James E. Berry
James Edward Berry | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | November 22, 1966 (aged 85) |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, banker |
| Known for | Sixth lieutenant governor of Oklahoma (1935–1955) |
James Edward Berry (October 2, 1881 – November 22, 1966) was a notable American political figure who held the position of the sixth lieutenant governor of Oklahoma from 1935 until 1955, marking the longest service period in that role. Although he made two unsuccessful attempts to secure a U.S. Senate seat, Berry remained a prominent force in state politics until his defeat in the 1954 Democratic primary runoff by Cowboy Pink Williams.
Early life
Berry was born in Missouri in 1881 and moved to Oklahoma during his teenage years. He initially engaged in farming near Blackwell before moving to Stillwater to pursue studies at Oklahoma A&M College. He served in the Oklahoma National Guard, reaching the rank of major. Professionally, Berry was involved in banking and became president of the Stillwater bank in 1929.
Political career
Berry lost his initial campaign for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma in 1930 to Democrat Robert Burns. However, he succeeded in winning the lieutenant governorship in 1934 and took office alongside Governor of Oklahoma E. W. Marland in 1935. Over the next two decades, Berry served under five governors, establishing himself as a durable and influential leader within Oklahoma’s Democratic Party.
Lieutenant governorship
In the 1934 election, Berry secured a commanding victory against Republican Charles E. Wells with 63.9% of the vote (348,617 ballots). His predecessor, Burns, had left the lieutenant governor position to run unsuccessfully for governor. Burns attempted to regain the lieutenant governorship in 1938 but was defeated by Berry, who improved his share to 68.3%, his highest margin, against Jo O. Ferguson. Berry continued winning more than half the votes in subsequent elections held in 1942, 1946, and 1950. In 1944, he pursued a U.S. Senate seat occupied by Elmer Thomas but finished third in the Democratic primary behind Thomas and Wesley E. Disney. In 1948, Berry was the first candidate to enter a primary for an open Senate seat but placed seventh amid a crowded field won by Robert S. Kerr, indicating increasing electoral challenges.
1954 election
Berry appeared firmly entrenched within Oklahoma’s Democratic ranks until Cowboy Pink Williams entered the contest after reviewing state office candidates. Williams, a rancher who had suffered a $25,000 loss which he attributed to policies from the Eisenhower Administration, ran a humorous campaign featuring postcards depicting a donkey kicking its heels and inviting Republican cattlemen to “a public ass-kicking.” Thousands of these cards were distributed across the state, eventually exceeding half a million printed.
In the primary election, Berry led with 148,406 votes compared to Williams’ 78,981 and Hurst’s 57,789 but did not secure an outright majority, leading to a runoff. In that runoff election, Williams defeated Berry with 222,784 votes to Berry’s 203,747.