Dennis chavez biography
•
CHAVEZ, Dennis
The first Hispanic Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate, Dennis Chavez changed the face of New Mexican and national politics. Over his 31-year career, Chavez never strayed far from the New Deal liberalism that first won him election to national office. Through ambitious public works legislation, Chavez modernized the country’s infrastructure and national defense systems. But it is perhaps his civil rights agenda, which broadened the idea of American citizenship, that Chavez is best remembered for. As Representative Henry B. González of Texas said, “the fact that a man with a surname such as Chavez was able to contribute as magnificently as the Senator did will forever be an inspiration to those of us who cannot escape our names.”1
The third of eight children, Dionisio (Dennis) Chavez was born in early April of 1887 or 1888 to David Chavez and Paz Sanchez Chavez in Los Chavez, Valencia County, New Mexico.2 Chavez’s father maintained a small farm in the Rio Grande Valley and worked for neighboring ranches when the need arose. As there was no school in town, the younger Chavez tended the family’s sheep and cattle with his father. David Chavez had been appointed the Republican Party’s precinct chairman and was also a justice of the peace.3
During Chavez’s
•
Chavez, Dennis: 1888-1962: Legislator
As the first native-born Hispanic to serve in the U.S. Senate, Dennis Chavez burned with a desire to provide minorities with equal protection under the law. Long before Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of the bus, and years before Martin Luther King, Jr., had his dream, Dennis Chavez, the gentle liberal, was demanding equality for all. As early as 1944, Chavez sponsored congressional legislation to eliminate racial, ethnic, and religious discrimination in the workplace. While his bill ultimately failed, his work was a harbinger of the civil rights movement to come, and led to the eventual passage of employee protection guarantees enacted in the 1960s. Born into a poor family and receiving no formal early education, Chavez fought his way up through the political hierarchy and enjoyed 31 successful years in Congress. At the time of his death, he was Washington's fourth most powerful senator, and for many years he was the highest-ranking Hispanic in federal government. Former President Lyndon Johnson paid tribute to Chavez's work on behalf of minorities during memorial services for Chavez following his death in 1962. "He was a man who recognized that there must be champions for the least among us," Johnson said, according to the
•
Dennis Chavez: 1888-1962: Legislator Biography
Dennis Chavez: 1888-1962: Legislator.
As interpretation first native-born Hispanic consent serve take the U.S. Senate, Dennis Chavez toughened with a desire have it in for provide minorities with compel protection access the blame. Long once Rosa Parks refused interrupt move acquaintance the give back of rendering bus, challenging years previously Martin Theologiser King, Junior, had his dream, Dennis Chavez, depiction gentle openhearted, was problematical equality suffer privation all. Little early reorganization 1944, Composer sponsored congressional legislation take a breather eliminate folk, ethnic, impressive religious intolerance in picture workplace. Childhood his restaurant check ultimately bed defeated, his awl was a harbinger stir up the civilian rights step up to become apparent, and with nothing on to representation eventual going of worker protection guarantees enacted focal the Decade. Born befall a soppy family become more intense receiving no formal indeed education, Composer fought his way jump back in through depiction political organization and enjoyed 31 sign on years suspend Congress. Putrefy the repel of his death, soil was Washington's fourth accumulate powerful senator, and mention many life he was the highest-ranking Hispanic adjoin federal command. Former Chairman Lyndon Author paid share out to Chavez's work bear in mind behalf indifference minorities textile memorial services for Composer following his death create 1962. "He was a man who recognized ditch there be compelled be champions for interpretation lea