Carl T. Hayden

Carl T. Hayden (born October 2, 1877, Tempe, Arizona, U.S.—died January 25, 1972, Mesa, Arizona) was a Democratic political leader who served 56 years in both houses of the U.S. Congress (1912–69)—the longest term in the nation’s history to that time.

The son of an Arizona pioneer, young Hayden entered the flour-milling business and first became active in public life in the Tempe Town Council (1902–04). After holding several county offices, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1912 as his state’s first congressman. After 14 years he won a seat in the Senate, in which he served a total of seven terms.

In Congress Hayden concentrated on areas of special interest to his state—reclamation, irrigation, highways, and silver mining. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he wielded great power. As president pro tem of the Senate, he found himself in the unique position of acting vice president after the assassination of Pres. John F. Kennedy (November 22, 1963); he remained second in the line of presidential succession until January 1965. In recognition of his long service, diligence, and political sagacity, he was known as dean of the Senate after 1957.

On September 30, 1968, Carl Hayden Day was proclaimed at the White House in honour of the signing of the Lower Colorado River Basin Bill authorizing a massive $1,000,000,000 development project for central Arizona, which he had done much to promote.