# Laurence Curtis

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American politician (1893–1989)

Laurence Curtis Curtis c. 1961 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 10th district In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1963 Preceded by Christian Herter Succeeded by Joseph William Martin Jr. (redistricting) Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts In office 1947–1949 Governor Robert F. Bradford Preceded by John E. Hurley Succeeded by John E. Hurley Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 3rd Suffolk District In office 1937–1941 Preceded by Henry Parkman Jr. Succeeded by Charles John Innes Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives In office 1933–1937 Member of the Boston City Council for Ward 5 In office 1930–1933 Preceded by Henry Parkman Jr. Succeeded by Henry Lee Shattuck Personal details Born (1893-09-03)September 3, 1893 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Died July 11, 1989(1989-07-11) (aged 95) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Party Republican Spouse Helen Alma mater Harvard Law School Harvard University Occupation Lawyer Awards Citation Star Military service Allegiance United States Branch/service United States Navy

**Laurence Curtis** (September 3, 1893 – July 11, 1989) was an American attorney and [Republican Party](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) politician from [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts).

## Early life, military service, and education

Laurence Curtis was born in [Boston, Massachusetts](/source/Boston%2C_Massachusetts) on September 3, 1893. He graduated from [Groton School](/source/Groton_School) in 1912 and from [Harvard University](/source/Harvard_University) in 1916.

### Military career

He served in the Foreign Diplomatic Service. Upon graduation from college, he was commissioned as an officer in the Navy and was injured during an aviation training crash on a [flying boat](/source/Flying_boat) in Newport News, Virginia,[1] resulting in the loss of a leg. He served out the rest of his time in the military in [Pensacola, Florida](/source/Pensacola%2C_Florida). He was awarded the [Citation Star](/source/Citation_Star). He was later State Commander and National Senior Vice Commander of the [Disabled American Veterans](/source/Disabled_American_Veterans).

He returned to [Harvard Law School](/source/Harvard_Law_School) and graduated in 1921.

## Legal career

He was admitted to the Massachusetts bar the same year and commenced practice in Boston. He was secretary to [United States Supreme Court](/source/United_States_Supreme_Court) Justice [Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.](/source/Oliver_Wendell_Holmes_Jr.) He served as assistant United States attorney in Boston

## Political career

Curtis as a member of Massachusetts House circa 1935.

Curtis was elected to the [Boston City Council](/source/Boston_City_Council) in 1929. He succeeded [Henry Parkman Jr.](/source/Henry_Parkman_Jr.) in the then-strongly Republican fifth ward, which includes the wealthy [Back Bay](/source/Back_Bay) and [Beacon Hill](/source/Beacon_Hill%2C_Boston) neighborhoods. He represented the area in the [Massachusetts House of Representatives](/source/Massachusetts_House_of_Representatives) from 1933 to 1937 and the [Massachusetts Senate](/source/Massachusetts_Senate) from 1937 to 1941.

[In 1946](/source/1946_Massachusetts_elections#Treasurer_and_Receiver-General), Curtis was elected Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts. He defeated former Treasurer [Fred J. Burrell](/source/Fred_J._Burrell) in the Republican primary and incumbent Treasurer [John E. Hurley](/source/John_E._Hurley) in the general election.[2][3] However, Curtis lost re-election to Hurley in the historic [wave election](/source/Wave_elections_in_the_United_States) of [1948](/source/1948_Massachusetts_elections#Treasurer_and_Receiver-General), when the Democratic Party swept all six state offices. Hurley sought a re-match and defeated Curtis by over 230,000 votes.[4]

[In 1950](/source/1950_Massachusetts_elections#Lieutenant_Governor), Curtis was the Republican nominee for [Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts](/source/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Massachusetts). He won the nomination relatively easily with 46% of the vote over a five-man field, including anti-communist activist [Robert W. Welch Jr.](/source/Robert_W._Welch_Jr.) and State Senator [Harris S. Richardson](/source/Harris_S._Richardson).[5] Though he was the leading Republican candidate on the ballot,[6] Curtis lost the general election to incumbent [Charles F. Sullivan](/source/Charles_F._Sullivan) as Republicans failed to erase the Democratic gains of 1948.[7]

### U.S. Representative

In 1952, Curtis initially sought election as Governor, calling for a "wholesale clean-up of conditions at the State House that have destroyed the hope of a square deal for Massachusetts citizens."[6] However, U.S. Representative [Christian Herter](/source/Christian_Herter) was [drafted](/source/Draft_(politics)) by the party establishment for the race instead. Curtis initially vowed to remain in the race before withdrawing, endorsing Herter, and running for Herter's House seat with party support.[6][8]

Curtis was elected to the four succeeding Congresses. He voted in favor of the [Civil Rights Acts of 1957](/source/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1957) and [1960](/source/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1960),[9][10] but voted present on the [24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution](/source/Twenty-fourth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution).[11]

### 1962 United States Senate campaign

Main article: [1962 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts](/source/1962_United_States_Senate_special_election_in_Massachusetts)

In 1962, he declined to run for a sixth term in favor of seeking the United States Senate seat left vacant by [John F. Kennedy](/source/John_F._Kennedy)'s election to the White House. However, he lost the Republican nomination to [George C. Lodge](/source/George_C._Lodge).

After his 1962 loss, Curtis resumed the practice of law. He unsuccessfully sought election to the House three more times in 1968, 1970, and 1972.

## Personal life and death

After he retired from office, Curtis was a resident of [Newton, Massachusetts](/source/Newton%2C_Massachusetts) until his death in Boston on July 11, 1989. He was buried at [Mount Auburn Cemetery](/source/Mount_Auburn_Cemetery).

## See also

- [List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Seat 2)](/source/List_of_law_clerks_of_the_Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States_(Seat_2))

- Massachusetts legislature: [1933–1934](/source/1933%E2%80%931934_Massachusetts_legislature), [1935–1936](/source/1935%E2%80%931936_Massachusetts_legislature), [1937–1938](/source/1937%E2%80%931938_Massachusetts_legislature), [1939](/source/1939_Massachusetts_legislature), [1941–1942](/source/1941%E2%80%931942_Massachusetts_legislature)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Harvard Alumni Bulletin](/source/Harvard_Magazine). ["Laurence Curtis, 2d, '16"](https://books.google.com/books?id=wCfPAAAAMAAJ&q=Laurence+Curtis&pg=PA262), volume 20, number 1, September 27, 1917, page 258. Retrieved September 17, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [*Massachusetts Election Statistics 1946*](https://archive.org/stream/electionstatisti19461948mass#page/n149/mode/2up). p. 145.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [*Massachusetts Election Statistics 1946*](https://archive.org/stream/electionstatisti19461948mass#page/n9/mode/2up). p. 4.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [*Massachusetts Election Statistics 1948*](https://archive.org/stream/electionstatisti19461948mass#page/n455/mode/2up). p. 3.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [*Election Statistics; The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1950*](https://archive.org/stream/electionstatisti19501951mass#page/144/mode/2up).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:4_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:4_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:4_6-2) ["Herter Pushed for Governor; Laurence Curtis Announces Candidacy for GOP Nomination"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/533939909/). *[The Berkshire County Eagle](/source/The_Berkshire_County_Eagle)*. 6 Feb 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 20 Aug 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [*Election Statistics; The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1950*](https://archive.org/stream/electionstatisti19501951mass#page/240/mode/2up).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Harris, John (8 Feb 1952). ["Herter to Run for Governor"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/433373092). *[The Boston Globe](/source/The_Boston_Globe)*. p. 1. Retrieved 20 Aug 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957"](https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/h42). *GovTrack.us*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["HR 8601. PASSAGE"](https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/h102).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF POLL TAX AS A REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS"](https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/87-1962/h193). *GovTrack.us*.

## External links

- United States Congress. ["Laurence Curtis (id: C001011)"](http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001011). *[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress](/source/Biographical_Directory_of_the_United_States_Congress)*.

- *[Laurence Curtis, 95, Former House Member](https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4DA1E38F930A25754C0A96F948260)*. New York Times (July 13, 1989).

- [Laurence Curtis](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38164227) at [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave)

Party political offices Preceded by William E. Hurley Republican nominee for Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts 1942 Succeeded by Fred J. Burrell Preceded by Fred J. Burrell Republican nominee for Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts 1946, 1948 Preceded by Arthur W. Coolidge Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts 1950 Succeeded by Sumner G. Whittier Political offices Preceded by John E. Hurley Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts January 1947 – January 1949 Succeeded by John E. Hurley U.S. House of Representatives Preceded by Christian Herter Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 10th congressional district January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1963 Succeeded by Joseph William Martin Jr.

v t e United States representatives from Massachusetts 1st district F. Ames Dexter Goodhue Holten Sedgwick Skinner Sedgwick J. Bacon Eustis Quincy Ward Jr. Mason Gorham Webster Gorham N. Appleton Gorham A. Lawrence Fletcher A. Lawrence Winthrop N. Appleton Winthrop S. Eliot W. Appleton Scudder T. D. Eliot Hall T. D. Eliot Buffington Crapo R. Davis Randall Wright G. Lawrence Treadway Heselton Conte Olver Neal 2nd district Goodhue Foster W. Lyman Sedgwick Ward Sr. W. Lyman Shepard J. Crowninshield Story Pickman W. Reed Pickering Silsbee Barstow B. Crowninshield Choate Phillips Saltonstall D. King Rantoul Fay Crocker Buffington O. Ames Harris Long E. Morse Gillett Churchill Bowles Kaynor Granfield Clason Furcolo Boland Neal McGovern 3rd district Gerry Bourne Coffin S. Lyman Mattoon Cutler Nelson Livermore White Pickering Nelson Varnum Nelson Osgood Cushing A. Abbott Duncan Edmands Damrell C. Adams Thomas A. Rice Twichell Whiting I Pierce Field B. Dean Field Ranney L. Morse J. Andrew Walker J. R. Thayer R. Hoar C. Washburn J. A. Thayer Wilder Paige F. Foss Casey Philbin Drinan Donohue Early Blute McGovern N. Tsongas Trahan 4th district Sedgwick Dearborn G. Thatcher Wadsworth Foster L. Lincoln Sr. Hastings Varnum W. Richardson Dana Stearns Fuller E. Everett Sa. Hoar Parmenter Thompson Palfrey Thompson Sabine Walley Comins A. Rice Hooper Frost J. Abbott L. Morse Collins O'Neil Apsley Weymouth Tirrell Mitchell Wilder Winslow Stobbs P. Holmes Donohue Drinan Frank Kennedy III Auchincloss 5th district Partridge Bourne Freeman L. Williams T. Dwight Ely Mills Lathrop Sibley J. Davis L. Lincoln Jr. Hudson C. Allen W. Appleton Burlingame W. Appleton Hooper Alley Butler Gooch Banks Bowman L. Morse Hayden Banks Sh. Hoar Stevens Knox B. Ames J. Rogers E. Rogers B. Morse Cronin P. Tsongas Shannon Atkins Meehan N. Tsongas Markey Clark 6th district G. Thatcher Leonard J. Reed Sr. J. Smith Taggart S. Allen Locke Kendall Grennell Alvord Baker Ashmun G. Davis Upham T. Davis Alley Gooch Banks Butler Thompson Loring Stone Lovering Lodge Cogswell Moody Gardner Lufkin A.P. Andrew G. Bates W. Bates Harrington Mavroules Torkildsen Tierney Moulton 7th district Leonard Ward Sr. Leonard Bullock Bishop Mitchell Barker Baylies Turner Baylies Hulbert Shaw H. Dwight S. Allen Grennell Briggs J. Rockwell Goodrich Banks Gooch Boutwell Brooks Esty E. Hoar Tarbox Butler W. Russell Stone Cogswell W. Everett Barrett Roberts Phelan Maloney W. Connery L. Connery Lane Macdonald Markey Capuano Pressley 8th district Grout G. Thatcher F. Ames Otis Eustis L. Williams Green Gardner Green J. Reed Jr. Baylies Sampson Hobart Lathrop Bates Calhoun J. Adams Mann Wentworth Knapp Train Baldwin G. Hoar J. M. S. Williams Warren Claflin Candler W Russell C. H. Allen Greenhalge Stevens McCall Deitrick Dallinger H. Thayer Dallinger Healey Goodwin Macdonald O'Neill Kennedy II Capuano Lynch 9th district Varnum Bishop J. Dean Wheaton J. Reed Jr. Folger J. Reed Jr. H. Dwight Briggs Jackson Hastings H. Williams Hale Fowler Little De Witt E. Thayer Bailey A. Walker W. Washburn Crocker G. Hoar W. Rice T. Lyman Ely Burnett Candler G. Williams O'Neil Fitzgerald Conry Keliher Murray Roberts Fuller Underhill Luce R. Russell Luce T. H. Eliot Gifford Nicholson Keith McCormack Hicks Moakley Lynch Keating 10th district Goodhue Sewall Read Hastings Upham J. Allen Brigham Wheaton Morton F Baylies Bailey H. A. S. Dearborn W. Baylies Borden H. Williams Borden Burnell Grinnell Scudder Dickinson Chaffee Delano Dawes Crocker Stevens Seelye Norcross W. Rice J. E. Russell J. Walker McEttrick Atwood Barrows Naphen McNary O'Connell Curley Murray Tague Fitzgerald Tague Douglass Tinkham Herter Curtis Martin Heckler Studds Delahunt Keating 11th district Bradbury Bartlett Cutler Stedman A. Bigelow Brigham B. Adams J. Russell Hobart J. Richardson J. Adams J. Reed Jr. Burnell Goodrich Trafton Dawes Chapin Robinson Whiting II Wallace Coolidge Draper Sprague Powers Sullivan Peters Tinkham Douglass Higgins Flaherty Curley Kennedy O'Neill Burke Donnelly 12th district H. Dearborn I. Parker Lee S. Thatcher Skinner Larned Bidwell Bacon Dewey Hulbert Strong Kendall L. Bigelow Baylies Hodges J. Adams Robinson F. Rockwell Crosby E. Morse Lovering Powers Weeks Curley Gallivan McCormack Keith Studds 13th district Wadsworth Seaver Ruggles Dowse Eustis J. Reed Jr. Randall Simpkins Greene Weeks Mitchell Carter Luce Wigglesworth Burke 14th district G. Thatcher Cutts C. King J. Holmes Lovering E. Foss Harris Gilmore Olney Frothingham Wigglesworth Martin 15th district Wadsworth Ilsley Whitman Widgery Bradbury Whitman Greene Leach Martin Gifford 16th district S. Thatcher Cook Tallman S. Davis Brown Orr Hill Thacher Walsh Gifford 17th district Bruce Chandler Gannett F. Carr Wood J. Carr Wilson Kinsley 18th district Wilson T. Rice J. Parker 19th district J. Parker Conner Gage Cushman 20th district Hubbard Parris E. Lincoln At-large Cobb

Authority control databases: People US Congress

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Laurence Curtis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_Curtis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_Curtis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.