James Edward Van Zandt (December 18, 1898–January 6, 1986) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.
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James Van Zandt was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania. In 1917 he enlisted as an apprentice seaman in the United States Navy and served two years. He was a member of the United States Naval Reserve from 1919 to 1943, rising to the rank of Lieutenant. He was the national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars from 1934 to 1936.
He was elected in 1938 as a Republican to the 76th, 77th, and 78th United States Congresses, and served from January 3, 1939, until his resignation September 24, 1943, when he re-entered the service. While a Member of Congress was called to active duty in September 1941 and served until January 1942 with the Pacific Fleet and in escort convoy duty in the North Atlantic. He reentered the service in September 1943 as a lieutenant commander and was assigned to the Pacific area until discharged as a captain in 1946, and retired as rear admiral in United States Naval Reserve in 1959. He was elected to the 80th and to the seven succeeding Congresses. In the 1954 attack on the House of Representatives by Puerto Rican nationalists, he tackled and disarmed one of the shooters. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1962, but was an unsuccessful candidate for United States Senator against incumbent Democrat Joseph S. Clark, who won by a 51% to 49% margin. He was a Special Representative of the Governor of Pennsylvania until 1971. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Rep. Van Zandt, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, made an impassioned speech on the House floor leveling charges against Secretary of Defense Johnson and Air Force Secretary Symington in regards to the procurement of the B-36 bomber. This speech brought into public view the "Revolt of the Admirals". The basis of these charges was a bogus document from Cedric Worth who was the special assistant to the Under Secretary of the Navy Dan Kimball. On June 9, 1948, the HASC voted to investigate the charges. [1]
United States House of Representatives | ||
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Preceded by Don Gingery |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 23rd congressional district 1939–1943 |
Succeeded by J. Buell Snyder |
Preceded by D. Emmert Brumbaugh |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 22nd congressional district 1947–1953 |
Succeeded by John P. Saylor |
Preceded by Francis E. Walter |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 20th congressional district 1953–1963 |
Succeeded by Elmer J. Holland |
Party political offices | ||
Preceded by James Duff |
Republican nominee for United States Senator (Class 3) from Pennsylvania 1962 |
Succeeded by Richard Schweiker |