18 Facts About Keith Sebelius

Keith George Sebelius was an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives as a Republican.

Keith Sebelius became active in politics following World War II and was later appointed to the Kansas Senate after narrowly losing two Republican primaries for the House of Representatives.

Keith Sebelius later entered the House of Representatives where he served for a decade before his death from prostate cancer in 1982.

Keith George Sebelius was born on September 10,1916, in Norton, Kansas to Carl Sebelius, who died when he was seven, and Minnie Sebelius.

Keith Sebelius grew up in Almena, Kansas and graduated from Almena High School.

Keith Sebelius attended Fort Hays State University, graduated in 1939, earned a law degree from George Washington University in 1942, and returned to Norton to practice law.

In 1947, Keith Sebelius was elected secretary of the Kansas Young Republicans Club and ran for president of the organization, but was defeated by Paul Lackie.

On September 5,1955, Sebelius was elected Commander of the Kansas legion by a vote of 494 to 422, with his opponent being John K Wells.

On December 10,1962, Sebelius was selected to replace state Senator William B Ryan, who stepped down to become a district judge, and was appointed by Governor John Anderson Jr.

Keith Sebelius twice ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives, losing both races by narrow margins.

Keith Sebelius ran again in 1960, but was defeated by county attorney Bob Dole by 982 votes.

In 1968, Dole left office to run for Senate and was succeeded by Keith Sebelius, who served until 1981.

Keith Sebelius voted in favor of a resolution allowing for live radio and television coverage of the impeachment inquiry by the House Judiciary committee.

In 1974, K Gary Sebelius married Kathleen Sebelius, the daughter of former Ohio Governor John J Gilligan.

Keith Sebelius introduced a constitutional amendment to legalize voluntary prayer in public buildings in 1971, but no action was taken on it.

Keith Sebelius criticized Nixon's decision to sell 10 million tons of United States grain to the Soviet Union at subsidized prices and later called for the resignation of Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz.

On July 18,1973, he voted against the War Powers Resolution; after Nixon vetoed the bill Keith Sebelius voted against the overriding of it on November 7, but the House and Senate voted to override Nixon's veto.

On July 31,1973, Keith Sebelius voted in favor of a bill that would decrease the United States' military presence overseas by 100,000 and create a cap of 400,000 troops, but it was defeated by a vote of 243 to 163.