(1862-1927) Indiana Senator, Pulitzer Prize Winning Historian Orator and Imperialist, considered one of the most dynamic Senator's of the 20th Century. An outstanding orator at an early age, he helped put himself through law school by winning oratorical contests. He practiced law and was involved in politics, being chosen as a compromise candidate for the Senate in 1898, winning the election. Within his first year he became the chief spokesperson for Imperialism. With America taking possession of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War, Beveridge became noted for his racist speeches in which he insisted that God had chosen Anglo-Saxons to rule over a world full of inferior races, particularly Orientals. He also argued that the Philippine-American War, known for its cruelty on the part of American fighting forces, was in fact justified because of the nature of the Filipinos. He spoke regularly on the Senate floor and across the country, becoming America's "Number One Imperialist." Re-elected, he became part of the Midwestern progressives and a strong supporter of President Roosevelt. Beveridge became important in the movement that got the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Acts passed. He also championed legislation to regulate child labor. As a reformer he also opposed President Taft and fought to defeat the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act. His progressivism and reform angered the "Old Guard" back in Indiana and in they failed to support his re-election, which was won by a Democrat. He was also know for his brashness and lack of respect for the many of his fellow Senator¿s that he felt intellectually superior to. In 1912 he gave the keynote speech at the Progressive Party Convention and was the nominee of the Progressive Party for Governor of Indiana. He lost the race and two years later, again as a Progressive, lost a race for the Senate. In 1916 he returned to the Republican Party and supported Charles Evans Hughes but never was fully accepted by the party. Beveridge defeated fellow Republican Senator Henry New for the Senate nomination and while defeating him, was beaten by the Democrats. After his political defeat in 1910 he turned to a second successful career as a writer and historian. His first books were aimed at a juvenile audience but gained acclaim with other historical work. His books include The Young Man and the World, The Meaning of the Times, Americans of Today and Tomorrow, Pass Prosperity Around, What Is Back of the War and then turned to several well received biographies including his two volume work on Justice John Marshall, Stephen A. Douglas and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize posthumously for his two volume biography of Lincoln. Besides being an imperialist he was an extreme nationalist and strongly anti-British supporting the German, Austro-Hungarian Axis against the allies until America's entry into WW I. Very Fine Early Fountain Pen Sig.

Ask a question about this item. 

Return to Catalog