Preceded by Elmer Thomas Political party Democratic Party Democratic Party Succeeded by John Jarman Education University of Oklahoma | Preceded by Gomer Griffith Smith Name Mike Monroney Succeeded by Henry Bellmon Religion Episcopalian | |
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Full Name Almer Stillwell Monroney Born March 2, 1902
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. ( 1902-03-02 ) Role Former United States Senator Died February 13, 1980, Rockville, Maryland, United States Spouse Mary Ellen Monroney (m. 1932) Books The Strengthening of American Political Institutions | ||
Previous office Senator (OK) 1951–1969 | ||
Almer Stillwell "Mike" Monroney (March 2, 1902 – February 13, 1980) was a Democratic Party politician from Oklahoma. He represented Oklahoma's 5th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1939 until 1951, and represented Oklahoma in the United States Senate from 1951 until 1969.
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Life and career
He was born on March 2, 1902. Monroney graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1924, then served as a reporter for the Oklahoma News from 1924 to 1928. In 1938 he ran for Congress as a Democrat and was elected, then reelected in the five next elections, up to 1951.
As a Representative, he co-authored the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946. As a Senator, he sponsored the Automobile Information Disclosure Act of 1958. The law required that all new automobiles carry a sticker on a window containing important information about the vehicle. That sticker is commonly known as a "Monroney sticker". After the war there were many more Americans that wanted cars than there were cars and he saw that there was a need for consumer protection for the returning veterans.
As chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee, Monroney wrote and sponsored the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 that created the Federal Aviation Administration, to improve aviation safety and achieve better coordination of air traffic in the aftermath of several deadly air crashes. All private planes in the United States are registered at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City. Air traffic controllers are also trained there. As a result of Monroney's contributions to aviation, he was known as "Mr. Aviation" in the Senate.
In 1958, Monroney was the supporter of a soft loan fund in the World Bank which later became the International Development Association. In 1961, he was awarded the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy by the National Aeronautics Association and in 1964 he received the first Tony Jannus Award for his distinguished contributions to the commercial aviation industry.
He was voted by the Senate pages as "the nicest Senator." He lost reelection after thirty years of Congressional service in 1968 to former Republican Governor Henry Bellmon, who benefited from the coattails of the election of Richard M. Nixon as president.
He died on February 13, 1980 in Rockville, Maryland.
Legacy
Monroney was considered as a running mate for Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson in 1952, but was rejected for his lack of national recognition. He was married to Mary Ellen Mellon of the Mellon banking family and had one son, Michael Monroney; four grandchildren, Erin Monroney, Alice Monroney, Michael Monroney, Jr. and Susanna Monroney Quinn; and four great-grandchildren. After his death, half of the Senator's ashes and those of his wife are buried in Washington National Cathedral, where they had been active in the congregation. Mrs. Monroney served as a visitors guide at the cathedral every Friday afternoon for some 15 years. The other half of Senator Monroney's ashes was scattered at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City.