Frederic René Coudert

Frederic René Coudert Jr. (May 7, 1898 – May 21, 1972) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York from 1947 to 1959, and a member of the New York State Senate from 1939 to 1946. Prior to serving in Congress, he was best known for his role with New York's Rapp-Coudert Committee, which attempted to identify the extent of communist influence in the state of New York's public education system. The committee's inquiries led to the dismissal of more than 40 instructors and staff members at the City College of New York, actions the committee's critics regarded as a political "witch-hunt."

Background Coudert was born in New York City on May 7, 1898, the son of Frederic René Coudert II (1871–1955) and Alice T. (Wilmerding) Coudert. He attended the Browning and Morristown Schools in New York City, In 1918, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia College as part of a program that awarded degrees to military members through a combination of academic study and military service.

Coudert was discharged from the army in 1919 and began attending Columbia Law School. He was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for New York County District Attorney in 1929. In the 85th Congress (1957 to 1959), he became the ranking Republican on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Departments of State and Justice, the Judiciary and Related Agencies. Coudert voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

In 1954 and 1956 Coudert won reelection with fewer than 51% of the vote. Facing a rising young Republican liberal, John V. Lindsay, in 1958, he ceded the Republican nomination and retired from the House.

Post-congressional career 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.

Retirement and death He retired due to ill health, and died in New York City on May 21, 1972. He was buried at Memorial Cemetery in Cold Spring Harbor, New York. In addition, he was a recipient of the French Legion 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. The marriage ended in divorce in May 1931, and in October of that year he married Paula Murray.

Coudert was the grandson of prominent attorney Frederic René Coudert Sr. and great-grandson of Benjamin F. Tracy, who served as United States Secretary of the Navy from 1889 to 1893.