Samuel S. Stratton
- Samuel Stratton redirects here. For the MIT President, see Samuel Wesley Stratton. For the Middlebury President, see Samuel Somerville Stratton.
Samuel Studdiford Stratton (September 27, 1916–September 13, 1990) was a United States congressman, representing New York for almost 30 years from 1959 to 1989.
Early life
Stratton was born in Yonkers, New York and his family moved to Schenectady, New York while he was an infant. He attended school in Schenectady, Rochester, New York, and Blair Academy in New Jersey. He graduated from the University of Rochester in 1937, Haverford College, Pennsylvania in 1938 and Harvard University in 1940. Stratton spent 1940 to 1942 as executive secretary to Massachusetts Congressman Thomas H. Eliot.
Military
In mid-1942, Stratton joined the United States Navy Reserve. He served as ensign in the South West Pacific Area as a combat intelligence officer on the staff of General Douglas MacArthur. Twice awarded the Bronze Star Medal with a Valor device, Stratton interrogated Tomoyuki Yamashita, who was later executed for his part in the Manila massacre.
Politics
After World War II, Stratton returned to Schenectady and was elected to the city council in 1949. During the Korean War, Stratton was recalled to active duty, serving as an instructor in Washington, D.C. from 1951 to 1953, and attaining the rank of Captain. Stratton again returned to Schenectady and was re-elected to the city council from 1953 to 1956. In 1956, he was elected mayor of Schenectady as a Conservative Democrat.
In 1958, Stratton was elected to the U.S. Congress. He made a name for himself in multiple elections by appealing to conservative voters and supporting defense spending in his district, which included General Electric and the Watervliet Arsenal. He was reelected to the House fourteen times before finally bowing out of public life at age 72.
Stratton lived in Potomac, Maryland after his retirement until his death in Rockville, Maryland at age 73. After his death, both the Air National Guard base in Schenectady and the Veterans Administration hospital in Albany, New York were named in his honor. Samuel Stratton was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
His son, Brian U. Stratton, was elected mayor of Schenectady in 2003.
| Preceded by Archibald Wemple |
Mayor of Schenectady 1956–1959 |
Succeeded by Kenneth S. Sheldon |
| Preceded by Bernard W. Kearney |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 32nd congressional district 1959–1963 |
Succeeded by Alexander Pirnie |
| Preceded by R. Walter Riehlman |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 35th congressional district 1963–1971 |
Succeeded by James M. Hanley |
| Preceded by Daniel E. Button |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 29th congressional district 1971–1973 |
Succeeded by Carleton J. King |
| Preceded by Hamilton Fish IV |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 28th congressional district 1973–1983 |
Succeeded by Matthew F. McHugh |
| Preceded by Peter A. Peyser |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 23rd congressional district 1983–1989 |
Succeeded by Michael R. McNulty |
See also
References
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