Potter, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1916-1979

Variant names

Hide Profile

Republican U.S. Congressman from Lapeer, Michigan, 1946-1952; U.S. Senator, 1952-1959.

From the description of Charles E. Potter papers, 1947-1958. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34419527

Charles E. Potter was born October 30, 1916 in Lapeer, Michigan. After graduating from Eastern Michigan University in 1938, he served as administrator of the Bureau of Social Aid for Cheboygan County. He enlisted in the army in 1942 and was seriously wounded in France in 1945 where he lost both lower limbs. After his discharge from the service in 1946, Potter was engaged as a vocational rehabilitation representative for the Retraining and Reemployment Administration. He resigned in 1947 following his election as a Republican to the United States Congress from the 11th District to the Eightieth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Frederick V. Bradley. Potter was twice reelected, to the Eighty-first and Eighty-second. While in the House, he served on the Un-American Activities Committee and gained a measure of notoriety for his role in reopening hearings on alleged communist influence in Hollywood. He also called for a separate investigation into alleged communist involvement in Michigan's labor organizations.

Potter resigned from the House in 1952 when he was elected to the United States Senate defeating Democratic appointee Blair Moody who had been selected following the death of Arthur H. Vandenberg. Potter was elected for the remaining two months of Vandenberg's term and won a full six-year term in the same election. As a senator, Potter as a member of the committee chaired by Joseph McCarthy began to inquire into allegations of impropriety by the Wisconsin senator and his staff. Potter also questioned the propriety of the relationship between Eisenhower advisor Sherman Adams and Boston industrialist Bernard Goldfine. Adams eventually resigned but some believe that Eisenhower was not fully supportive of Potter in his reelection bid in 1958 when he was defeated by Philip A. Hart. Potter spent the remainder of his career running a consulting firm for American and foreign companies. He died November 23, 1979.

From the guide to the Charles E. Potter Papers, 1947-1958, (Bentley Historical Library University of Michigan)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn George Murphy papers, 1911-1961 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Stellanova Osborn papers, 1907-1988 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Cushing, George William, b. 1888. George William Cushing papers, 1904-1959. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Howard Cyrus Lawrence Papers, 1916-1966 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Stellanova Osborn papers, 1907-1988 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Fellowship of Reconciliation, Michigan records, 1940-1957 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Charles E. Potter Papers, 1947-1958 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Michigan Fellowship of Reconciliation Records, 1940-1960 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Wilber M. Brucker Papers, 1877-1968 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Michigan Fellowship of Reconciliation. Michigan Fellowship of Reconciliation records, 1940-1960. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Potter, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1916-1979. Charles E. Potter papers, 1947-1958. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Homer Ferguson Papers, 1939-1976 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Michigan Fellowship of Reconciliation. Michigan Fellowship of Reconciliation records, 1940-1957. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Donald S. Leonard Papers, 1925-1966 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Owen J. Cleary Papers, 1944-1959 Bentley Historical Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Brucker, Wilber Marion, 1894-1968 person
associatedWith Cleary, Owen J., 1900-1960 person
associatedWith Cushing, George William, b. 1888. person
associatedWith Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969 person
associatedWith Fellowship of Reconciliation (U.S.). Michigan. corporateBody
associatedWith Ferguson, Homer, 1889-1982 person
associatedWith Lawrence, Howard Cyrus, 1890-1961 person
associatedWith Leonard, Donald S. (Donald Sparling), 1903-1976 person
associatedWith McCarthy, Joseph, 1908-1957 person
associatedWith Michigan Fellowship of Reconciliation corporateBody
associatedWith Murphy, George, 1897-1961 person
associatedWith Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913- person
associatedWith Osborn, Stellanova, 1894-1988. person
associatedWith Republican Party (Mich.) corporateBody
associatedWith Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972 person
associatedWith United States. Congress corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. Senate. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Great Lakes (North America)
Great Lakes.
United States
Saint Lawrence Seaway.
Michigan
Subject
Broadcasting
Handicapped persons
Music
Old age
Political elections
Political elections
Shipping
Shipping
Veterans
Veterans
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1916-10-30

Death 1979-11-23

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61z4tkv

Ark ID: w61z4tkv

SNAC ID: 56217819