{{Short description|American politician (1908–2000)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = James H. Morrison | image = Jim Morrison fsa8a25862.jpg | image_size = 175px | caption = Jimmy Morrison in 1939 | state = [[Louisiana]] | district = [[Louisiana's 6th congressional district|6th]] | term_start = January 3, 1943 | term_end = January 3, 1967 | preceded = [[Jared Y. Sanders Jr.]] | succeeded = [[John Rarick]] | birth_name = James Hobson Morrison | birth_date = {{Birth date |1908|12|8}} | birth_place = [[Hammond, Louisiana]], U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2000|7|20|1908|12|8}} | death_place = Hammond, Louisiana, U.S. | resting_place = Episcopal Church Cemetery in Hammond, Louisiana | spouse = Marjorie Abbey Morrison (married 1940–2000, his death) | children = James Hobson Morrison, Jr.<br /> Benjamin Abbey Morrison | party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | occupation = [[Lawyer|Attorney]] | alma_mater = [[Tulane University School of Law]] | footnotes = }}
'''James Hobson Morrison''' (December 8, 1908 – July 20, 2000) was an American lawyer and politician who served twelve terms as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from [[Louisiana]] from 1943 to 1967.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000995|title = Bioguide Search}}</ref>
== Early life and career == James H. Morrison was born in [[Hammond, Louisiana]] on December 8, 1908. He attended the public schools<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000995|title = Bioguide Search}}</ref> and graduated from the [[Tulane University]] School of Law in [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]] in 1934.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/29/us/j-h-morrison-91-louisiana-congressman.html | title=Morrison obituary | newspaper=New York Times | date=July 29, 2000}}</ref> He passed the bar and began a private legal practice in Hammond. He supported better treatment for strawberry pickers and founded a labor newspaper.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2000/07/23/longtime-la-rep-james-morrison-dies/ab9853fc-6626-4261-bcd8-24b6672e8239/ | title=Longtime Louisiana Rep. James Morrison Dies| newspaper=The Washington Post | date=July 23, 2000}}</ref>
=== Gubernatorial campaigns === He ran unsuccessfully for [[Governor of Louisiana|governor]] in [[1939 Louisiana gubernatorial election|1939]] and again in [[1944 Louisiana gubernatorial election|1944]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000995|title = Bioguide Search}}</ref>
== Tenure in Congress == In 1942, he ran as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] for a seat in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House]], seeking to represent [[Louisiana's 6th congressional district]]. He won election and would serve in [[United States Congress|Congress]] for the next 24 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000995|title = Bioguide Search}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2000/07/23/longtime-la-rep-james-morrison-dies/ab9853fc-6626-4261-bcd8-24b6672e8239/ | title=Longtime Louisiana Rep. James Morrison Dies| newspaper=The Washington Post | date=July 23, 2000}}</ref>
He was initially assigned to serve on five committees, but after only a few days he stepped down from those committees because they dealt with issues less directly impactful to his district than the agricultural concerns he sought to represent.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/29/us/j-h-morrison-91-louisiana-congressman.html | title=Morrison obituary | newspaper=New York Times | date=July 29, 2000}}</ref> He quickly gained a reputation as a populist and supporter of federal highway funding in his district.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/29/us/j-h-morrison-91-louisiana-congressman.html | title=Morrison obituary | newspaper=New York Times | date=July 29, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2000/07/23/longtime-la-rep-james-morrison-dies/ab9853fc-6626-4261-bcd8-24b6672e8239/ | title=Longtime Louisiana Rep. James Morrison Dies| newspaper=The Washington Post | date=July 23, 2000}}</ref>
He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in both [[1956 Democratic National Convention|1956]] and [[1960 Democratic National Convention|1960]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000995 | newspaper=Congressional Biographical Directory| title=Bioguide Search}}</ref>
Based on certain criteria, Morrison developed a mostly liberal voting record during the course of his congressional career.<ref>[https://www.rightdatausa.com/bio?id=morrija02 RightDataUSA Ideology Data for James H. Morrison]</ref>
===Civil rights=== In 1956, Morrison was a signatory of the [[Southern Manifesto]]. He voted against the Civil Rights Acts of [[Civil Rights Act of 1957|1957]], [[Civil Rights Act of 1960|1960]], and [[Civil Rights Act of 1964|1964]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957. -- House Vote #42 -- Jun 18, 1957 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/h42 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HR 8601. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1960. APPROVAL BY THE … -- House Vote #106 -- Apr 21, 1960 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/h106 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=H.R. 7152. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. ADOPTION OF A … -- House Vote #182 -- Jul 2, 1964 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/h182 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}</ref> However, in 1965, he voted for the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965|Voting Rights Act]], which many believe cost him his seat.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-03-03 |title=Longtime La. Rep. James Morrison Dies |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2000/07/23/longtime-la-rep-james-morrison-dies/ab9853fc-6626-4261-bcd8-24b6672e8239/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |work=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
== Defeat and later career == In 1966, he was defeated in the Democratic primary election by Louisiana judge [[John Rarick|John R. Rarick]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/29/us/j-h-morrison-91-louisiana-congressman.html | title=Morrison obituary | newspaper=New York Times | date=July 29, 2000}}</ref>
After leaving Congress, he returned to Hammond to take up his law practice.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2000/07/23/longtime-la-rep-james-morrison-dies/ab9853fc-6626-4261-bcd8-24b6672e8239/ | title=Longtime Louisiana Rep. James Morrison Dies| newspaper=The Washington Post | date=July 23, 2000}}</ref> He became a prolific fundraiser and supporter of [[Southeastern Louisiana University]], to which he had also steered federal contracts during his time in office.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/29/us/j-h-morrison-91-louisiana-congressman.html | title=Morrison obituary | newspaper=New York Times | date=July 29, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2000/07/23/longtime-la-rep-james-morrison-dies/ab9853fc-6626-4261-bcd8-24b6672e8239/ | title=Longtime Louisiana Rep. James Morrison Dies| newspaper=The Washington Post | date=July 23, 2000}}</ref>
==Death== James Morrison died in Hammond on July 20, 2000, following a series of health problems, including two heart attacks and a stroke. His body is interred at Episcopal Church Cemetery in Hammond.
He was survived by his wife of 60 years, Marjorie Abbey Morrison and their two sons, James Jr. and Benjamin.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/29/us/j-h-morrison-91-louisiana-congressman.html | title=Morrison obituary | newspaper=New York Times | date=July 29, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2000/07/23/longtime-la-rep-james-morrison-dies/ab9853fc-6626-4261-bcd8-24b6672e8239/ | title=Longtime Louisiana Rep. James Morrison Dies| newspaper=The Washington Post | date=July 23, 2000}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000995 * http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000667 * https://web.archive.org/web/20070603034246/http://www.selu.edu/acad_research/programs/csls/morrison_lecture_ser/index.html * http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/morrison.html ''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to Elections'', Gubernatorial primary elections, 1940, 1944, 1948; Congressional general elections, 1960 and 1964 * [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1202535 United States Social Security Death Index] * http://www2.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/MorrisonLecture_Blossman.html
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-hs}} {{US House succession box | state = Louisiana | district = 6 | before = [[Jared Y. Sanders Jr.]] | years = 1943–1967 | after = [[John Rarick]] }} {{end}} {{LARepresentatives}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morrison, James H.}} [[Category:1908 births]] [[Category:2000 deaths]] [[Category:Louisiana lawyers]] [[Category:Tulane University Law School alumni]] [[Category:People from Hammond, Louisiana]] [[Category:20th-century American lawyers]] [[Category:20th-century American Episcopalians]] [[Category:Democratic Party United States representatives from Louisiana]] [[Category:Signatories of the Southern Manifesto]] [[Category:20th-century United States representatives]]