Alben W. Barkley

vice president of the United States from 1949 to 1953

Alben William Barkley (November 24, 1877 – April 30, 1956) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the United States Senate from Paducah, Kentucky, majority leader of the Senate, and the thirty-fifth vice president of the United States. He was the oldest vice president of the United States at the age of 71 years, 57 days. He ran for president in 1952, however the Democratic Party primaries had nominated Adlai Stevenson II instead and labor union leaders rejected him to run because of old age (74). He died in Lexington Kentucky from a heart attack at age 78.

Alben W. Barkley
35th Vice President of the United States
In office
January 20, 1949 – January 20, 1953
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byHarry S. Truman
Succeeded byRichard Nixon
5th United States Senate Majority Leader
In office
July 22, 1937 – January 3, 1947
DeputyJ. Hamilton Lewis
Sherman Minton
Lister Hill
Preceded byJoseph Taylor Robinson (D)
Succeeded byWallace H. White, Jr. (R)
8th United States Senate Minority Leader
In office
January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949
DeputyScott Lucas
Preceded byWallace H. White Jr. (R)
Succeeded byKenneth S. Wherry
3rd Senate Democratic Leader
In office
July 22, 1937 – January 3, 1949
DeputyJ. Hamilton Lewis
Sherman Minton
Lister Hill
Scott Lucas
Preceded byJoseph Taylor Robinson
Succeeded byScott Lucas
United States Senator
from Kentucky
In office
March 4, 1927 – January 19, 1949
Preceded byRichard P. Ernst
Succeeded byGarrett L. Withers
In office
January 3, 1955 – April 30, 1956
Preceded byJohn Sherman Cooper
Succeeded byRobert Humphreys
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1927
Preceded byOllie M. James
Succeeded byWilliam Voris Gregory
Personal details
Born(1877-11-24)November 24, 1877
Graves County, Kentucky
DiedApril 30, 1956(1956-04-30) (aged 78)
Lexington, Virginia
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Dorothy Brower Barkley, Jane Hadley Barkley
Alma materEmory University, University of Virginia