Wallace Foster Bennett

Republican Senator of Utah

  • Senator

    Utah

    January 3, 1969 - December 20, 1974

12

Congresses Served

4

Senate Terms

January 1, 1898 (95 years old)

Birthday

January 1, 1993

Death

  • Served as a U.S. Senator from Utah for 23 years, from 1951 to 1974.
  • Member of the Republican Party and known for his conservative and pro-business stance.
  • Held various leadership roles in the Senate, including vice chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee and ranking Republican on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.
  • Actively involved in significant legislation, including the Civil Rights Acts and the Voting Rights Act, while opposing the Equal Rights Amendment and Medicare.
  • Instrumental in addressing the silver supply issue in the 1960s, supporting the Silver Purchase Act and the Coinage Act of 1965.
  • Had a successful business career prior to his political career, serving as president of Bennett’s Paint and Glass Company and other companies.
  • Engaged in community and cultural activities, including hosting a radio program and directing a hospital chorus.
  • Authored books on faith and personal beliefs, reflecting his strong ties to the LDS Church.
  • Resigned from the Senate to allow his successor to gain seniority, marking a notable transition in Utah’s political history with his son later succeeding him in the Senate.