William L. Scott

{{Infobox officeholder

| image= William L. Scott.jpg

| caption= Official portrait of Scott; {{circa|1969}}

| jr/sr=United States Senator

| state=Virginia

| party=Republican

| term_start=January 3, 1973

| term_end=January 1, 1979

| preceded=William B. Spong Jr.

| succeeded= John Warner

| state2=Virginia

| district2 = 8th

| term_start2=January 3, 1967

| term_end2= January 3, 1973

| preceded2=Howard W. Smith

| succeeded2=Stanford Parris

| birth_name= William Lloyd Scott

| birth_date={{birth date|1915|7|1}}

| birth_place=Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S.

| death_date={{death date and age|1997|2|14|1915|7|1}}

| death_place=Fairfax Station, Virginia, U.S.

| resting_place=Fairfax Memorial Park

| alma_mater =National University School of Law {{small|(LLB, LLM)}}

| profession=Attorney

| spouse={{marriage|Ruth Inez Huffman|1940}}{{cite book |date=1967 |title=The National Rural Letter Carrier |volume=66 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c5dZAAAAYAAJ&q=%22inez+huffman%22 |location=Alexandria, VA |publisher=National Rural Letter Carrier Association |page=89}}

|children=3[https://books.google.com/books?id=c5dZAAAAYAAJ&q=%22inez+huffman%22 The National Rural Letter Carriers]

|allegiance=

|branch= United States Army

|serviceyears=1945

|rank=Private

|battles=World War II

}}

William Lloyd Scott (July 1, 1915{{spaced ndash}}February 14, 1997) was an American Republican politician from the Commonwealth of Virginia. He served in both the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate.

A native of Williamsburg, Virginia, Scott graduated from high school in St. Albans, West Virginia and began a career with the US Government Printing Office (now the United States Government Publishing Office). After completing LL.B. and LL.M. degrees at National University School of Law (now George Washington University Law School) in 1938 and 1939, he was admitted to the bar and worked as an attorney for the United States Department of Justice. In early 1945, he enlisted in the United States Army for World War II, and he served until the end of the war, receiving his discharge later that year.

In 1963 and 1965, Scott was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for the Virginia State Senate. In 1966, he was a successful candidate for the United States House of Representatives. He was re-elected twice and served from 1967 to 1973. In 1972, he was elected to the United States Senate, the first Republican to win a Senate seat in Virginia since the end of Reconstruction. He served one term, 1973 to 1979. During his Congressional service, Scott made headlines over frequent allegations of incompetence and racism.

After leaving the Senate, Scott retired to Fairfax Station, Virginia. He died in Fairfax, Virginia on February 14, 1997, and was buried at Fairfax Memorial Park in Fairfax.

Early life

William L. Scott was born in Williamsburg, Virginia on July 1, 1915, the son of William David Scott and Nora Belle (Ingram) Scott.{{cite book |date=1963 |title=The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory |volume= 3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VPQ7AQAAIAAJ&q=%22william+l.+scott%2C+born%22 |location=New Providence, NJ |publisher=Martindale, LLC |page=6202}} He graduated from high school in St. Albans, West Virginia{{cite news |title=St. Albans Woman's Brother: Virginia Republican Wins; Democrat Happy |work=Charleston Daily Mail |page=10 |date=November 9, 1966 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/36804873/ }} and began a career with the Government Printing Office.[https://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?971+ful+SJ405ER Virginia State Senate Joint Resolution No. 405], On the Death of Senator William L. Scott, February 20, 1997 He received an LL.B. from National University School of Law (now George Washington University Law School) in 1938 and an LL.M. in 1939.{{cite journal |date= 1967|title=Biographies of Members of Congress: William L. Scott |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xV05AQAAIAAJ&q=%22william+l+scott%22 |journal=Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report |volume=24 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Congressional Quarterly, Incorporated |access-date=January 5, 2015 |page=2949}} Scott was admitted to the bar, and was employed as a trial attorney with the Department of Justice until 1961.{{cite magazine |title=Biography: William L. Scott |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9wM1AAAAIAAJ&q=%22william+l+scott%22+attorney+%22justice+department%22 |magazine=The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography |volume=89 |location= Richmond |publisher=Virginia Historical Society |date=1981 |page= 200}}

Scott served in the United States Army during World War II, enlisting as a private in April 1945, and receiving his discharge later the same year as a result of the end of the war.William L. Scott at U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946, National Archives and Records Administration He was later active in the American Legion.[http://sca.gmu.edu/finding_aids/scott.html Biography, William L. Scott]. Guide to the William Lloyd Scott papers, 1967-1979. George Mason University Libraries.

He engaged in the private practice of law in Fairfax, Virginia from 1961 to 1966. In 1963 and 1965 he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Virginia State Senate. In 1965 he initially appeared to have won, but a recount showed that he had lost by 21 votes.

United States House

Scott won the Republican nomination for Virginia's 8th congressional district in 1966.{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=June 5, 1966 |title=Republicans Pick Scott as Nominee for Seat Now Held by Howard Smith |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-danville-register-scott/165060480/ |newspaper=The Danville Register |location=Danville, Virginia |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}} He expected to face 18-term incumbent and House Rules Committee chairman Howard W. Smith, a conservative Democrat, but Smith lost renomination to a more liberal Democrat, State Delegate George Rawlings.{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=July 14, 1966 |title=Smith Labeled 'Great Man' by Colleague |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-danville-register-great/165060615/ |newspaper=The Danville Register |location=Danville, Virginia |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} With support from conservative Democrats as well as Republicans, Scott handily defeated Rawlings in November.{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=November 9, 1966 |title=State Republicans Hike House Seats to Four |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-danville-register-four/165060702/ |newspaper=The Danville Register |location=Danville, Virginia |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} He was easily re-elected twice, and served from January 3, 1967 to January 3, 1973.{{cite web |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=s000189 |title=Congressional Biography, William Lloyd Scott |website=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |publisher=U.S. Senate Historical Office |access-date=December 19, 2016}}

During his U.S. House service, Scott was appointed to the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=January 29, 1967 |title=Virginia News In Brief: Virginia Republicans Reps. William C. Wampler and William L. Scott |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117675828/wampler-scott/ |work=Danville Register |location=Danville, VA |page=6-C |via=Newspapers.com}} In February 1967, Scott was chosen to present the House's annual reading of Washington's Farewell Address; he was chosen for this event in part because his district included Washington's Mount Vernon home.{{cite news |last=McDowell |first=Charles Jr. |date=February 15, 1967 |title=Scott to Read 'Farewell' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117676610/farewell/ |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |location=Richmond, VA |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} Other initiatives and pet projects Scott advocated included a return to "old time" Independence Day celebrations.{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=June 22, 1967 |title=Solon Wants Return to 'Old Time' Fourth |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117677943/solon/ |work=The Staunton Leader |location=Staunton, VA |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}

United States Senate

In 1972, Scott won the Republican nomination for the United States Senate and defeated Democratic incumbent William B. Spong Jr. in a close race, making Scott the first Republican Senator from Virginia since Reconstruction. Scott benefited from Richard Nixon's landslide victory in that year's presidential election, with Nixon winning Virginia by almost 38 points and carrying all but one county-level jurisdiction.{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=November 8, 1972 |title=Scott Defeats Spong as State Backs Nixon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-danville-register-scott/165060286/ |work=The Danville Register |location=Danville, Virginia |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Scott served one term, January 3, 1973 to January 1, 1979.{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=s000189|title=SCOTT, William Lloyd - Biographical Information|website=bioguide.congress.gov|access-date=11 October 2018}} He did not run for re-election in 1978, and resigned on January 1, 1979, two days before the end of his term. Scott's resignation enabled the Governor of Virginia to appoint the winner of the 1978 Senate election, John Warner, to fill the vacancy, giving Warner one day of seniority over other senators who were elected in 1978.[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=w000154 John William Warner] at [http://bioguide.congress.gov/ Congressional Biographical Directory] During his Congressional service, Scott was criticized for excessive expenses incurred during his fact-finding trips abroad.{{cite news|last1=Tierney|first1=John|title=Senate Losing One of a Kind|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19781127&id=KU4aAAAAIBAJ&pg=6708,6336755|access-date=11 October 2014|work=The Milwaukee Journal|date=27 November 1978}}

=Racism and antisemitism=

When addressing the implementation of the Post Office's ZIP Code program in 1973, Scott criticized the initiative by saying "the only reason we need zip codes is because niggers can't read."{{cite book |last1=Felton |first1=Bruce |last2= Fowler |first2= Mark |date=1985 |title=Felton & Fowler's Best, Worst, and Most Unusual |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aMFwfwNBLVYC&q=%22need+zip+codes%22 |publisher=Random House Value Publishing |page=115|isbn=9780517462973 }}

In addition, his name appeared in an exposé of Congressional staff hiring practices as one of the members who had given "No Blacks" and other similar instructions to the Capitol Hill Placement Bureau.{{cite magazine |date=September 12, 1974 |title=Politics: Exposé; "No Blacks" Wanted by Congressmen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BMsDAAAAMBAJ&q=%22william+l.+scott%22+virginia+%22no+blacks%22&pg=PA23 |magazine=Jet |location=Chicago |publisher=Johnson Publishing Co. |page=23}} Scott was also alleged to have displayed antisemitism while in Congress.{{cite journal |last=Hirschorn |first=Michael |date=February 1, 1989 |title=Popsicles and Nutty Buddies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sxDldJXmXVYC&q=%22william+scott%22+jewish+%22too+many%22&pg=PA87 |journal=Spy |location=New York |publisher=Spy Publishing Partners |page=87}} One news report indicated that during a job interview, Scott was told that the applicant was Jewish, and replied "Oh, I've got too many of them here now to hire you."

="Dumbest Member of Congress"=

A 1974 article in New Times by Nina Totenberg reported that Scott had been ranked at the top of the list of "The Ten Dumbest Members of Congress".{{cite journal |last=Totenberg |first=Nina |date=1974 |title=The Ten Dumbest Members of Congress |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YSBXAAAAMAAJ&q=%22william+l+scott%22 |journal=New Times |access-date=January 5, 2015 }}

Scott's critics cited many examples to support this claim. While being briefed about the military capabilities of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Scott reportedly confused missile silos for grain silos and said "Wait a minute! I'm not interested in agriculture. I want the military stuff."{{cite book |last=Lee |first=Laura |date=2008 |title=Schadenfreude, Baby! |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iWCujh3caEAC&q=%22william+scott%22+virginia+missile+silo&pg=PA102 |location= Guilford, Connecticut |publisher=Globe Pequot Press |pages=102–103 |isbn=978-1-59921-235-7}} In addition, 1975 press accounts of a trip he took to the Middle East stated that Scott was a "diplomat's nightmare" who mistook the Suez Canal for the Persian Gulf, refused to enter a mosque because it wasn't "a Christian building", and asked Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin "What is this Gaza stuff? I have never understood that."{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=Senator denies Faux Pas on Mideast Trip |work=Miami News |page=2A |date=October 1, 1975 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2206&dat=19751001&id=7mMzAAAAIBAJ&pg=2036,360399 }} Scott held a press conference to deny the claims of the New Times story, which had the effect of giving the allegation wider circulation and enhanced credibility.{{cite book |date=1996 |title=Current Biography Yearbook |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ybp2xI8NXPUC&q=%22Current+Biography+Yearbook%22+%221996%22+%22totenberg%22 |location=Highbridge, New York |publisher=H. W. Wilson |pages=575–579 |isbn=978-0-8242-0908-7 |via=Google Books}}{{cite news |author-last=Parrott |author-first=Jennings |title=Newsmakers: The 'Dumbest Senator' Has a Smart Answer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-smart/165060953/ |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=May 24, 1974 |page=I-2}}

In 2000 and afterward, journalist Harry Stein, who had provided much of the background information to Totenberg based on an earlier Stein article that he now considers a "hit piece", agreed with Scott's assessment at the time that the articles were written by "some left-wing kids from Richmond with an agenda." Stein wrote that at the time of the Totenberg article, Scott was a tempting target because he was roundly disliked by his colleagues and his staff, and widely regarded as incompetent.{{cite news | url=http://www.city-journal.org/2008/18_2_spring_1968.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505222323/https://www.city-journal.org/2008/18_2_spring_1968.html |archive-date=2008-05-05 | title=How the Press Got Political | work=City Journal | date=Spring 2008 | access-date=16 June 2014 | author=Stein, Harry | volume=18 | issue=2}}

Retirement and death

In retirement Scott resided in Fairfax Station, Virginia. In his later years he suffered from Alzheimer's disease and resided in a Fairfax nursing center. Scott died in Fairfax on February 14, 1997, and was interred at Fairfax Memorial Park in Fairfax.{{cite news|title=William Scott, 81, Congressman Symbolizing G.O.P. Rise in South |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/17/us/william-scott-81-congressman-symbolizing-gop-rise-in-south.html |work=The New York Times |date=1997-02-17 |access-date=27 September 2020 |page=31 |via=TimesMachine}}