Elizabeth Kee

Maude Elizabeth Kee (née Simpkins; June 7, 1895 – February 15, 1975), known more generally as Elizabeth Kee, was a U.S. Democratic politician. She was the first woman elected to Congress from West Virginia. She attended Roanoke business college. Elizabeth dedicated herself to unemployment and veteran issues while in Congress. She was elected into congress in November 4, 1952.

Elizabeth Kee
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from West Virginia's 5th congressional district
In office
July 17, 1951 – January 3, 1965
Preceded byJohn Kee
Succeeded byJames Kee
Personal details
Born
Maude Elizabeth Simpkins

(1895-06-07)June 7, 1895
Radford, Virginia
DiedFebruary 15, 1975(1975-02-15) (aged 79)
Bluefield, West Virginia
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Alan Frazier
John Kee
ChildrenJames Kee
Alma materRoanoke Business College

Biography

She was born Maude Elizabeth Simpkins in Radford, Virginia. She married John Kee, and served as her husband's executive secretary from November 1932, when he was first elected to Congress, until his death in 1951. After her husband's death, she was elected as a Democrat in a special election to succeed her husband in the United States House of Representatives serving the Fifth Congressional District of West Virginia in the 82nd through the 88th U.S. Congress. She was elected to six more terms and served from July 17, 1951 to January 3, 1965. While serving in Congress, she served on the House Government Operations, Interior and Insular Affairs, and Veterans Affairs Committees, chairing the latter's Veterans' Hospitals Subcommittee.[1] After struggling to win support for her economic redevelopment plans for her home district in West Virginia during the Eisenhower Administration, Congresswoman Kee threw her support behind President John F. Kennedy's campaign in 1960 and, through the Accelerated Public Works Act, funneled millions of dollars through an Area Redevelopment Administration to the state.[2] She did not sign the 1956 Southern Manifesto, and voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960,[3][4] as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,[5] but voted present on the Civil Rights Act of 1964.[6] She did not run for re-election in 1964, and was succeeded in Congress by her son, James Kee. She died in Bluefield, West Virginia.

See also

References
  1. Nelson, Garrison (1994). Committees in the U.S. Congress: 1947-1992 Committee Histories and Member Assignments. Washington D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, Inc. p. 483. ISBN 0-87187-611-6.
  2. Office of History and Preservation, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives (2006). Women in Congress 1917-2006. Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 293–295. ISBN 0-16-076753-9.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. "HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957". GovTrack.us.
  4. "HR 8601. PASSAGE".
  5. "S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF POLL TAX AS A REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS". GovTrack.us.
  6. "H.R. 7152. PASSAGE".
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
John Kee		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from West Virginia's 5th congressional district
1951–1965		 Succeeded by
James Kee


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