Senator Randolph Campaign Button
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Title
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Senator Randolph Campaign Button
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Description
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Campaign button from one of Senator Randolph's bids for U.S. Senator from 1960 to 1978.
As a U.S. Senator, Randolph supported the Interstate Highway program and massive road-building efforts. He also sponsored the 1965 Regional Development Act, which created the Appalachian Regional Commission. From 1965 to 1981, Randolph was the chairman of the Public Works Committee, and from 1981 to 1985 he was a ranking minority member. He sponsored legislation to aid the handicapped, compensate victims of black lung disease, ensure clean water and air, and fund vocational and career education. He supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and subsequent civil rights legislation. He also sponsored the Constitutional Amendment to allow 18-year-olds to vote 11 times. In 1971, he saw it approved. He was re-elected in 1978 at age 76 with just 50.5 percent of the vote. As this term came to a close, it was uncertain whether he would run for re-election. Then-Governor John D. Rockefeller IV had worked hard for Randolph's re-election in 1978, and was invited to Randolph's Capitol hideaway office one morning. In a 1998 eulogy of Randolph, Rockefeller recalled "He had a very nice breakfast there. He was very relaxed. Then he simply turned to me and said, 'Jay would you like to be the next Senator for West Virginia? '"
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Date
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Circa 1960-1978
