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| branch = United States Army
| branch = United States Army
| serviceyears = 1917–1918
| serviceyears = 1917–1918
| rank = [[First lieutenant]]
| rank = [[First lieutenant (United States)|First Lieutenant]]
| unit = 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division
| unit = 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division
| battles = [[World War I]]
| battles = [[World War I]]
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'''Frederic René Coudert Jr.''' (May 7, 1898 – May 21, 1972) was a member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from [[New York (state)|New York]] from 1947 to 1959. Prior to serving in Congress, he was best known for his role with New York's [[Rapp-Coudert Committee]], which attempted to identify the extent of [[communist]] influence in the [[New York (state)|state of New York]]'s [[public school (government funded)|public education]] system. The committee's inquiries lead to the dismissal of more than 40 instructors and staff members at the [[City College of New York]], actions the committee's critics regarded as a political "witch-hunt."
'''Frederic René Coudert Jr.''' (May 7, 1898 – May 21, 1972) was a member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from [[New York (state)|New York]] from 1947 to 1959, and a member of the [[New York State Senate]] from 1939 to 1946. Prior to serving in Congress, he was best known for his role with New York's [[Rapp-Coudert Committee]], which attempted to identify the extent of [[communist]] influence in the [[New York (state)|state of New York]]'s [[public school (government funded)|public education]] system. The committee's inquiries lead to the dismissal of more than 40 instructors and staff members at the [[City College of New York]], actions the committee's critics regarded as a political "witch-hunt."


==Background==
==Background==

Revision as of 11:34, 26 September 2023

"Frederic Coudert" redirects here. For the co-founder of Coudert Brothers, see Frederic René Coudert Sr.
Frederic René Coudert Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 17th district
In office
January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1959
Preceded byJoseph C. Baldwin
Succeeded byJohn Lindsay
Member of the New York State Senate
from the 20th district
In office
1945–1946
Preceded byAlexander A. Falk
Succeeded byMacNeil Mitchell
Member of the New York State Senate
from the 17th district
In office
1939–1944
Preceded byLeon A. Fischel
Succeeded byRobert S. Bainbridge
Personal details
Born(1898-05-07)May 7, 1898
New York City, US
DiedMay 21, 1972(1972-05-21) (aged 74)
New York City, US
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1923; div. 1930)​
  • Paula Murray
    ​
    (m. 1931)​
Children3
Parent
Alma mater
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1917–1918
RankFirst Lieutenant
Unit105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division
Battles/warsWorld War I

Frederic René Coudert Jr. (May 7, 1898 – May 21, 1972) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York from 1947 to 1959, and a member of the New York State Senate from 1939 to 1946. Prior to serving in Congress, he was best known for his role with New York's Rapp-Coudert Committee, which attempted to identify the extent of communist influence in the state of New York's public education system. The committee's inquiries lead to the dismissal of more than 40 instructors and staff members at the City College of New York, actions the committee's critics regarded as a political "witch-hunt."

Background

Coudert was born in New York City on May 7, 1898, to Frederic René Coudert II (1871–1955). He attended the Browning and Morristown Schools in New York City, then entered Harvard College in 1916, but when the US entered World War I, Coudert joined the Army with a letter from former president Theodore Roosevelt. He served as a First Lieutenant in the 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, with overseas service, in 1917 and 1918, graduating from Columbia University in 1918.

Coudert graduated from Columbia Law School in 1922, was admitted to the bar in 1923 and commenced practice in New York City. He served as an assistant United States attorney for the southern district of New York in 1924 and 1925.

Politics

Coudert was unsuccessful as a Republican candidate for district attorney of New York County in 1929, but was a delegate to the Republican State conventions from 1930 to 1948 and the Republican National Conventions from 1936 to 1948.

He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1939 to 1946, sitting in the 162nd, 163rd, 164th and 165th New York State Legislatures.

He was elected as a Republican to the 80th, 81st, 82nd, 83rd, 84th and 85th United States Congresses, holding office from January 3, 1947, to January 3, 1959. Coudert voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.[1]

He was a member of The New York Young Republican Club.[2]

Post-congressional career

He continued his practice of law in New York City, and was also a member of the State Commission on Governmental Operations of New York City from 1959 to 1961. Coudert was an outspoken conservative and endorsed William F. Buckley's 1965 Conservative campaign for the New York City mayoralty over liberal Republican Congressman John Lindsay.

Retirement and death

He retired due to ill health, and died in New York City on May 21, 1972. He is buried at Memorial Cemetery, Cold Spring Harbor, New York.

Family

In 1923 he married the sculptor Mary Callery. They had one daughter. The marriage had ended in divorce by 1930. He married Paula Murray on October 27, 1931, in New York City. He had two children in his second marriage.

See also

References

  1. ^ "HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957". GovTrack.us.
  2. ^ "History". Retrieved Apr 13, 2021.
New York State Senate
Preceded by Member of the New York State Senate
from the 17th district
1939–1944 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the New York State Senate
from the 20th district
1945–1946 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 17th congressional district
1947–1959 		Succeeded by
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