19 Facts About Mike Monroney

Almer Stillwell "Mike" Monroney was an American politician who served as a United States senator from Oklahoma from 1951 to 1969, and previously as the United States representative for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district from 1939 until 1951.

Mike Monroney was born on March 2,1902, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Mike Monroney graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1924 with a degree in journalism.

Mike Monroney was a reporter for the Oklahoma News from 1924 to 1928.

Mike Monroney first ran for political office in 1937, when he entered the special election for the US Fifth Congressional District against thirteen other Democrats.

Mike Monroney ran again in the next election, and won the Democratic primary against the same number of hopefuls.

Mike Monroney won the general election by a comfortable margin.

Mike Monroney was an active supporter of Presidents Roosevelt and Truman and most of their programs during his twelve years in the House of Representatives, even voting for the Taft-Wagner-Ellender Bill of 1949 that promised to build 810,000 public housing units.

Mike Monroney was a strong supporter of foreign aid, joining the Herter Committee, which laid the foundation for the famous and highly successful Marshall Plan.

In 1950, Mike Monroney challenged incumbent Elmer Thomas for the Democratic Party nomination to the US Senate.

Mike Monroney served in that position until 1969, when he lost the seat to Henry Bellmon, formerly Republican Governor of Oklahoma.

Mike Monroney was considered as a running mate for Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson in 1952, but was rejected for his lack of national recognition.

In 1958, Mike Monroney was the supporter of a soft loan fund in the World Bank which later became the International Development Association.

Mike Monroney played a part in having the Senate censure McCarthy for his extremist tactics.

Mike Monroney risked losing his seat in 1956, when he refused to sign the Southern Manifesto that urged resistance to school desegregation.

Mike Monroney voted for the Civil Rights Acts of 1957,1960,1964, and 1968, as well as the 24th Amendment to the US Constitution, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the confirmation of Thurgood Marshall to the US Supreme Court.

Mike Monroney died on February 13,1980, in Rockville, Maryland.

Mrs Mike Monroney served as a visitors guide at the cathedral every Friday afternoon for some 15 years.

Mike Monroney was married to Mary Ellen Mellon of the Mellon banking family and had one son, Michael Monroney; four grandchildren, Erin Monroney, Alice Monroney, Michael Monroney, Jr.