Harry Schwartz (politician) explained

Harry Schwartz
Jr/Sr1:United States Senator
State1:Wyoming
Term Start1:January 3, 1937
Term End1:January 3, 1943
Predecessor1:Robert D. Carey
Successor1:Edward V. Robertson
Office2:Member of the Wyoming Senate from Natrona County
Term Start2:January 10, 1933
Term End2:1935
Predecessor2:Clifford A. Miller
Successor2:Charles S. Bream
Office3:Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from Minnehaha County
Term Start3:1897
Term End3:1899
Alongside3:J. S. Kirk, Henry Aulwes, A. G. Risty, W. O. Colton
Preceded3:John A. Egge, W. A. Crooks, Charles F. Austin, Thomas McKinnon, George A. Wheeler,
Succeeded3:A. G. Risty, C. T. Austin, John F. Sophy, J. M. Woodruff, C. W. Knodt
Birth Date:18 May 1869
Birth Place:Fort Recovery, Ohio, U.S.
Spouse:Eliza Bowie Mathews (1891–1978)
Death Place:Casper, Wyoming, U.S.
Party:Democratic

Henry Herman Schwartz (May 18, 1869April 24, 1955), known as Harry or H. H. Schwartz, was an American politician who served as a U.S. senator from Wyoming. He was a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and education

Schwartz was born on a farm near Fort Recovery, Ohio, and was educated in the public schools of Mercer County and Cincinnati, Ohio. Schwartz engaged in the newspaper business at Fort Recovery from 1892 to 1894 and at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from 1894 to 1896. Schwartz studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1895, and commenced practice in Sioux Falls.

Political career

Schwartz's political career started in the South Dakota House of Representatives, serving from 1897 to 1899, where he was elected on the Fusion ticket. He served as chief of the field division of the United States General Land Office at Spokane, Washington, and Helena, Montana, from 1897 to 1907. Schwartz was special assistant to the Attorney General in 1907; and chief of field service, General Land Office in Washington, D.C., from 1907 to 1910.

In 1915, Schwartz moved to Casper, Wyoming, with wife Eliza Bowie Mathews. He served as president of the Casper Board of Education and the Natrona County High School Board from 1928 to 1934. Schwartz was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate in 1930. He served as a member of the Wyoming state Senate from 1933 to 1935.

U.S. Senate

Schwartz was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 1936 and served from January 3, 1937 to January 3, 1943. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1942.

During his term as a U.S. Senator, Harry Schwartz played a key role in opening the door to black military pilots in World War II. In 1939, Public Law 18 appropriated funds to expand pilot training, and Schwartz was able to add an amendment to required some aviation equipment be loaned to schools for the training of black military pilots. When the War Department and the Army Air Corps (AAC) did not follow through on this amendment, Schwartz made visits to General Henry H. Arnold and others to demand that black pilots be trained.

During his term, Schwartz was chairman of the Committee on Pensions (Seventy-seventh Congress). He was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the National Mediation Board, serving from 1943 to 1947.

Life after politics

He resumed the practice of law in Casper, Wyoming, until his death there on April 24, 1955. He was interred in Highland Cemetery.

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