William L. Scott
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| William Lloyd Scott | |
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| In office January 3, 1973–January 1, 1979 |
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| Preceded by | William B. Spong, Jr. |
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| Succeeded by | John Warner |
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| Born | July 1, 1915 Williamsburg, Virginia |
| Died | February 15, 1997 (aged 82) Fairfax Station, Virginia |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
William Lloyd Scott (July 1, 1915 – February 14, 1997) was a Republican politician from Virginia.
Scott was born in Williamsburg, Virginia. He received a law degree from George Washington University, and was employed by the federal government 1934–1961, principally as trial attorney with Department of Justice. He engaged in private practice of law in Fairfax, Virginia, 1961–1966.
Scott won the Republican nomination for Virginia's 8th congressional district in 1966. He expected to face 18-term Democratic incumbent and House Rules Committee chairman Howard W. Smith in November, but Smith was defeated by a more liberal Democrat, George C. Rawlings, Jr., in the Democratic primary. Gaining support from more conservative Democrats, Scott handily defeated Rawlings in November. He was easily re-elected twice.
In 1972, he won the Republican nomination for the United States Senate and defeated freshman Democrat William B. Spong, Jr. in a close race, making him the first Republican Senator from Virginia since Reconstruction. Scott probably would not have won had it not been for Richard Nixon's massive landslide in that year's presidential election. Nixon won Virginia by almost 38 points and carried all but one of the state's counties. Scott didn't run for re-election in 1978 and resigned on January 1, 1979.[1]
Scott was a resident of Fairfax Station, Virginia, but confined to a nursing center in Fairfax, Virginia for Alzheimer's Disease until his death. Interment was in Fairfax Memorial Park, Fairfax, Va.[1]
New Times Magazine reported in 1974 that he had been ranked "Dumbest Congressman" by a Ralph Nader-affiliated research group[2][3]; Scott held a press conference to deny this judgment.
[edit] References
- This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ^ a b "William Scott, 81, Congressman Symbolizing G.O.P. Rise in South", The New York Times, 1997-02-17. Retrieved on 2008-05-09. "The cause was a chest infection. He also had Alzheimer's disease...His upset victory in 1972...made him the first Republican to win a Senate seat from Virginia since Reconstruction."
- ^ New Times issue list
- ^ "William L. Scott Dies; He Won Senate Upset in '72", Virginian-Pilot, February 17, 1997. Retrieved on 2006-08-21.
[edit] External links
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Howard W. Smith |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 8th congressional district January 3, 1967 - January 3, 1973 |
Succeeded by Stanford E. Parris |
| Preceded by William B. Spong, Jr. |
United States Senator (Class 2) from Virginia January 3, 1973 - January 1, 1979 Served alongside: Harry F. Byrd, Jr. |
Succeeded by John W. Warner |
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