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Claude Kitchin was an American statesman and politician. He served as a Member of the U. S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 2nd district from 1901 to 1923.
Background
Claude Kitchin was born on March 24, 1869 near Scotland Neck, North Carolina, United States. His father, William Hodges Kitchin, noted for his power as a political campaigner, was a member of the Forty-Sixth Congress. He married Maria F. Arrington, and lived to see two sons, William Walton and Claude, elected to the House of Representatives.
Education
Claude Kitchin was graduated with the Bachelor of Laws degree from Wake Forest College in 1888. He began studying law and was admitted to the bar in 1890.
Career
In 1890 Kitchin began the law practice in Scotland Neck, and was quickly successful. In 1900, as a result of his work in the white-supremacy campaigns of 1898 and 1900, he was elected to Congress and served until his death. In Congress Kitchin won, rather quickly, recognition as a ready, spirited, and effective speaker, and, in the course of time, the accepted reputation of being the most powerful debater in the House. Attractive in appearance, full of vigor and strength, possessed of a fine voice, a ready wit, and a fluent ease in speaking, moved always by passionate conviction, he was at once a valuable champion of a cause and an opponent to be dreaded. His favorite weapon was ridicule, which he employed effectively but never with malice, for his good nature was so abounding as to become well-nigh proverbial. Presently his colleagues found that he was always prepared with respect to the subject matter of his speeches, especially when a tariff question was under discussion, and after a particularly able speech on the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill, he was placed on the ways and means committee. In 1915 he became its chairman. By virtue of this appointment he was majority leader, a position at that time perhaps second only to the presidency in power and influence. He opposed and voted against the declaration of war with Germany. "My conscience and judgment, " said he in an impressive explanation of his position, "after mature thought and fervent prayer for rightful guidance, have marked out clearly the path of my duty and I have made up my mind to walk it, if I go barefooted and alone". At the same time, however, he made clear his intention, when once war was declared, of giving to its prosecution his full support.
Upon him as majority leader and chairman of the ways and means committee fell a tremendous burden of labor and responsibility, into which he threw himself with all his forces, working without rest day and night, until, in the words of Representative Clarence Cannon of Missouri, he "fell as truly a casualty of the war as if he had died leading the charge upon the crimson fields of France". He supported actively the administration measures, and after aiding in the preparation of the two great war revenue bills, he directed their passage through the House. His vote on the declaration called forth bitter criticism which was intensified presently by a false newspaper report that he had declared his intention of so framing the revenue measures as to place the financial burden of the war upon the Northern states. In spite of the entreaties of his colleagues he declined to dignify the slander by an answer, and it found wide acceptance. His active career ended on April 9, 1920, when, after closing a powerful speech against making peace with Germany by joint resolution, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage from which he never recovered sufficiently to resume his place in the House. He died three years later at Wilson, North Carolina.
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Politics
Kitchin was a member of the Democratic Party and earnest supporter of President Wilson. He was against the expansion of America’s role in world affairs and opposed the Payne-Aldrich Tariff of 1909.
Personality
Kitchin was a man of unusual power and ability. Clarence Cannon said that he had "the strength and courage of a gladiator, the wisdom and vision of a statesman, and with them all the intuition and tenderness of a woman". Honest, utterly frank and sincere, he commanded the respect and affection of his colleagues regardless of party.
Quotes from others about the person
"I never knew a man who could state his position more lucidly or state yours more fairly. " - Woodrow Wilson
Connections
On November 13, 1888 Kitchin married Kate, the daughter of Luther R. Mills, a professor at Wake Forest.