Carl T. Hayden
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| Carl Trumbull Hayden | |
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U.S. Senator, Arizona
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| In office March 1927–January 1969 |
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| Preceded by | Ralph Henry Cameron |
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| Succeeded by | Barry Goldwater |
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| Born | October 2, 1877 Hayden's Ferry, Arizona |
| Died | January 25, 1972 Mesa, Arizona |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Nan Downing |
Carl Trumbull Hayden (October 2, 1877 – January 25, 1972) was the first United States Senator to serve seven terms. A Democrat, he currently holds the record for longest service in the United States Congress - he represented Arizona continuously, first in the House of Representatives and then in the Senate, from February 19, 1912 to January 3, 1969.
He was born in Maricopa County in 1877, 35 years before Arizona became the 48th state. The town where he was born was then named Hayden's Ferry after his family, but not long afterward received its current name of Tempe. After serving as Maricopa County treasurer and sheriff he was elected as Arizona's first member of the United States House of Representatives when statehood was granted in 1912.
He served as Arizona's lone member of the House until joining the United States Senate in March 1927 after winning election in 1926 to the first of seven full terms. He retired on January 3, 1969. Hayden became chairman of the Appropriations Committee and President pro tempore of the United States Senate in 1957, ascending to both offices by seniority, as the Democratic party then held the majority in the Senate and continued to do so for the rest of his time in office. As well, during his time in the Senate Hayden became known as "The Silent Senator" -- focussing more on constituent service than media attention. The quote "I'm a workhorse, not a showhorse" has been attributed to him.
Late in his career it became more or less an open secret that Hayden was descending into senility; his advanced age became an issue during his successful 1962 re-election campaign against Evan Mecham. One anecdote of this time is of Hayden walking into a telephone booth in the Senate cloakroom, thinking it was an elevator, and saying, "Up, please." However, like late German President Paul von Hindenburg, in a similar condition during the twilight of his life, Hayden was typically attended by an aide who could keep an eye on him. Nevertheless, he generally retained the support of the Arizona establishment, who wanted to counter neighboring California's numerical advantage in the House - his seniority was a valuable asset in securing federally controlled irrigation projects desired by both states. When informed that he was faced with a very close re-election against Barry Goldwater (who had served alongside Hayden from 1953-1965, but ran for President in 1964), Hayden decided to retire in 1968 rather than risk defeat.
His record for length of service in the Senate has now been surpassed by Strom Thurmond, Robert Byrd, Ted Kennedy and Daniel Inouye, but his record for combined length of service in both houses of 56 years, 10 months and 15 days has yet to be equalled. However, Byrd, who was elected to the House in 1953 and moved to the Senate in 1959, will surpass Hayden if he serves the full term he won in 2006.
There is a school named after him called Carl Hayden Community High School.
He died in Tempe in 1972 and his ashes were interred in the family plot.
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| Preceded by Ralph H. Cameron (Delegate from Arizona Territory) |
Member of the United States House of Representatives for Arizona's At-Large District 1912–1927 |
Succeeded by Lewis W. Douglas |
| Preceded by Ralph H. Cameron |
United States Senator (Class 3) from Arizona 1927–1969 Served alongside: Henry F. Ashurst, Ernest McFarland, Barry Goldwater, Paul Fannin |
Succeeded by Barry Goldwater |
| Preceded by C. Wayland Brooks |
Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration 1949–1953 |
Succeeded by William E. Jenner |
| Preceded by: Styles Bridges |
Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations 1955–1969 |
Succeeded by: Richard Russell, Jr. |
| Preceded by: Walter F. George |
President pro tempore of the United States Senate January 3, 1957–January 3, 1969 |
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| Dean of the United States Senate January 3, 1957–January 3, 1969 |
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| Preceded by Lyndon B. Johnson |
President of the United States Senate November 22, 1963–January 20, 1965 |
Succeeded by Hubert Humphrey |
