Theodore McKeldin

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Theodore R. McKeldin

53rd Governor of Maryland
In office 1951–1959
Preceded by	William Preston Lane, Jr.
Succeeded by	J. Millard Tawes
38th Mayor of Baltimore
In office 1943–1947
Preceded by	Howard W. Jackson
Succeeded by	Thomas L. J. D'Alesandro, Jr.
42nd Mayor of Baltimore
In office 1963–1967
Preceded by	Philip H. Goodman
Succeeded by	Thomas L. J. D'Alesandro III
Personal details
Born	(1900-11-20)November 20, 1900 Baltimore, Maryland
Died	August 10, 1974(1974-08-10) (aged 73) Baltimore, Maryland
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Honolulu Manzer
Children	Theodore, Jr. and Clara
Residence	Baltimore, Maryland
Religion	Episcopalian

Theodore Roosevelt McKeldin (November 20, 1900 – August 10, 1974), a member of the United States Republican Party, was the 53rd Governor of Maryland in the United States from 1951 to 1959.^[1]

Political career

McKeldin challenged the incumbent Mayor of Baltimore, Howard W. Jackson, in the election of 1939, but was defeated. In the election of 1942, McKeldin again challenged an incumbent, but this time it was the governor of Maryland, Herbert R. O'Conor. Again, McKeldin was defeated.

However, McKeldin persisted and was elected mayor of Baltimore in 1943. As mayor, he oversaw the construction of Friendship Airport (now known as the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport). However, Baltimore saw hard times during this period following the Second World War, with the inner city decaying, ghettos forming, and racial prejudice still present in government policy-making. McKeldin ran a second time for Governor in 1946, challenging William Preston Lane, Jr., but was defeated yet again.

McKeldin, for the third time, ran for governor in 1950. He was successful, defeating incumbent William Preston Lane, Jr. by the largest margin in state history up to that point. As governor, McKeldin endeavored to improve the state highway system, namely by establishing the Baltimore Beltway (now I-695), the Capital Beltway (I-495), and the John Hanson Highway (US 50 between Washington, DC and Annapolis). He was a staunch supporter of interstate cooperation, saying once: "I rode by train over several state borders. I carried no passports. No one asked me to identify myself. No one had the right to. This is America." He was also an advocate for civil rights for African Americans and was awarded the Sidney Hollander Award.^[2]

In 1952 McKeldin was a major figure in the moderate Republicans of the East Coast who were instrumental in gaining the Republican nomination for president for Dwight Eisenhower. Speaking in the stentorian tones that were common for the time, McKeldin delivered the principal nominating speech for the general at the Republican National Convention.

McKeldin retired in 1959 from the governorship and returned to his law practice in Baltimore. In 1963, he returned to public service after again being elected as mayor of Baltimore, focusing on the urban renewal of the Baltimore Inner Harbor. McKeldin served his second term as mayor until 1967. He was the last Republican to be elected mayor of Baltimore.

Personal

Theodore McKeldin was born in Baltimore, Maryland, attending Maryland public schools and later graduating from Baltimore City College. He furthered his education by earning his law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1925 and with some graduate work at Johns Hopkins University. McKeldin married Honolulu Claire Manzer on October 17, 1924. They had two children, Theodore, Jr. and Clara.

He died on August 10, 1974, and is buried in Greenmount Cemetery.

Dedications

McKeldin Center at Morgan State University
McKeldin Library and McKeldin Mall at the University of Maryland, College Park
Theodore McKeldin Gymnasium at Bowie State University
McKeldin Building at Springfield Hospital Center
McKeldin Beltway, though still widely known as the Baltimore Beltway or Interstate 695
McKeldin Area, Patapsco Valley State Park

References

↑ Vera Foster Rollo. Your Maryland A History. p. 387.
↑ Maryland Historical Society: Sidney Hollander Collection 1926-1972

Theodore R. McKeldin biography from the Maryland State Archives. Accessed Oct 25, 2004.
Papers of Theodore Roosevelt McKeldin, University of Maryland Libraries.

External links

A film clip "Longines Chronoscope with Theodore K. McKelden (SIC) (September 17, 1951)" is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
A film clip "Longines Chronoscope with Theodore R. McKeldin (November 7, 1952)" is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]

Political offices
Preceded by Howard W. Jackson	Mayor of Baltimore 1943—1947	Succeeded by Thomas L. J. D'Alesandro, Jr.
Preceded by William Preston Lane, Jr.	Governor of Maryland 1951—1959	Succeeded by J. Millard Tawes
Preceded by Philip H. Goodman	Mayor of Baltimore 1963—1967	Succeeded by Thomas L. J. D'Alesandro III

v t e Governors of Maryland

Provincial (1632–1776)	L. Calvert Greene Stone Fendall P. Calvert C. Calvert, 3rd Baron Wharton Notley C. Calvert, 3rd Baron B. Calvert Joseph Coode Neh. Blakiston Copley Lawrence Andros Greenberry Andros Lawrence Nicholson Nat. Blakiston Tench Seymour Lloyd Hart Brooke C. Calvert, 5th Baron B.L. Calvert Ogle C. Calvert, 5th Baron Ogle Bladen Ogle Tasker Sharpe Eden

State (since 1776)	Johnson T. Lee Paca Smallwood J. Howard Plater Brice T. Lee Stone Henry Ogle Mercer R. Bowie Wright E. Lloyd R. Bowie Winder Ridgely C. Goldsborough Sprigg Stevens Kent Martin T. Carroll Martin G. Howard J. Thomas Veazey Grason F. Thomas Pratt P. Thomas Lowe Ligon Hicks Bradford Swann O. Bowie Whyte Groome J. Carroll Hamilton McLane H. Lloyd Jackson Brown Lowndes Smith Warfield Crothers P. Goldsborough Harrington Ritchie Nice O'Conor Lane McKeldin Tawes Agnew Mandel B. Lee Hughes Schaefer Glendening Ehrlich O'Malley

Italics indicate acting officeholders

v t e Mayors of Baltimore

Calhoun T. Smith Johnson Stiles Johnson Montgomery Johnson Montgomery Small Steuart Hunt S. Smith Leakin Brady Hillen Law Davies Stansbury Jerome Hollins Hinks Swann Brown Blackburn Chapman Banks Van Sant Latrobe Kane Latrobe Whyte Latrobe Hodges Latrobe Davidson Latrobe Hooper Malster Hayes McLane Timanus Mahool Preston Broening Jackson Broening Jackson McKeldin D'Alesandro, Jr. Grady Goodman McKeldin D'Alesandro III Schaefer Burns Schmoke O'Malley Dixon Rawlings-Blake

Authority control	WorldCat VIAF: 5688211 LCCN: n86111301 ISNI: 0000 0000 6316 7415 GND: 116644540

Persondata
Name	McKeldin, Theodore Roosevelt
Alternative names
Short description	American politician
Date of birth	November 20, 1900
Place of birth	Baltimore, Maryland
Date of death	August 10, 1974
Place of death	Baltimore, Maryland

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