Claude Pepper

Claude Pepper
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 18th district
In office January 3, 1983 – May 30, 1989
Preceded by	None (new district)
Succeeded by	Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 14th district
In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1983
Preceded by	None (new district)
Succeeded by	Daniel A. Mica
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 11th district
In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1973
Preceded by	Edward J. Gurney
Succeeded by	Paul G. Rogers
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 3rd district
In office January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1967
Preceded by	Robert L. F. Sikes
Succeeded by	Charles E. Bennett
United States Senator from Florida
In office November 4, 1936 – January 3, 1951
Preceded by	William Luther Hill
Succeeded by	George Smathers
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
In office 1929–1931
Personal details
Born	Claude Denson Pepper September 8, 1900 Near Dudleyville, Chambers County, Alabama, United States
Died	May 30, 1989 (aged 88) Washington, D.C., United States
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Alabama Harvard Law School
Religion	Baptist

Claude Denson Pepper (September 8, 1900 – May 30, 1989) was an American politician of the Democratic Party, and a spokesman for left-liberalism and the elderly. In foreign policy he shifted from pro-Soviet in the 1940s to anti-Communist in the 1950s. He represented Florida in the United States Senate from November 4, 1936, to January 3, 1951, and the Miami area in the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 1963 until his death on May 30, 1989.

In 2000, the United States Postal Service issued a 33¢ Distinguished Americans series postage stamp honoring Pepper.

Pepper was born in Chambers County, Alabama, in a shack belonging to poverty-stricken sharecroppers. He was the son of Lena Corine (née Talbot) and Joseph Wheeler Pepper. Pepper attended school in Camp Hill and became a schoolteacher in Dothan. He then worked in an Ensley steel mill before beginning studies at the University of Alabama.

While in college he joined the Army for World War I and served in the Student Army Training Corps (precursor to the Reserve Officers' Training Corps), with the war ending before he could see active service. After graduating in 1921 Pepper attended Harvard Law School, receiving his degree in 1924. He briefly taught law at the University of Arkansas and then moved to Perry, Florida, where he opened a law practice. He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1928 and served from 1929 to 1931. After being defeated for reelection in 1930 he moved his law practice to Tallahassee, the state capital.

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