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Frederic Coudert Jr.

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"Frederic Coudert" redirects here. For the co-founder of Coudert Brothers, seeFrederic René Coudert Sr.
Frederic René Coudert Jr.
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromNew York's17thdistrict
In office
January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1959
Preceded byJoseph C. Baldwin
Succeeded byJohn Lindsay
Member of theNew York State Senate
from the20thdistrict
In office
1945–1946
Preceded byAlexander A. Falk
Succeeded byMacNeil Mitchell
Member of theNew York State Senate
from the17thdistrict
In office
1939–1944
Preceded byLeon A. Fischel
Succeeded byRobert S. Bainbridge
Personal details
Born(1898-05-07)May 7, 1898
New York City,US
DiedMay 21, 1972(1972-05-21)(aged 74)
New York City,US
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m.1923;div.1930)​
  • Paula Murray
    ​
    (m.1931)​
Children3
Parent
Alma mater
AwardsColumbia University Medal for Distinguished Public Service
Legion of Honor(Chevalier) (France)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1917–1919
RankFirst Lieutenant
Unit105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division
Battles/warsWorld War I

Frederic René Coudert Jr.(May 7, 1898 – May 21, 1972) was a member of theUnited States House of RepresentativesfromNew Yorkfrom 1947 to 1959, and a member of theNew York State Senatefrom 1939 to 1946. Prior to serving in Congress, he was best known for his role with New York'sRapp-Coudert Committee,which attempted to identify the extent ofcommunistinfluence in thestate of New York'spublic educationsystem. The committee's inquiries lead to the dismissal of more than 40 instructors and staff members at theCity College of New York,actions the committee's critics regarded as a political "witch-hunt."

Background

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Coudert was born inNew York Cityon May 7, 1898, the son ofFrederic René Coudert, II(1871–1955) and Alice T. (Wilmerding) Coudert.[1]He attended theBrowningandMorristown Schoolsin New York City,[1]then entered Harvard College in 1916, but when the US enteredWorld War I,Coudert joined the Army.[1]He served in France as afirst lieutenantassigned to the 105th InfantryRegiment,a unit of the27th Division.[1][2]In 1918, he received hisBachelor of Artsdegree fromColumbia Collegeas part of a program that awarded degrees to military members through a combination of academic study and military service.[3]

Coudert was discharged from the army in 1919 and began attendingColumbia Law School.[1]He received hisLL.B.degree in 1922, wasadmitted to the barin 1923, and commencedpracticein New York City.[1]He served as an assistantUnited States attorneyfor theSouthern District of New Yorkin 1924 and 1925.[1]

Politics

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Coudert was a member ofThe New York Young Republican Club.[4]He was an unsuccessfulRepublicancandidate forNew York County District Attorneyin 1929.[1]He was a delegate to the Republican state conventions every two years from 1930 to 1948, and the Republican National Conventions every four years from 1936 to 1948.[1]

From 1939 to 1946, Coudert was a member of theNew York State Senate,sitting in the162nd,163rd,164thand165th New York State Legislatures.[1]

He was elected as a Republican to the80th,81st,82nd,83rd,84thand85th United States Congresses,holding office from January 3, 1947, to January 3, 1959.[1]Coudert voted in favor of theCivil Rights Act of 1957.[5]

Post-congressional career

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He continued his practice of law in New York City, and was also a member of the State Commission on Governmental Operations of New York City from 1959 to 1961.[1]Coudert was an outspoken conservative and endorsedWilliam F. Buckley's 1965 Conservative campaign for the New York City mayoralty over liberal Republican CongressmanJohn Lindsay.[6]

Retirement and death

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He retired due to ill health, and died in New York City on May 21, 1972.[7]He was buried at Memorial Cemetery inCold Spring Harbor, New York.[7]

Awards

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In 1941, Coudert received the Columbia University Medal for Distinguished Public Service.[8]In addition, he was a recipient of the FrenchLegion of Honor(Chevalier) to recognize his efforts on behalf of the French people, including serving as president of the federation of French Alliances In the United States.[8]

Family

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In June 1923, Coudert married sculptorMary Callery.[9]The marriage ended in divorce in May 1931,[10]and in October of that year he married Paula Murray.[8]With his first wife, Coudert was the father of daughter Catherine.[10]With his second, he was the father of son Frederic R. "Fritz" and daughter Paula.[11]

Coudert was the great-grandson ofBenjamin F. Tracy,who served asUnited States Secretary of the Navyfrom 1889 to 1893.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcdefghijklJoint Committee On Printing, U.S. Congress (1961).Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1961.Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 741–742 – viaGoogle Books.
  2. ^"New York Abstracts of National Guard Service in WWI, 1917-1919, Entry for Frederic Rene Coudert Jr".Ancestry.com.Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com LLC.RetrievedSeptember 26,2023.
  3. ^Columbia University Catalogue for 1918–1919.New York, NY: Columbia University. 1919. p. 259 – viaGoogle Books.
  4. ^"History: Timeline; 1945".NYYRC.com.New York Young Republicans Club.RetrievedSeptember 26,2023.
  5. ^"HR 6127, Civil Rights Act of 1957".Gov Track.us.Civic Impulse, LLC. June 18, 1957.RetrievedSeptember 26,2023.
  6. ^Buckley, William F. Jr.(2015).The Unmaking of a Mayor.New York, NY: Encounter Books. p. 379.ISBN978-1-59403-847-1– viaGoogle Books.
  7. ^abJoint Committee On Printing, U.S. Congress (2005).Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005.Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 879.ISBN978-0-1607-3176-1– viaGoogle Books.
  8. ^abcd"Frederic Coudert Jr., 74, Dead; Represented East Side In House".The New York Times.New York, NY. May 23, 1972. p. 45 – viaTimesMachine.
  9. ^"F. R. Coudert Jr. Married; Weds Miss Mary K. Callery in Sacred Heart Church, Hot Springs".The New York Times.New York, NY. June 24, 1923. p. 26 – viaTimes Machine.
  10. ^ab"Mrs. Coudert Wins Divorce In Paris".The Brooklyn Daily Times.Brooklyn, NY. May 31, 1931. p. 1 – viaNewspapers.com.
  11. ^"1940 United States Federal Census, Entry for Fredrick Coudert Family".Ancestry.com.Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com LLC. 1940.RetrievedSeptember 26,2023.
[edit]
New York State Senate
Preceded by Member of theNew York State Senate
from the17thdistrict
1939–1944 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of theNew York State Senate
from the20thdistrict
1945–1946 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromNew York's 17th congressional district
1947–1959 		Succeeded by
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