Edward Vaughn Long (July 18, 1908 – November 6, 1972) was a United States Senator from Missouri and a member of the Democratic Party. He served in the United States Senate from 1960 until 1968. One of his most notable accomplishments as a US Senator writing the final draft of the Freedom of Information Act which passed in 1966 after 11 years of research, creation, and fight by the "Father of the Freedom of Information Act", Representative John E. Moss (D) of Sacramento, California.

Edward V. Long
United States Senator
from Missouri
In office
September 23, 1960 – December 27, 1968
Preceded byThomas Hennings
Succeeded byThomas Eagleton
36th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri
In office
January 14, 1957 – September 23, 1960
GovernorJames T. Blair Jr.
Preceded byJames T. Blair Jr.
Succeeded byHilary A. Bush
Member of the Missouri State Senate
In office
1945–1955
Personal details
Born
Edward Vaughn Long

(1908-07-18)July 18, 1908
Whiteside, Missouri, U.S.
DiedNovember 6, 1972(1972-11-06) (aged 64)
Eolia, Missouri, U.S.
Resting placeGrand View Burial Park
39°40′06.6″N 91°24′55.4″W / 39.668500°N 91.415389°W / 39.668500; -91.415389 (Edward V. Long Burial Site)
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materCulver-Stockton College
University of Missouri

Biography

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Born in rural Lincoln County, Missouri near Whiteside, he was educated at Culver-Stockton College and the University of Missouri.

After holding various local offices in Bowling Green and Pike County, Long was elected to the Missouri State Senate, where he served from 1945 to 1955; he was elected majority floor leader in 1952 and President pro tempore in 1955.

In his first statewide race, he was elected the Lieutenant Governor of Missouri in 1956, serving from 1957 until his appointment in 1960 by Governor James T. Blair Jr. to the Senate seat made vacant by the death of Thomas C. Hennings Jr. He won election to the Senate in his own right in 1962, but lost a primary challenge to Thomas Eagleton in 1968, and resigned his seat on December 27 of that year, resuming his law practice in Missouri. Long voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968,[1][2] as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,[3] the Voting Rights Act of 1965,[4] and the confirmation of Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court.[5]

On November 6, 1972, Long died unexpectedly at the age of 64. Five months later, his personal secretary told prosecutors in Clarksville, Missouri, that he had told her that he believed that he had been poisoned by candy which had been sent to him in the mail, although no box of candy was found later in the home, which had been broken into two days after his death. No charges were ever filed arising from Long's death. Long's widow filed a $3.25 million lawsuit against the secretary on the same day of the report to police.[6]

Long is buried in Grand View Burial Park, Hannibal, Missouri.

References

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  1. ^ "HR. 7152. PASSAGE".
  2. ^ "TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN SALE OR RENTAL OF HOUSING, AND TO PROHIBIT RACIALLY MOTIVATED INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON EXERCISING HIS CIVIL RIGHTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES".
  3. ^ "S.J. RES. 29. APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION BANNING THE POLL TAX AS PREREQUISITE FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS". GovTrack.us.
  4. ^ "TO PASS S. 1564, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965".
  5. ^ "CONFIRMATION OF NOMINATION OF THURGOOD MARSHALL, THE FIRST NEGRO APPOINTED TO THE SUPREME COURT". GovTrack.us.
  6. ^ "Secretary Says Poison May Have Killed Long— Tells Inquiry of Candy That Came in Mail", UPI report in Los Angeles Times, April 21, 1973, p. I-2
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Missouri
1956
Succeeded by
Preceded by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Missouri
(Class 3)

1960, 1962
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Missouri
1957–1960
Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 3) from Missouri
1960–1968
Served alongside: Stuart Symington
Succeeded by