Edwin Mechem | |
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Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico | |
In office July 3, 1982 – November 27, 2002 | |
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico | |
In office October 14, 1970 – July 3, 1982 | |
Appointed by | Richard Nixon |
Preceded by | Seat established by 84 Stat. 294 |
Succeeded by | Bobby Baldock |
United States Senator from New Mexico | |
In office November 30, 1962 – November 3, 1964 | |
Appointed by | Tom Bolack |
Preceded by | Dennis Chavez |
Succeeded by | Joseph Montoya |
15th, 17th and 19th Governor of New Mexico | |
In office January 1, 1961 – November 30, 1962 | |
Lieutenant | Tom Bolack |
Preceded by | John Burroughs |
Succeeded by | Tom Bolack |
In office January 1, 1957 – January 1, 1959 | |
Lieutenant | Joseph Montoya vacant |
Preceded by | John F. Simms |
Succeeded by | John Burroughs |
In office January 1, 1951 – January 1, 1955 | |
Lieutenant | Tibo J. Chávez |
Preceded by | Thomas J. Mabry |
Succeeded by | John F. Simms |
Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives | |
In office 1947–1948 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Edwin Leard Mechem July 2, 1912 Alamogordo, New Mexico, U.S. |
Died | November 27, 2002 Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. | (aged 90)
Political party | Republican |
Education | University of Arkansas (LLB) |
Edwin Leard Mechem (July 2, 1912 – November 27, 2002) was an American attorney, politician, and jurist from New Mexico. He served as the 15th, 17th, and 19th governor of New Mexico, the first person born in the 20th century to become the state's governor, as well as the first person born in New Mexico after statehood to ascend to the office. During his final term as governor, Mechem appointed himself as a United States Senator, pursuant to the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. During his tenure, he was one of five non-Southern Republicans in the Senate to vote against the Civil Rights Act 1964.[1] He was defeated in his bid to keep his senate seat in the 1964 United States Senate election in New Mexico.[2] He later served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.