sc_sen_hollings
SEN. ERNEST HOLLINGS
Age: 76 Born: January 1, 1922 in Charleston, South Carolina Education: University of South Carolina, LL.B. (1947); The Citadel, B.A. (1942) Military: U.S. Army during WW II (1942-45) Family: married - Patsy; 4 children Hometown: Charleston, South Carolina Religion: Lutheran Career: U.S. Senator (1968-present); South Carolina Governor (1958-62); SC Lt. Governor (1954-58); SC Speaker Pro Tem (1951-54); SC House of Representatives (1948-54); attorney |
· After almost thirty years, Sen. Ernest Fritz Hollings is the longest serving Junior Senator in Senate history. He is the ranking Democrat on the Science & Technology Committee.
· A graduate of The Citadel, Fritz Hollings returned to Charleston after serving in the Army during World War II. He worked as trial attorney until, at age 26, he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. During his tenure, he served as the Speaker Pro Tem from 1951-54.
· As South CarolinaÂ's Governor in the early 1960's, Hollings oversaw school integration; he promised compliance with desegregation rulings, once the appeals were exhausted. He also sought to bring more attention to the poverty and hunger in his state.
· In 1966, Hollings lost his bid to unseat Incumbent Democratic Senator Olin Johnston in the Primary. Two years later, after OlinÂ's death, Hollings won the seat in a special election. He has been elected to five full terms since then.
· HollingsÂ' toughest re-election battle was in 1992. He beat his Republican challenger, former Congressman Tommy Hartnett, with slightly more than 50% of the vote. The incumbent Democratic Senator outspent his opponent by more than 4-1. One of Hollings campaign ads argued he was an outsider after twenty-five years in Washington.
&midot; As the only member of the SC delegation to vote against the Gulf War resolution, Hollings was booed at a postwar rally in Sumter, SC. Despite his military service and hawkish voting record on military issues, his job approval rating dropped.
· Hollings was an early backer of Campaign Finance Reform. Since 1987, he has been calling for a Constitutional Amendment allowing Congress to set reasonable limits on campaign spending. The measure was introduced again in early 1997, but was defeated in the Senate.
· Hollings was a fervent backer of telecommunications reform. His bi-partisan legislation provided for increased long-distance and regional Bell competition.
· In 1984, Hollings lost his bid for the Democratic Presidential nomination.