Chester Earl Holifield (December 3, 1903 – February 5, 1995) was a 20th-century American businessman and politician, a United States representative from California’s 19th congressional district. Holifield became known as “Mr. Atomic Energy” for his legislation promoting the development of nuclear power.[2]
Early life
He was born in Mayfield, Kentucky. He moved with his family to Springdale, Arkansas in 1912. After attending public schools, he moved to Montebello, California in 1920. There he worked in the manufacture and selling of men’s apparel from 1920 to 1943.
Becoming active in Democratic Party politics, Holifield was chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Central committee of the 51st District from 1934 to 1938. He was chair of the California State Central committee of the 12th congressional district from 1938 to 1940. He was also a delegate to each Democratic National Convention from 1940 to 1964.
Congress
In 1942 Holifield was elected as a Democrat representing the 19th congressional district in California.[3] He was one of the few congressmen in California who objected to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.[1]
Holifield was subsequently re-elected to the fifteen succeeding Congresses.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, as a member of the House Military Operations Subcommittee, he was a strong advocate of fallout shelters and said that the United States should “build a nationwide system of underground shelters”.[4] Holifield was also a congressional adviser to international conferences on uses of atomic energy, nuclear weapons testing, water desalinization, and disarmament.
Alvin M. Weinberg, who advocated inherent safety in reactor design, recounted an incident from 1972, where Holifield said: “if you are concerned about the safety of reactors, then I think it may be time for you to leave nuclear energy.”[5]
He served from January 3, 1943, until his resignation on December 31, 1974. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1974 to the 94th Congress.
Later career
After leaving Congress, Holifield resumed the manufacture and selling of men’s apparel.
Personal life
In 1922, Holifield married Vernice Caneer, with whom he would have four daughters.[3][6][7] Following his retirement from politics, he lived in a beach house in Balboa, California.[8] Vernice died in 1991. Holifield died of pneumonia on February 5, 1995, in Redlands, California.[8][1]
Dyke, Richard Wayne. Mr. Atomic Energy: Congressman Chet Holifield and Atomic Energy Affairs from 1945 to 1974. New York: Greenwood Press, 1989; Dyke, Richard Wayne and Francis X. Gannon.
Chet Holifield: Master Legislator and Nuclear Statesman. With a foreword by Gerald R. Ford and an afterword by Carl Albert. Lanham, [Md.]: University Press of America, 1996.
