Robert L. Bacon

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Robert L. Bacon

| image = BACON, ROBERT L., HONORABLE LCCN2016861985 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Bacon, 1923–1938

| state = New York

| district = 1st

| party = Republican

| term = March 4, 1923 – September 12, 1938

| preceded = Frederick C. Hicks

| succeeded = Leonard W. Hall

| birth_date = {{birth date|1884|7|23|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1938|9|12|1884|7|23}}

| death_place = Lake Success, New York, U.S.

| parents = Robert Bacon

| alma_mater = Harvard University
Harvard Law School

| profession = Politician, banker, lawyer, military officer

| spouse = Virginia Murray Bacon

| nickname =

| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}

| branch = {{flag|United States Army}}
U.S. Officers' Reserve Corps

| rank = Major
Colonel

| unit =

| commands =

| battles = World War I

|mawards = 24px Distinguished Service Medal

}}

Robert Low Bacon (July 23, 1884 – September 12, 1938) was an American politician, a banker and military officer. He served as a congressman from New York from 1923 until his death in 1938. He is known as one of the authors of the Davis–Bacon Act of 1931, which regulates wages for employees on federal projects.

Early life and education

Born in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, the son of Martha Waldron Cowdin and future Secretary of State Robert Bacon, he received a common school education as a child. He went on to graduate from Harvard University in 1907 and from Harvard Law School in 1910.

Career

After graduation, Bacon was employed at the United States Treasury Department, where he worked until 1911.Marquis Who's Who, Inc. Who Was Who in American History, the Military. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1975. P. 22 {{ISBN|0837932017}} {{OCLC|657162692}} He moved to Old Westbury, New York, to engage in banking in New York City.

Bacon attended the business men's training camp at Plattsburgh in 1915, and served on the Texas border with the New York National Guard in 1916 at the Texas border. During World War I, he served with the Field Artillery, United States Army from April 24, 1917, to January 2, 1919. He attained the rank of major and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. Commissioned in the United States Officers' Reserve Corps with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1919, he was promoted to colonel in January 1923 and served until his death.{{cite web|title=Robert L. Bacon|url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/rlbacon.htm|publisher=Arlington National Cemetery|access-date=29 July 2013}}

Bacon was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, in 1920. In 1922, after Frederick C. Hicks declined to seek another term, Bacon stepped into the race. His opponent was fellow Long Islander, S.A. Warner Baltazzi, whom he defeated in the fall. He entered Congress as a “wet”, someone who did not support prohibition{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1922/11/22/archives/anderson-lashes-gop-as-corrupt-worse-than-in-pennsylvania-says.html |title=Anderson Lashes G.O.P. as Corrupt; Worse Than in Pennsylvania, Says Anti-Saloon Head, Charging Treachery |work=New York Times |date=1922-11-22}}{{cite web|title=Robert L. Bacon|url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/robert_bacon/401024|publisher=Govtrack US Congress|access-date=29 July 2013}} while still continuing his military career in the Officers' Reserve Corps during his years in the House of Representatives.{{cite web|title=Robert L. Bacon|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000019|publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date=29 July 2013}}

He faced no significant opposition over his career with the 1932 election possibly being his greatest challenge. That year, he faced Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney another wealthy member of Long Island society in a race that pitted Bacon against the landslide victory of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Both men belonged to many of the same private clubs and the race became bitter, with Bacon prevailing.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1932/11/10/archives/whitney-ends-feud-on-bacons-victory-telegram-of-congratulation.html |title=Whitney Ends Feud on Bacon's Victory; Telegram of Congratulation Closes Contest That Stirred Nassau Society Circles |work=New York Times |date=1932-11-10}}

Bacon's longest lasting political achievement may be the Davis–Bacon Act of 1931 which remain in force, with amendments. Bacon introduced similar legislation for many years and succeeded in securing passage after workings on depression-era federal spending projects found that jobs were going to cheaper workers from other areas.{{Citation|last=Bernstein|first=David E.|title=Only One Place of Redress: African Americans, Labor Regulations and the Court from Reconstruction to the New Deal|publisher=Duke University Press|year=2001|isbn= 978-0822325833|chapter=Prevailing-Wage Laws}}

Bacon was a supporter of the repeal of prohibition and introduced a proposal to amend the 18th amendment to allow states to regulate alcohol.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1930/06/29/archives/bacon-says-states-need-own-dry-laws-representative-explains-his.html |title=Bacon Says States Need Optional Dry Laws; Representative Explains His Plan to Permit Optional Control of Liquor |work=New York Times |date=1930-06-29}} This amendment failed; but prohibition was ultimately repealed in 1933.

Personal life

He became engaged to Cecilia May in 1911, but they never married.{{cite news |title=Robert L. Bacon, Jr., To Wed. Miss Cecilia May to be Bride of Son of Ambassador to France |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1911/02/25/104857484.pdf |newspaper=New York Times |date=February 25, 1911 |access-date=2014-01-21 }} He married Virginia Murray on April 14, 1913.{{cite news |title=Robert L. Bacon To Wed. Ex-Ambassador's Eldest Son to Marry Miss Virginia Murray |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1913/02/21/100255394.pdf |newspaper=New York Times |date=February 21, 1913 |access-date=2014-01-21 }}

Bacon's brother, Gaspar G. Bacon was the President of the Massachusetts Senate from 1929 to 1932 and Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts from 1933 to 1935. His nephew was the actor Gaspar G. Bacon Jr. better known as David Bacon.

Bacon died of a heart attack near the State Police barracks in Lake Success, New York, while on his way home from a speaking engagement in New York City on September 12, 1938, at the age of 54.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1938/09/13/archives/robert-low-bacon-dies-in-his-auto-representative-is-victim-of-heart.html |title=Robert Low Bacon Dies in his Auto; Representative Is Victim of Heart Attack on Way Home From Meeting in City |work=New York Times |date=1938-09-13}}

He is interred at Arlington National Cemetery.{{cite web|title=Robert L. Bacon|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/bacon.html|publisher=The Political Graveyard|access-date=29 July 2013}}