Background
Blatt, Solomon was born on February 27, 1895 in Blackville, South Carolina. Son of Nathan and Mollie Blatt.
lawyer politician member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
Blatt, Solomon was born on February 27, 1895 in Blackville, South Carolina. Son of Nathan and Mollie Blatt.
Blatt attended the University of South Carolina where he received his L.LB degree in 1917.
The same year he was admitted to the state bar, but his legal career was put on hold while he served as a supply sergeant in France with the 81st Division during World War I. After the war, he resumed the practice of law with future governor Joseph Emile Harley in the firm Harley & Blatt from 1917 to 1934. From 1934 until his death, he was the senior partner of the firm Blatt & Fales. In 1932, Blatt was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives from Barnwell County.
Blatt's exceptional political skills were proven by his colleagues unanimously choosing him as the speaker pro tempore of the body in 1935. Two years later in 1937, Blatt ran for the speakership against L. Caston Wannamaker of Chesterfield County. Strom Thurmond campaigned for governor in 1946 on a platform of reform and against ring rule.
All across the state, reform candidates for the legislature challenged the incumbent conservative politicians. However, Blatt realized that the political climate had shifted and he announced in August 1946 that he would not seek re-election as speaker of the house. Blatt's fervent support of James F. Byrnes in the 1950 gubernatorial election and his extraordinary political acumen led to his re-election as speaker in 1951.
For the next 22 years, Blatt served as speaker and in 1973 the legislature honored him by making him Speaker Emeritus.
Trustee Barnwell School, University of Southern California, 1936-1948. With United States Army, World War I.
Married Ethel Green, March 18, 1920.