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| Senator Edward W. Brooke III |
Troy's original Paper Cover |
Written by Troy Small, MVRHS Sophomore class 2007/08
Edward W. Brooke III was the first African American politician to
be popularly elected to the US senate since Reconstruction, when
he was elected as a Republican for Massachusetts. Before being elected
into the senate, he was attorney general of Massachusetts although
many in his party did not like that he was to enter the senate,
he followed the advice of his mother: "keep fighting, if you
work hard there is nothing you cannot do."
Mr. Brooke was born on October 26th, 1919, and he grew up in a predominantly
black neighborhood and went to a black school due to the segregation
laws. Although growing up in the segregated south, Mr. Brooke never
knew poverty or racial discrimination. In his own words, he lived
in a "cocoon" sheltered from lynching and race riots that
often occurred in that era. Nevertheless, segregation was no less
real for him, but for him it was non-violent and more subtle. Mr.
Brooke considers himself blessed to have been able to attend Paul
Lawrence Dunbar High School because it was the top school for African
Americans in Washington D.C. This school was considered to be just
as good as any white school, and was the "best negro high school
in America." Following high school, he attended Howard University
where he got his bachelor of science degree. After that he joined
the military and was a decorated officer in the 366th regiment in
Italy. In 1962, Mr. Brooke became the first African American to
be elected as any states Attorney General when he was elected for
Massachusetts and he would soon go down a road to become the first
African American to join the senate in 1966.
Richard M. Nixon (center), then a former Vice President of
the United States, campaigns in Massachusetts in the 1966
mid-term elections for U.S. Senate nominee Edward Brooke (left)
and Governor John A. Volpe. |
Mr. Brooke spent a lot of time on Martha's Vineyard mainly in the
summer with his family. His presence gave the Island warmth and
he showed many African Americans experiences that they will never
forget. When he was younger, he would come in the summer and teach
all the local African American children to swim at the Inkwell Beach.
This was an experience that the children, who are now older, will
never forget, and it made a difference in many peoples' lives. The
house he previously owned in Oak Bluffs on Nashawena Park is now
a site on the African American Heritage Trail.
During his time in the senate, Edward Brooke strongly opposed the
escalation of the Vietnam War, fought against the MIRV and ABM proposals
that would have escalated Cold War nuclear arsenals, and was the
impetus in bringing about improved relations between the U.S. and
China that led to U.S. recognition of the Peoples' Republic of China.
He was also the first Republican senator to vote on the resignation
of President Nixon after the incident at the Watergate Hotel. Mr.
Brooke was reelected to the senate in 1972, and is the first African
American to be re-elected by popular vote.
Senator Edward Brooke meeting with President Lyndon Johnson
in the Oval Office shortly after taking office in the Senate
in 1967. |
Mr. Brooke faced much adversity during his career in the senate
from magazine articles to newspapers comparing him negatively to
other Republicans. This did not demoralize him though as he focused
on matters at hand such as his family and the good he could do for
his country. He once recalled critics saying: "Brooke is a
Republican in a Democratic state, he's a Protestant in a Catholic
state, and he's Black in a White state, he's a Carpetbagger!"
Brooke said "I plead guilty to all of that, now go on out and
vote for me." He built a career that defied all expectations
and crossed racial and political lines. He fought many times with
conservative members of his party on issues of abortion and the
resignation of President Nixon, both of which he supported. He lost
his seat in the senate in 1978 because of blemishes on his record
owing to his public divorce and rumors of financial impropriety.
Edward Brooke is congratulated by President George W. Bush
at the Ceremony for the 2004 Recipients of the Presidential
Medal of Freedom, The East Room of the White House. |
Mr. Brooke was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004
by President Bush and this was a great honor. Only 400 people have
ever earned that medal. Edward Brooke trusted in his own ability
and trusted in how this country has come and believed in how much
more it has to achieve in terms of racial equality.
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