Joseph C. Baldwin

Joseph Clark Baldwin (January 11, 1897 – October 27, 1957) was an American politician, United States Army officer, and a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.

Joseph Clark Baldwin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 17th district
In office
March 11, 1941  January 3, 1947
Preceded byKenneth F. Simpson
Succeeded byFrederic R. Coudert, Jr.
New York State Senate 17th district
In office
1935–1936
Personal details
BornJanuary 11, 1897 (1897-01-11)
New York City, New York
DiedOctober 27, 1957 (1957-10-28) (aged 60)
Manhattan, New York County, New York
Citizenship United States
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Marthe Guillon-Verne Baldwin
Alma materHarvard University
Professionnewspaper reporter politician
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
 United States Army
RankSeaman

Private

Captain
UnitMachine Gun Company of the Three Hundred and Fifth Infantry
CommandsFirst Platoon, Machine Gun Company, Thirty-ninth Infantry
Battles/warsWorld War I
Awards French Legion of Honor

Biography

Born Joseph Clark Baldwin III in New York City, New York, son of Joseph Clark Baldwin Jr. and Fanny Taylor Baldwin, he dropped the III upon his father's death in 1937. He attended private schools, and was graduated from St. Paul's School, Concord, New Hampshire, in 1916. He married Marthe Guillon-Verne on December 5, 1923, and they had two sons and two daughters.[1]

As told by his friend and employee Henry Munson: "Joe and his wife would have "At Homes" every other Thursday evening. Much of NY Society turned out as well as visiting celebrities. One time Walker Buckner said "Someone told me that Winston Churchill was in NY but I knew he couldn't be or he would have been at Joe's "At Home" last Thursday. Churchill called Joe "Horatio" at the Bridge because of his lonely but successful fight to clean up NYC." Henry also mentions Joe's sense of humor and told this story from Bobby Straus 'He told about a meeting when a Lower East Side politician introduced him as Alderman Joseph Clark Baldwin the "Toid." Joe couldn't resist saying that since his father had died, he had dropped the 'Toid.'"[2]

Career

During World War I, Baldwin enlisted in the United States Navy in 1917; but after 6 months of seasickness he was transferred to the United States Army in 1918. He first served overseas as a private in the Machine Gun Company of the Three Hundred and Fifth Infantry. He then received a commission and, as captain, commanded the First Platoon, Machine Gun Company, Thirty-ninth Infantry. In honor of his service in France he was made an officer of the French Legion of Honor.[3]

Graduated from Harvard University in 1920, Baldwin was a political reporter for the New York Tribune, and became Associate Editor for the "North Westchester Times" from 1922 to 1930. In 1930 he established a public relations firm.[4]

From 1929 to 1934, he served as a member of the board of aldermen of New York City. From the recollections of his employee Henry Munson "In NYC's old Board of Alderman, Joe was the only Republican member with 94 Tammany Democrats. They joked that he held his party caucuses in a phone booth. He led the fight to get NY State to investigate the very rotten administration of Mayor Jimmy Walker. The Seabury Investigation resulted and a Fusion Mayor - La Guardia was elected and a new NYC charter was approved: Joe was well publicized for his role."[2]

He served as President of The New York Young Republican Club from 1930 to 1931. [5]

He was a member of the New York State Senate (17th D.) in 1935 and 1936; and of the New York City Council from 1937 to 1941. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1938.[6]

Baldwin was elected as a Republican to the 77th United States Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Kenneth F. Simpson. He was re-elected to the 78th and 79th United States Congresses, holding office from March 11, 1941, to January 3, 1947.[7] An unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1946 to the Eightieth Congress, he became a representative for United Dye and Chemical Corporation, and William Recht Company, Incorporated.

Death

Baldwin died, in the Veterans Administration Hospital, Manhattan, New York County, New York, on October 27, 1957 (age 60 years, 289 days). He is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York.[8]

References

  1. "Joseph C. Baldwin". Penfield Family Genealogy. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  2. "Kitty Munson Cooper's Family History and Genealogy Site - Henry's recollections of his friend senator Joe Baldwin". kittymunson.com.
  3. "Joseph C. Baldwin". Find A Grave. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  4. Marquis Who's Who, Inc. Who Was Who in American History, the Military. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1975. P. 26 ISBN 0837932017 OCLC 657162692
  5. https://nyyrc.com/history/
  6. "Joseph C. Baldwin". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  7. "Joseph C. Baldwin". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  8. "Joseph C. Baldwin". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
New York State Senate
Preceded by
Albert Wald
New York State Senate
17th District

1935–1936
Succeeded by
Leon A. Fischel
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Kenneth F. Simpson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 17th congressional district

1941–1947
Succeeded by
Frederic R. Coudert, Jr.
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