Thomas Kuchel

Thomas Kuchel
Kuchel c.1956
Senate Minority Whip
In office
January 3, 1959  January 3, 1969
LeaderEverett Dirksen
Preceded byEverett Dirksen
Succeeded byHugh Scott
United States Senator
from California
In office
January 2, 1953  January 3, 1969
Preceded byRichard Nixon
Succeeded byAlan Cranston
23rd Controller of California
In office
February 11, 1946  January 2, 1953
GovernorEarl Warren
Preceded byHarry B. Riley
Succeeded byRobert C. Kirkwood
Member of the California State Senate
from the 35th district
In office
January 6, 1941 – February 11, 1946
Preceded byHarry Clay Westover
Succeeded byClyde A. Watson
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 75th district
In office
January 4, 1937 – January 6, 1941
Preceded byEdward Craig
Succeeded bySam L. Collins
Personal details
Born
Thomas Henry Kuchel

(1910-08-15)August 15, 1910
Anaheim, California, U.S.
DiedNovember 21, 1994(1994-11-21) (aged 84)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Betty Mellenthin
(m. 1942)
Children1
EducationUniversity of Southern California (BA, LLB)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
UnitReserves
Battles/warsWorld War II

Thomas Henry Kuchel (/ˈkkəl/ KEE-kəl; August 15, 1910 November 21, 1994) was an American politician. A moderate Republican, he served as a US Senator from California from 1953 to 1969 and was the minority whip in the Senate, where he was the co-manager on the floor for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Kuchel voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, and 1964, as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the confirmation of Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court, while Kuchel did not vote on the Civil Rights Act of 1968.