Charles Melvin Price
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Charles Melvin Price (January 1, 1905 - April 22, 1988) was a longtime member of the United States House of Representatives . Most notably, he served as the chairman of the United States House Committee on Armed Services between 1975 and 1985. He lost this position at the beginning of the 99th Congress. Overthrowing a committee chairman was not a common occurrence at that time, but a majority of the House Democratic Caucus seemed to feel that the aged Price was no longer up to the job. In addition, Price, while liberal on domestic issues, was notably more supportive of defense spending than most Democrats. When it came to choosing Price's successor, the Caucus bypassed several other old hawkish members of the committee in favor of Les Aspin, who was not only much younger than Price and other more senior members, but also seemed closer in his defense policy preferences to the majority of the Democratic Caucus.
Price was born in East St. Louis, Illinois, and attended parochial schools there; he went on to St. Louis University. After graduating, he worked for several years as a journalist before taking work as a secretary for Congressman Edwin Schaefer in 1933. He served there for ten years, after which he joined the U.S. Army in 1943, at the height of World War II; Price served in the quartermaster corps. He was elected to Congress in his own right in 1944. During his time in Congress he also chaired the Ethics Committee (1967-76) and the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy (1973-74). He remained in Congress until his death.
Congressman Price is probably most famous for his role in enacting the Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act. He is the namesake of the Melvin Price Locks and Dam, near Alton, IL on the Upper Mississippi River.
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| Preceded by Calvin D. Johnson |
U.S. Representative Illinois 22nd District 1945–1949 |
Succeeded by Rolla C. McMillen |
| Preceded by C. W. Bishop |
U.S. Representative Illinois 25th District 1949–1953 |
Succeeded by C. W. Bishop |
| Preceded by Charles W. Vursell |
U.S. Representative Illinois 24th District 1953–1973 |
Succeeded by Kenneth J. Gray |
| Preceded by George E. Shipley |
U.S. Representative Illinois 23rd District 1973–1983 |
Succeeded by District dissolved |
| Preceded by Edward R. Madigan |
U.S. Representative Illinois 21st District 1983–1988 |
Succeeded by Jerry F. Costello |
| Preceded by F. Edward Hebert |
Chairman of the Armed Services Committee 1975–1985 |
Succeeded by Les Aspin |
