Not a good day on the campaign trail
05/29/2010
Claude Pepper represented Florida in the U.S. Senate from 1936 to 1951. He lost reelection after a bitter Democratic primary battle with George Smathers who accused Pepper of being too friendly with communists especially Stalin.
Pepper returned to elected office with a successful run for Congress in 1962 where he stayed until his death in 1989.
Crowley Political Report has the above photo but not the details.
Nice find RV. I did a quick search and found a Miami News story in Dec. 1950.
The driver, Roddenbery, was from Tampa. From the story: He faced trial in criminal court here (WPB) on a charge of reckless driving and causing an accident and personal injury, but the jury hearing the case failed to agree and Judge E. G. Newell declared it a mistrial Dec. 4.
Two men in the car hit by the jeep filed a lawsuit for injuries - Earl Alloway and Frank Rivell.
Posted by: Brian E. Crowley | 05/30/2010 at 03:03 PM
Just noticed that the jeep was "Donated by Veterans."
Looking closer at the picture- that poor kid must have been hurt badly!
Posted by: Republican victims? | 05/30/2010 at 12:28 PM
From the Palm Beach Post archives:
April, 1950
Pierre Roddenbery, 19 was driving the jeep "14 miles north of West Palm Beach" when he collided with another vehicle injuring two of its passengers.
Roddenberry was charged with reckless driving. Pepper was named in the $150,000 lawsuit.
No word on the extent of injuries.
Posted by: Republican victims? | 05/30/2010 at 12:25 PM
Contact Claude Pepper Center at FSU. Tom herndon is a honcho there.
Posted by: John Van Gieson | 05/29/2010 at 01:22 PM
Smathers did call him "Red Pepper" during the campaign.
Smathers also attacked Pepper in 1950 for supporting universal health care.
Posted by: Brian E. Crowley | 05/29/2010 at 12:26 PM
"Red" Pepper, as I believe he was known!
Posted by: Dana Pickard | 05/29/2010 at 12:20 PM