Charles J. Kersten

Charles J. Kersten
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 5th district
In office January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1955
Preceded by	Andrew Biemiller
Succeeded by	Henry S. Reuss
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 5th district
In office January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949
Preceded by	Andrew Biemiller
Succeeded by	Andrew Biemiller
Personal details
Born	(1902-05-26)May 26, 1902 Chicago, Illinois
Died	October 31, 1972(1972-10-31) (aged 70) Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Political party	Republican

Charles Joseph Kersten (May 26, 1902 - October 31, 1972) was a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin.^[1]

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Kersten graduated from Marquette University College of Law, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1925 and was admitted to the bar the same year. He commenced the practice of law in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1928, serving as first assistant district attorney of Milwaukee County from 1937-1943.

Kersten was elected as a Republican to the Eightieth Congress (January 3, 1947-January 3, 1949) as the representative of Wisconsin's 5th congressional district. He was a close friend of fellow freshman Congressman Richard Nixon. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1948 to the Eighty-first Congress.

Kersten was elected to the Eighty-second and Eighty-third Congresses (January 3, 1951-January 3, 1955) once again representing Wisconsin's 5th district. He served as chairman of the Select Committee on Communist Aggression (Eighty-third Congress). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1954, and failed in his bid for renomination in 1956. In between these campaigns Kersten briefly served in the Eisenhower administration under Nelson Rockefeller as White House consultant on psychological warfare (1955–1956). He then resumed his law practice, remaining active in anticommunist circles until his death October 31, 1972, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was interred in Holy Cross Cemetery.

Sources

• Charles J. Kersten at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

External links

• Charles J. Kersten Papers
• Charles J. Kersten at Find a Grave
• A film clip "Longines Chronoscope with Charles Kersten, Jr." is available for free download at the Internet Archive