Caleb Boggs

Caleb Boggs was an American politician who served as a United States Senator from Delaware from 1961 to 1973. He was a member of the Republican Party and previously served as the Governor of Delaware from 1953 to 1960. Boggs was born in Cheswold, Delaware and graduated from Delaware Law School. He was a veteran of World War I and served in the United States Army.

● Early Life and Education

Caleb Boggs was born on May 15, 1909, in Cheswold, Delaware, to Henry Boggs and Byrdie Boggs. He attended Cheswold Public School and later graduated from Delaware Law School in 1929. Boggs was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1930 and began practicing law in Dover, Delaware. He was a member of the American Bar Association and the Delaware State Bar Association. During World War I, Boggs served in the United States Army and was stationed in France with the Allied Powers. After the war, he returned to Delaware and became involved in Republican Party politics, attending the Republican National Convention in 1932.

● Career

Boggs began his career in politics in the 1930s, serving as a Delaware State Representative from 1929 to 1939. He was a member of the Delaware General Assembly and served on the Judiciary Committee. In 1939, Boggs was appointed as the United States Attorney for the District of Delaware by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He served in this position until 1943, when he resigned to run for Governor of Delaware. Boggs was a strong supporter of the New Deal policies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and worked closely with Delaware Senator John G. Townsend Jr.. He was also a member of the National Governors Association and attended the National Conference of Governors in 1950.

● Governor of Delaware

Caleb Boggs was elected as the Governor of Delaware in 1952, defeating Democratic Party candidate Elbert N. Carvel. He served as governor from 1953 to 1960 and was a strong advocate for Delaware's chemical industry and agriculture. During his tenure, Boggs worked closely with DuPont and other major corporations to promote economic development in the state. He was also a supporter of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 and worked to improve Delaware's transportation infrastructure. Boggs was a member of the National Governors Association and attended the National Conference of Governors in 1955.

● United States Senate

In 1960, Boggs was elected to the United States Senate, defeating Democratic Party candidate Elbert N. Carvel. He served in the Senate from 1961 to 1973 and was a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Boggs was a strong supporter of the Vietnam War and worked closely with President Lyndon B. Johnson and Secretary of State Dean Rusk. He was also a member of the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences and supported the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Apollo program. Boggs was a friend and colleague of Senator Everett Dirksen and Senator Margaret Chase Smith.

● Personal Life

Caleb Boggs married Elizabeth Muir in 1935, and they had two children, Caleb Boggs Jr. and Martha Boggs. He was a member of the Episcopal Church and attended Christ Church in Dover, Delaware. Boggs was a strong supporter of the Boy Scouts of America and served as a Scoutmaster in his local troop. He was also a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. After retiring from the Senate, Boggs returned to Delaware and practiced law in Wilmington, Delaware. He died on March 26, 1993, at the age of 83, and was buried in Lombardy Cemetery in Dover, Delaware. Category:United States Senators from Delaware