18 Facts About Norris Cotton

Norris Henry Cotton was an American politician from the state of New Hampshire.

Norris Cotton was the son of Henry Lang and Elizabeth Cotton.

Norris Cotton served as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 1923 as one of the youngest legislators in history.

Norris Cotton became a lawyer after attending George Washington University Law School and practiced law in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Norris Cotton was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives again in 1943, and served as majority leader that year and as Speaker from 1945 to 1947.

In 1946, Norris Cotton was elected to the United States House of Representatives from New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district for the first time.

Norris Cotton served until 1954, when he ran for a seat in the United States Senate from New Hampshire in a special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of incumbent Senator Charles W Tobey.

Norris Cotton was elected to a full term in 1956, reelected twice and served in the Senate until 1975.

Norris Cotton voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957,1960, 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, but against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.

Norris Cotton was one of thirteen Republican senators to vote in favor of Medicare.

Norris Cotton was a prominent leader of his party in the Senate, chairing the Senate Republican Conference from 1973 to 1975.

Three days before his final term ran out, Cotton resigned to allow the governor to appoint Louis C Wyman.

Norris Cotton returned to the Senate in August 1975 after the election of his successor was contested.

Norris Cotton served as a temporary senator until the September 1975 special election, the result of which was not challenged; Norris Cotton returned to Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Norris Cotton was the last senator to return to the senate via appointment for 43 years until Arizona's former Senator Jon Kyl was appointed by Governor Doug Ducey in 2018 following the death of Senator John McCain.

Norris Cotton died on February 24,1989, in Lebanon, aged 88.

Norris Cotton is interred at School Street Cemetery in Lebanon.

Norris Cotton had a daughter, Mary Martha Ballou, on February 15,1925.