William Aloysius Barrett

William Aloysius Barrett (August 14, 1896 – April 12, 1976) was an American lawyer, politician, and member of the Democratic Party who served in the United States House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania's South Philadelphia-based 1st district from 1945 to 1947 and again from 1949 until his death in 1976.

Early life William Aloysius Barrett was born on August 14, 1896, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Irish immigrants. He had thirteen siblings, and his father died when he was two years old, forcing his mother to scrub floors to support the family. Barrett initially went to school at Thomas Parochial School, but he left and sought work to support the family. He soon found employment as an apprentice boilermaker and welder at the Atlantic Refining Company's plant at Point Breeze, carrying a union card for the Boilermakers' Union until his death. Later, he resumed his education, attending the Brown Preparatory School in Philadelphia and St. Joseph's College. He subsequently studied law at the South Jersey Law School in Camden, New Jersey, before working in the real estate business. However, he found the most success in running a taproom.

Barrett married Rose Timmins, four years his junior, and the couple had three children: Rosemary in 1924, and Gertrude in 1925 and Margaret in 1928. His wife, Rose, died in 1964. By the time of Barrett's death in 1976, he had fifteen grandchildren. In his first forays into local politics, Barrett served on the Philadelphia Board of Mercantile Appraisers and the Democratic City Committee, but lost two Philadelphia City Council races in 1935 and 1939. However, Barrett persisted, serving as a legislative aide to Congressman James P. McGranery until McGranery resigned to become an assistant to the Attorney General in 1943.

Congress Barrett ran for Congress again in the 1944 November election, defeating incumbent Republican James A. Gallagher, but lost to him in a rematch during the Republican sweep of Congress two years later. Despite his loss, Barrett was dead set on returning to Congress, succeeding in November of 1948. He won re-election thirteen subsequent times. Barrett was also a staunch supporter of civil rights, voting for the 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968 Civil Rights Acts. Barrett also introduced legislation to designate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. as a legal public holiday in January 1973, thirteen years before its first official observance in 1986. Due to his Catholic faith, Barrett was a strong opponent of abortion, unsuccessfully introducing a constitutional amendment to outlaw it in 1975.

During his tenure in Congress, he also acquired a reputation for being extremely devoted to his constituents. Most days, after working on Capitol Hill, he would fly back to Philadelphia to see his constituents in the evening, the only congressman to do so. "His interest in serving his constituents was unmatched," said Florida congressman Bob Sikes about Barrett. "Few people have worked harder for the people they represent."

As Barrett's time in office grew longer, the demographics of South Philadelphia neighborhoods changed. At the time of his death, his house was the only one on his block occupied by a white family.

Death Barrett died from pneumonia at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 12, 1976, at age 79.

Barrett's funeral was held on April 14, 1976, at the Philadelphia Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. He was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania.

At the time of his death, Barrett had already announced his intention to run for reelection. Fifteen days after his death, Philadelphia voters renominated him posthumously. He was replaced on the ballot by state representative Ozzie Myers.

Electoral history + Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district: January 1944 special election Year Subject Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes % 1944 | |William A. Barrett |Democratic |19,168 |43.41 | |Joseph M. Pratt |Republican |24,991 |56.59 + Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district: Results 1944-1974 Year Subject Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes % 1944 | |William A. Barrett |Democratic |73,289 |58.42 | |James A. Gallagher (inc.) |Republican |52,159 |41.58 1946 | |William A. Barrett (inc.) |Democratic |52,593 |42.66 | |James A. Gallagher |Republican |70,680 |57.34 1948 | |William A. Barrett |Democratic |70,165 |53.43 | |John De Niro |Republican |61,165 |46.57 1950 | |William A. Barrett (inc.) |Democratic |69,300 |53.77 | |Robert M. Sebastian |Republican |59,593 |46.23 1952 | |William A. Barrett (inc.) |Democratic |89,879 |68.18 | |James Iannucci |Republican |41,948 |31.82 1954 | |William A. Barrett (inc.) |Democratic |68,531 |61.50 | |Joseph A. Graham |Republican |42,893 |38.50 1956 | |William A. Barrett (inc.) |Democratic |74,511 |62.70 | |A.J. Cammarota |Republican |44,333 |37.30 1958 | |William A. Barrett (inc.) |Democratic |67,531 |64.69 | |Gerard Iannelli |Republican |36,854 |35.31 1960 | |William A. Barrett (inc.) |Democratic |88,505 |76.89 | |Michael Grasso Jr. |Republican |26,601 |23.11 1962 | |William A. Barrett (inc.) |Democratic |102,722 |63.54 | |Winifred H. Malinowski |Republican |58,953 |36.46 1964 | |William A. Barrett (inc.) |Democratic |129,471 |71.83 | |Alvin J. Bello |Republican |50,780 |28.17 1966 | |William A. Barrett (inc.) |Democratic |90,100 |66.07 | |Beatrice K. Chernock |Republican |46,280 |33.93 1968 | |William A. Barrett (inc.) |Democratic |113,696 |74.74 | |Leslie J. Carson, Jr |Republican |38,432 |25.26 1970 | |William A. Barrett (inc.) |Democratic |79,425 |69.22 | |Joseph S. Ziccardi |Republican |34,649 |30.20 1972 | |William A. Barrett (inc.) |Democratic |118,953 |66.11 | |Gus A. Pedicone |Republican |59,807 |33.24 1974 | |William A. Barrett (inc.) |Democratic |96,988 |75.83 | |Russell M. Nigro |Republican |29,772 |23.28