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Carleton J. King

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Carleton J. King
Member of the United States House of Representatives from New York
In office
January 3, 1961 – December 31, 1974
Preceded byDean P. Taylor
Succeeded byEdward W. Pattison
Constituency31st district (1961–63)
30th district (1963–73)
29th district (1973–74)
District Attorney of Saratoga County, New York
In office
January 1, 1950 – December 31, 1960
Preceded byJohn P. Doyle
Succeeded byJames A. O'Connor
Personal details
Born(1904-06-15)June 15, 1904
Saratoga Springs, New York, US
DiedNovember 19, 1977(1977-11-19) (aged 73)
Bradenton, Florida, US
Political partyRepublican
SpouseConstance M. Roddy (m. 1933)
Children2
EducationAlbany Law School
ProfessionAttorney

Carleton James King (June 15, 1904 – November 19, 1977) was an attorney and politician from Saratoga Springs, New York. A Republican, he was most notable for his service as District Attorney of Saratoga County, New York from 1950 to 1960, and a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1961 to 1974.

A native of Saratoga Springs, King graduated from Albany Law School in 1926, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Saratoga Springs. He became active in politics and government as a Republican, and served as acting city court judge of Saratoga Springs from 1936 to 1941. In 1936, he was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress. In 1942, King was appointed Deputy District Attorney of Saratoga County, and he served until 1950. In 1950, King won election as district attorney, and he served until resigning at the end of 1960 to assume his seat in the Congress.

In 1960, King won election to the U.S. House. He was reelected six times and served from January 1961 until resigning in December 1974. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1974, and resigned a few days before the end of his final term.

In retirement, King resided in Florida. He died in Bradenton, Florida on November 19, 1977. His remains were cremated and scattered in the Gulf of Mexico.

Early life

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King was born in Saratoga Springs, New York on June 15, 1904, the son of James Henry King and Anna Louise (Rose) King.[1][2] He graduated from Albany Law School in 1926.[3] He was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, and at graduation received the Corporation Prize, which was awarded to the student with the highest class standing in corporation law.[3][4]

Career

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After attaining admission to the bar in 1926, King practiced law in Saratoga Springs.[2][5] In 1936, he was a candidate for Congress, but lost the Republican nomination to E. Harold Cluett.[6] From 1936 to 1941, he was acting judge of the Saratoga Springs municipal court.[2][7]

King was an assistant district attorney of Saratoga County, New York from 1942 until 1950.[2] In 1950, he was elected district attorney, and he served until resigning at the end of 1960 so he could begin the Congressional term to which he had been elected earlier that year.[2] In 1955, King served as president of the New York State District Attorneys Association.[8]

In November 1957, leaders of organized crime in New York held a planning conference now known as the Apalachin meeting, which was interrupted by police.[8] In response, Governor Averell Harriman appointed five District Attorneys, including King, to advise him on new legislation.[8] In February 1958, the district attorneys recommended creation of a special rackets bureau within the New York State Police.[8]

U.S. Congressman

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He was elected to Congress in 1960, and was reelected six times.[2] He served from January 3, 1961, until his resignation on December 31, 1974.[2] He unsuccessfully ran for re-election in 1974, and lost to Democratic nominee Edward W. Pattison, a victory attributed to the wave election that favored Democrats as voters responded to Republican involvement in the Watergate scandal.[9][10]

King was recognized as a member of the Republican Party's conservative wing.[8] In 1962, he proposed an across-the-board income tax of at least 25 percent.[8] In addition, King argued that individual and corporate tax rates should not be higher than 47 percent.[8] During his Congressional service, King served on the United States Naval Academy board of visitors.[11]

Later life

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In 1975, King was appointed to the board of visitors of the United States Military Academy.[8][12] In retirement, he resided in Florida.[2] He died in Bradenton, Florida on November 19, 1977.[2] King was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Gulf of Mexico near Bradenton.[2]

Family

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In 1933, King married Constance M. Roddy of Brooklyn.[13] They were the parents of two children, son Carleton J. King Jr. and daughter Constance King, the wife of James A. Murphy Jr.[14][15]

References

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  1. ^ "Mrs. James King, 84, Widow of Ex-Police Chief, Dies". The Post-Star. Glens Falls, NY. November 20, 1948. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Treese, Joel D., ed. (1997). Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-1996. Alexandria, VA: CQ Staff Directories, Inc. p. 1335. ISBN 978-0-87289-124-1 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b "Degrees to 80 Law School Graduates". Times Union. Albany, NY. June 10, 1926. p. 2 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  4. ^ Burrows, A. T., ed. (January 1930). The Signet. Urbana, IL: Council of Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity. p. 123 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ "Three Local Boys Pass State Exams To Admit To Bar". The Daily Gazette. Schenectady, NY. September 2, 1926. p. 6 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  6. ^ "Regular Party Candidates In Victory Sweep". Binghamton Press. Binghamton, NY. United Press. September 16, 1936. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Legality of Pinball Machines Will Be Tested At Saratoga". The Daily Gazette. Schenectady, NY. November 12, 1940. p. 3 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "Carleton King Dies; Served In Congress". The New York Times. New York, NY. November 6, 1974. p. 40 – via TimesMachine.
  9. ^ "Pattison Wins In Upset". The Post-Star. Glens Falls, NY. November 6, 1974. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Dean, Irv (November 7, 1974). "After Victory, Ned Pattison Takes Day Off". The Post-Star. Glens Falls, NY. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Annual Register of the United States Naval Academy. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1965. p. xi – via Google Books.
  12. ^ Ford, Gerald R. (April 16, 1975). "Boards of Visitors to the Service Academies". Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 387 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ "Police Chief's Kin Is Wed At Long Beach". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY. August 15, 1933. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Mrs. King Dies In Florida Hospital". The Post-Star. Glens Falls, NY. July 29, 1980. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Carleton J. "Cookie" King, Jr. (Capt. USN, Ret.)". Saratoga Today. Saratoga Springs, NY. October 26, 2017.
[edit]
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 31st congressional district
1961–1963 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 30th congressional district
1963–1973 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 29th congressional district
1973–1974 		Succeeded by
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