Estes Kefauver (1903-1963)
Madisonville native Estes Kefauver was a U.S. congressman and senator from Tennessee. He graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and received his law degree from Yale Law School.
As a supporter of Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt, he won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1939, and served there ten years. He defended civil liberties, supported aid to education, and cosponsored the G. I. Bill which gave benefits to American servicemen.
In 1948, Kefauver led a political revolt against the E. H. Crump machine by running for U.S. Senate against a Crump man, Tom Steward. After Crump described him as “pet coon for the Soviets,” Kefauver began wearing what would become his trademark--a coon-skin cap. Kefauver was able to overcome the machine vote and won.
Kefauver became the first political television star after leading congressional investigations of organized crime. It was one of the first congressional hearings to be televised, so it attracted a lot of viewers who were curious on how their congressional representatives worked. Kefauver became popular as a crusader against crime.
As a result of his popularity, he ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1952, winning 14 of the 17 primaries. But at the convention, he lost to Adlai Stevenson. In 1956, when Stevenson was again the nominee, Kefauver was chosen as his vice-presidential nominee. The Stevenson/Kefauver ticket was defeated by President Dwight Eisenhower .
Kefauver supported the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, which ended segregation by law. He was one of two Tennessee senators who refused to sign the Southern Manifesto opposing it. His stand did not cost him votes as Tennesseans overwhelmingly continued to reelect him to the Senate.
He was an early supporter of consumer rights laws. His investigation into the dangers of prescription drugs led to the passage of the Kefauver-Harris Drug Control Act of 1962. Kefauver also cosponsored a bill to end the poll tax, and supported the development of fuel-efficient cars. Tragically, he died of a heart attack on the Senate floor in 1963.Picture Credits:
- Photograph of Estes Kefauver displaying the coon tail on his homburg style hat. He appears to be attending a luncheon. Tennessee State Museum Collection, 2005.51.10.6
- Kefauver with his trademark coonskin cap that he wore as a joke after a political oppenent compared him to a pet raccoon. Photograph was taken in 1952. Tennessee Library and Archives
- The March 21, 1951 front cover of TIME magazine showing Estes Kefauver with an octopus representing organized crime. The copy says "Crime Hunter Kefauver: Gamblers+ Politicians=Corruption." Tennessee State Museum Collection
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