Robert Hale

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Former U.S. Representative from Maine's 1st Congressional District
From: January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1959
Predecessor | James C. Oliver
Successor | James C. Oliver
Former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives
From: 1929–1930
Predecessor | Burleigh Martin
Successor | E. D. Merrill
Former State Representative from Maine
From: 1926–1930
Predecessor | ???
Successor | ???
Information

Party  | Republican

Spouse(s)  | Agnes B. Burke

Religion  | Congregationalist[1]

Military Service

Allegiance  | United States

Service/branch  | United States Army

Service Years  |  1917–1919

Rank  |  Second Lieutenant

Battles/wars  |  World War I

Robert Hale (November 29, 1889 – November 30, 1976) was a Republican politician from Maine who served as a state representative and U.S. representative from the 1920s to the 1950s. A self-described reactionary and advocate of civil rights,[2] Hale was particularly known in the 1920s for his opposition to the state Ku Klux Klan.

He was the first cousin of Maine U.S. senator Frederick Hale, who shared most political viewpoints as both were noted conservatives.

## Contents

* 1 Background
* 2 U.S. House of Representatives
* 3 See also
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## Background[edit]

Hale was born in Portland, Maine to Clarence Hale and the former Margaret Jordan Rollins. After graduating from Portland High School in 1906, he attended several universities, including Harvard Law School. Hale was admitted to the state bar in 1917.

During World War I, Hale participated in the United States Army and achieved the rank of Second Lieutenant. Stationed overseas, he served from 1917 to 1919.

## U.S. House of Representatives[edit]

After a failed bid for the House in the 1940 GOP primaries against James C. Oliver,[3] Hale was successful the second time around in the following election cycle, ousting Oliver by a landslide for the party nomination.[4] Hale then won the general election against Democrat Louis J. Brann[5] and proceeded to be re-elected seven times.[6]

Throughout his tenure, Hale was a sharp critic of Democrat presidential administrations.[7] He opposed the foreign policy of Harry S. Truman regarding Asia and even advocated for Truman's impeachment in 1952. Hale also criticized Wendell Willkie in 1943 for:[8]

“  |  ...shooting off his face about India.  |  ”

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|

Along with the rest of the Maine congressional delegation, Hale voted for the House passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.[9]

In the 1956 elections, Hale only won re-election by a margin of only twenty-nine votes against Republican-turned-Democrat former intraparty rival Oliver.[10] He was ultimately defeated by Oliver in the 1958 midterms.[7][11]

## See also[edit]

* Clyde H. Smith, U.S. representative from Maine's 1st district
* William R. Pattangall, Democrat-turned-Republican judge from Maine

## References[edit]

1. ↑ Hale. The Political Graveyard. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
2. ↑ Guide to the Robert Hale Papers, 1876 - 1976, undated. Bowdoin. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
3. ↑ ME District 1 - R Primary Race - Jun 17, 1940. Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
4. ↑ ME District 1 - R Primary Race - Jun 15, 1942. Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
5. ↑ ME District 1 Race - Sep 14, 1942. Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
6. ↑ Candidate - Robert Hale. Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 December 2, 1976. Robert Hale Dead; Represented Maine In House, 1943‐59. The New York Times. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
8. ↑ April 25, 1943. WILLKIE SOORED ON INDIA; Robert Hale Says He Does Not Understand the Situation. The New York Times. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
9. ↑ HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
10. ↑ ME District 01 Race - Sep 10, 1956. Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
11. ↑ ME District 01 Race - Sep 08, 1958. Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 21, 2021.

## External links[edit]

* Profile at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
* Profile at Find a Grave