Carl Vinson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carl Vinson
38th Dean of the United States House of Representatives
In office November 16, 1961 – January 3, 1965
Preceded by	Sam Rayburn
Succeeded by	Emanuel Celler
Chair of the House Armed Services Committee
In office January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1965
Speaker	Sam Rayburn John William McCormack
Preceded by	Dewey J. Short
Succeeded by	L. Mendel Rivers
In office January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1953
Speaker	Sam Rayburn
Preceded by	Walter G. Andrews
Succeeded by	Dewey J. Short
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia
In office November 3, 1914 – January 3, 1965
Preceded by	Thomas W. Hardwick
Succeeded by	John J. Flynt, Jr.
Constituency	10th district (1914–1933) 6th district (1933–1965)
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
In office 1908–1914
Personal details
Born	November 18, 1883 Baldwin County, Georgia, U.S.
Died	June 1, 1981 (aged 97) Milledgeville, Georgia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Mercer University
Signature

Carl Vinson (November 18, 1883 – June 1, 1981) was an important American politician. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than 50 years. He was very important in helping the U.S. Navy grow in the 20th century.

Vinson was a member of the Democratic Party. He represented the state of Georgia in the House from 1914 to 1965. People called him "The Father of the Two-Ocean Navy". He served longer than any other House member from Georgia. From 1961 to 1965, he was the Dean of the U.S. House. This title goes to the longest-serving member.

The Carl Vinson, a large aircraft carrier, is named after him.

Carl Vinson's Early Life & Start in Politics

Carl Vinson was born in Baldwin County, Georgia. He went to local schools there. He also attended Georgia Military College. In 1902, he earned a law degree from Mercer University.

After working as a lawyer, he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1908. Later, he became a judge for Baldwin County.

In 1914, a U.S. Senator died, and the Representative from Georgia, Thomas W. Hardwick, took his place. This opened up a spot in Congress. Carl Vinson decided to run for this seat. He won the election against three other candidates. Vinson was only 30 years old when he joined Congress on November 3, 1914. This made him the youngest member at that time.

Carl Vinson's Time in Congress

Carl Vinson was elected as a Representative at age 30. He served until he was 81.

Carl Vinson served as a Representative for over 50 years. He was re-elected many times by voters in Georgia. During his time in the U.S. House, Vinson strongly supported national defense. He especially championed the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps.

Soon after World War I, he joined the House Naval Affairs Committee. By the early 1920s, he became the top Democrat on this committee. He was also the only Democrat chosen for the Morrow Board. This board looked at the state of aviation in America in the mid-1920s.

Building a Stronger Navy

In 1931, Vinson became the chairman of the House Naval Affairs Committee. He worked to make the U.S. Navy stronger. In 1934, Vinson helped pass the Vinson–Trammell Act. This law allowed the Navy to replace old ships with new ones. It also helped increase the number of ships. This was important because the U.S. Navy was getting old. Other countries, like Japan, were building many new ships.

Vinson was key to other laws that expanded the Navy. These included the Naval Act of 1938 and the Third Vinson Act of 1940. Most importantly, he pushed for the Two-Ocean Navy Act of 1940. This big plan helped the U.S. Navy prepare for World War II. New ships were ready to match the latest ships from Japan.

Leading the Armed Services Committee

After World War II, the House Naval Affairs Committee joined with another committee. They formed the House Armed Services Committee. This happened when the U.S. military departments were also combined. Vinson became the chairman of this new committee in 1949. He held this important job until he retired in 1965.

As chairman, Vinson helped modernize the military. He guided it as the country faced the Cold War. He also oversaw the approval of the first nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The first one was the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in the late 1950s.

Vinson retired from Congress in January 1965. He did not seek re-election in 1964.

Carl Vinson's Family Life

Carl Vinson married Mary Green in 1921. She passed away in 1949 after being sick for a long time.

Vinson did not have any children of his own. However, his great-nephew, Sam Nunn, became a Senator from Georgia. Sam Nunn served for over 24 years. He followed in his great-uncle's footsteps. He served on the Senate Armed Services Committee for almost his entire time in the Senate.

Carl Vinson's Later Years and Legacy

Carl Vinson returned to Baldwin County, Georgia, after retiring. He lived there until he passed away on June 1, 1981. He was 97 years old. He is buried in Memory Hill Cemetery in Milledgeville, Georgia.

At the time of his death, Vinson was the last living member of the House of Representatives who was serving when the U.S. declared war on Germany in World War I.

Honors and Recognitions

Many things were named after Carl Vinson to honor his work.

• A nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, was named after him. This is a rare honor for someone still living. He even attended the ship's launch in 1980 when he was 96.
• Vinson Massif, the highest mountain in Antarctica, is also named after him.
• Carl Vinson served 26 terms in the U.S. House. He rarely faced strong opponents. His record of 50 years and one month in Congress stood until 1992.
• He received the Sylvanus Thayer Award from the United States Military Academy.
• In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson gave Vinson the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Special Distinction. This is the highest award a President can give to a civilian. Johnson had served under Vinson on the House Naval Affairs Committee.
• The Department of Veterans' Affairs Medical Center in Dublin, Georgia, is named for Vinson.
• The University of Georgia has the Carl Vinson Institute of Government.
• There is a Carl Vinson Park in Athens, Georgia.
• Carl Vinson Parkway is located in Warner Robins, Georgia.
• Vinson Hall Retirement Community in McLean, Virginia, is also named after him.

Images for kids

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  Portrait of Vinson, 1943.