Watkins Moorman Abbitt

Watkins Moorman Abbitt (May 21, 1908 – July 13, 1998) (nicknamed "Wat") was an American politician and lawyer. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia from February 17, 1948 to January 3, 1973. He was a top lieutenant within the Byrd Organization, the political machine named for its leader, U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd.

Watkins Moorman Abbitt
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 4th district
In office
February 17, 1948 – January 3, 1973
Preceded byPatrick H. Drewry
Succeeded byRobert Daniel
Personal details
Born(1908-05-21)May 21, 1908
Lynchburg, Virginia
DiedJuly 13, 1998(1998-07-13) (aged 90)
Lynchburg, Virginia
Resting placeAppomattox, Virginia
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Corinne Hancock (d. 1989)
Mary Ann Schmidt
ChildrenWatkins Abbitt, Jr., Anne Abbitt Kerr, Corinne Abbitt Hynes
Alma materUniversity of Richmond (LL.B.)
Professionlawyer, Congressman
Watkins M. Abbitt, Sr., Memorial Park in Appomattox, Virginia

Early and family life

Abbitt was born in Lynchburg, Virginia to George Francis Abbitt and Otway C. Moorman Abbitt. He graduated from Appomattox Agricultural High School in Appomattox, Virginia in 1925. He earned an LL.B. from the University of Richmond in 1931 and began the practice of law in Appomattox.[1] He married Corinne Hancock on March 20, 1937, and they had a son and two daughters who survived infancy.

Career

Upon admission to the Virginia bar, Abbitt had a private legal practice, and was also a bank executive. In 1931 he was elected Commonwealth's attorney for Appomattox County and served from 1932 to 1948. He also was elected member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention in 1945.[2]

When U.S. Representative Patrick H. Drewry died in office, Abbit won the special election to fill the vacancy. A Democrat, Abbitt was reelected to the twelve succeeding Congresses (February 17, 1948 – January 3, 1973).[3] He was a member of the agriculture committee, and supported farm subsidies as well as fiscal conservatism and opposed increased federal intervention in state affairs. Abbitt became known for his opposition to school desegregation in the 1950s, as the Byrd Organization advocated Massive Resistance[4], and he was a signatory to the 1956 Southern Manifesto. He was a delegate to the 1964 Democratic National Convention, and chairman of the state Democratic party from 1964-1970.

Abbitt announced his retirement after being redistricted into the same congressional district as fellow Democrat Dan Daniel, and Republican Robert Daniel won the seat in a 5-candidate general election field, becoming the first Republican to represent Southside Virginia in the century.[5]

Despite his former segregationist views, Abbitt endorsed L. Douglas Wilder, who became Virginia's first black governor in 1989, and noted the influence of his children. His son, delegate Watkins Abbitt Jr. noted that his father always worked for free for any black church that needed his services, and a black minister spoke at the funeral.[6]

Death and legacy

Abbitt survived one wife, but died from leukemia in Lynchburg, Virginia on July 13, 1998. He was survived by a widow, son and two daughters, and interred at Liberty Cemetery in Appomattox, Virginia.[7] A park in Appomattox, Virginia is named for him.

His son, Watkins Abbitt, Jr.,[8] served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1986 to 2012.[9]

Elections
  • 1948; Abbitt was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election unopposed and was re-elected in the general election unopposed.
  • 1950; Abbitt was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1952; Abbitt was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1954; Abbitt was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1956; Abbitt was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1958; Abbitt was re-elected with 87.15% of the vote, defeating Independent Frank M. McCann.
  • 1960; Abbitt was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1962; Abbitt was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1964; Abbitt was re-elected after tying Independent Samuel W. Tucker in the general election.
  • 1966; Abbitt was re-elected with 75.3% of the vote, defeating Independent Edward J. Silverman.
  • 1968; Abbitt was re-elected with 71.52% of the vote, defeating now-Republican Samuel W. Tucker.
  • 1970; Abbitt was re-elected with 61.02% of the vote, defeating Independent Ben Ragsdale and Republican James M. Helms.

References
  1. "Watkins M. Abbitt". NNDB. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  2. "ABBITT, Watkins Moorman, (1908 - 1998)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  3. "Rep. Watkins Abbitt". govtrack.us. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  4. https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/15/us/w-m-abbitt-90-lawmaker-who-advocated-segregation.html
  5. John T. Whelen, Virginia's Post World War II Paths to Congress," University of Virginia Newsletter February 1992 at p. 7, available at http://www.coopercenter.org/sites/default/files/autoVANLPubs/Virginia%20News%20Letter%201992%20Vol.%2068%20No.%202.pdf
  6. NY Times Obituary
  7. "Watkins Moorman Abbitt". Find A Grave. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  8. "Abbitt, Abbitt, Watkins Moorman, Jr. (b. 1944)". The Political Graveyardaccessdate= November 4, 2012.
  9. "Abbitt, Watkins Moorman, Jr. (b. 1944)". The Political Graveyardaccessdate= November 4, 2012.


U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Patrick H. Drewry		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 4th congressional district
1948–1973		 Succeeded by
Robert Daniel
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