Adolph J. Sabath

Adolph Joachim Sabath (born April 4, 1866 in Zabori, in what is now Bohemia, of Jewish parentage – died November 6, 1952 in Bethesda, Maryland) was an American politician. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Chicago, Illinois, from 1907 until his death.

He immigrated to America at age 15, became active in real estate, and received his LL.B. degree in 1892 from Lake Forest University. He served in local offices until election to Congress from the Jewish West Side in 1907. He was active in state and national Democratic party affairs, attending many conventions. He was a leading opponent of prohibition in the 1920s.

As a leading Democrat he chaired the powerful Rules Committee after 1937. He was an ineffective chairman, with a small weak staff, who proved unable to lead his committee, was frequently at odds with the House leadership, and was inclined to write the President little letters "informing" on Speaker William B. Bankhead and Sam Rayburn.[Robinson p 81]

Beginning on April 1, 1934, he was the Dean (longest-serving member) of the House and he served as Dean for 18 years, 7 months, and 5 days: the longest time any person has served as Dean in the history of the Republic.

Sabath was an avid New Dealer and an interventionist who strongly supported war against Germany. It was Sabath who nominated a teenage (later Admiral) Hyman G. Rickover to the United States Naval Academy.

He was buried at Forest Home Cemetery,^[1] in Forest Park, Chicago.

References

Bibliography

• James A. Robinson; The House Rules Committee. 1963.

External links

• Sabath papers, with bio
• Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress