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Hattie CarawayAmerican politician, U.S. Senator from Arkansas from 1931 to 1945
Date of Birth: 01.02.1878
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Marriage and Family
- Entry into Politics
- Senator of Arkansas
- Later Life and Legacy
Early Life and Education
Hattie Wyatt was born in Baker's Station, Tennessee, on December 25, 1878. Her parents were William Carroll Wyatt, a farmer and storekeeper, and Lucy Mildred Birch. Wyatt's family moved to Hallsburg, Tennessee, when she was four years old. She attended Ebenezer College and later transferred to Dixon College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1896.
Marriage and Family
In 1902, Wyatt married Thaddeus Caraway, whom she had met while attending college. The couple had three sons: Paul, Forrest, and Robert (Paul and Forrest later became generals in the United States Army). They settled in Jonesboro, Arkansas, where Thaddeus established a law practice. Hattie Caraway raised their children, managed the household, and assisted with the family's cotton farm.
Entry into Politics
Hattie Caraway's husband was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1912 and served until 1921, when he became a U.S. Senator. While she took an interest in her husband's political career, she avoided public activism, including the women's suffrage movement.
Senator of Arkansas
When Thaddeus Caraway died in office in 1931, Governor Harvey Parnell appointed Hattie Caraway to fill his seat for the remainder of his term. She took office on November 13, 1931. Caraway announced her candidacy for a full term during her initial appointment. In 1932, she won the Senate election by a landslide, receiving 91.62% of the vote and becoming the first woman popularly elected to the U.S. Senate. She was re-elected in 1938. However, she lost the primary in 1944.
During her time as a senator, Caraway supported Prohibition and was a supporter of Franklin Roosevelt's economic policies. She chaired the Senate Committee on Enrolled Bills. Despite her diligent work in the Senate, she rarely gave speeches, earning the nickname "Silent Hattie."
Later Life and Legacy
After leaving the Senate in 1945, Caraway continued her involvement in politics. She served on the United States Employees' Compensation Commission from 1945 to 1946 and on the Employees' Compensation Appeals Board from 1946 until her death. She passed away from a stroke in Falls Church, Virginia, on December 21, 1950, and was buried next to her husband in Westlawn Cemetery in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
