland, Spessard L. (Spessard Lindsey), 1892-1971. person
associatedWith Hutchinson, Martin Ashton, 1892-1962. person
associatedWith Johnson, Nancy Lee, 1935- person
associatedWith Kahn, Hannah person
associatedWith Kahn, Hannah. person
associatedWith Keen, James Velma. person
associatedWith Kitchelt, Florence Ledyard Cross, 1874-1961. person
correspondedWith Landis, James McCauley, 1899-1964. person
associatedWith Ludlow, Louis, 1873-1950 person
correspondedWith Mainor, Charles L. person
associatedWith March, Fredric, 1897-1975. person
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970 person
associatedWith Miller, Francis Pickens, 1895-1978. person
associatedWith Mitford, Jessica, 1917-1996. person
associatedWith Morrison, Bruce A. person
associatedWith Murphy, Frank, 1890-1949 person
associatedWith National Council of American-Soviet Friendship (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith National Organization for Women person
associatedWith National Organization for Women. corporateBody
associatedWith Nation (New York, N.Y. : 1865). corporateBody
associatedWith Nation (New York, N.Y. : 1865). corporateBody
associatedWith Papers created by James Velma Keen. person
associatedWith Paul A. Freund person
correspondedWith Pepper, Mildred person
associatedWith Peterson, Esther Eggertsen, 1906-1997 person
associatedWith Ratchford, William R. person
associatedWith Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961 person
associatedWith Richards, Augustus L. person
correspondedWith Robertson, William D. person
associatedWith Robins, Raymond, 1873-1954. person
associatedWith Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945. person
correspondedWith Sanford, Terry, 1917-1998 person
associatedWith Sayre, Francis Bowes, 1885-1972. person
associatedWith Scott, Arthur E., 1917-1976. person
associatedWith Slemp, C. Bascom (Campbell Bascom), 1870-1943. person
associatedWith Southern Conference for Human Welfare. corporateBody
associatedWith Sullivan, Patricia, 1950- person
associatedWith United States. Congress corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. Senate. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Social Security Administration. corporateBody
associatedWith Willett, Suzanne. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Florida FL US
Chambers County AL US
Fayetteville AR US
Perry FL US
Miami FL US
Washington, D. C. DC US
Subject
Elections
Lawyers
Legislators
Legislators
Medicare
Old age pensions
Social security
Social security
Occupation
Attorney
Lawyer
Politician
Professor
Representative
Senator
Activity

Person

Birth 1900-09-08

Death 1989-05-30

Male

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6sr9r2z

SNAC ID: 85690408