J. Caleb Boogs

James Caleb Boggs (May 15, 1909 – March 26, 1993) was an American lawyer and politician from Claymont, Delaware. A Republican, he was commonly known by his middle name, Caleb, frequently shortened to Cale.

He was a veteran of World War II, and a member of the Republican Party, who served three terms as U.S. Representative from Delaware, two terms as Governor of Delaware, and two terms as U.S. Senator from Delaware. He lost re-election in 1972 to future president of the United States Joe Biden.

Early life and education Boggs was born on May 15, 1909, at Cheswold, Delaware, the son of Edgar Jefferson and Lettie Vaughn Boggs. Boggs joined the Delaware National Guard in 1926 and became a reserve officer that year.

Education He graduated from the University of Delaware in 1931 with an A.B. degree and later graduated from Georgetown Law School in 1937

United States Senator

Boggs was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1960, narrowly defeating incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator J. Allen Frear Jr. by 2,784 votes, and becoming the only Republican to defeat an incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator that year. He won re-election in 1966, defeating Democrat James M. Tunnell Jr. by 30,005 votes — his widest margin of victory in any of his elections. He served from January 3, 1961, to January 3, 1973. Boggs voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968, as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the confirmation of Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Boggs lost his bid for a third term in 1972 to the future 47th Vice President and 46th President, Democrat Joe Biden, then a New Castle County councilman. Boggs was a reluctant candidate that year, being persuaded to run only to help avoid a divisive primary election. Biden waged an energetic campaign, questioning Boggs's age and ability, and went on to defeat Boggs by 3,162 votes. In his last years, Boggs lived in Wilmington, Delaware, where he continued to practice law until retiring in the early 1980s.

Death and legacy Boggs' health declined in his final years due to diabetes and cancer. His wife, Elizabeth, died on April 1, 1992, and he died just under a year later, on March 26, 1993, at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware. He is buried in the Old Presbyterian Cemetery in Dover, on the grounds of the Delaware State Museum.

The J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building at 844 King Street in Wilmington, Delaware is named for him.

List of General Assembly sessions Delaware General Assembly (sessions while Governor)YearAssemblySenate MajorityPresidentpro temporeHouse MajoritySpeaker1953–1954117thRepublicanThomas L. JohnsonRepublicanFrank A. Jones1955–1956118thDemocraticCharles G. MooreDemocraticJames R. Quigley1957–1958119thDemocraticLemuel HickmanDemocraticHarry E. Mayhew1959–1960120thDemocraticAllen J. CookDemocraticSherman W. Tribbitt

Elections J. H. Tyler McConnellDemocratic85,04748%1960U.S. SenatorJ. Caleb BoggsRepublican98,87451%J. Allen Frear, Jr.Democratic96,09049%1966U.S. SenatorJ. Caleb BoggsRepublican97,26859%James M. Tunnell, Jr.Democratic67,26341%1972U.S. SenatorJ. Caleb BoggsRepublican112,84449%Joe BidenDemocratic116,00650%