Charles
E. Bennett
Charles Edward
Bennett was a member of the United States House of Representatives from
Jacksonville from 1949 to 1993. He was a Democrat.
He was
born December 2, 1910 in Canton, New York and moved to
Jacksonville by the end of his childhood. Bennett was an Eagle Scout
and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy
Scouts of America. He was a lawyer and a member of the United States
Army during World War II before being elected to Congress from what was
then the 2nd District. He was reelected 21 more times from this
Jacksonville-based district. He rarely faced serious opposition even as
Jacksonville fell under increasing Republican influence.
In 1951,
he began proposing a code of ethics for government employees,
nicknamed The Ten Commandments. After the Sherman-Adams Affair, the
code was adopted as the first Code of ethics for Government Service in
1958. In 1954, he sponsored the bill that added the words "In God We
Trust" to both the nation's coins and currency.
Bennett
died in Jacksonville on September 6, 2003 and is buried at
Arlington National Cemetery. He is still the longest-serving member of
either house of Congress in Florida's history. The Charles E. Bennett
Federal Building is named after
him.
-- from
Wikipedia
Charles
E. Bennett’s special reverence for Florida leaves
a treasure trove of written
history and historic landmarks
by
Emily Lisska
Charlie
Bennett was a living legend, known and beloved by a diverse citizenry.
His special reverence for North Florida leaves a treasure trove of
land,
written history and historic landmarks. With his death, the history
community
has lost a cherished friend. His accomplishments were so numerous and
his
own story so intriguing, no doubt someone will step forward to pen the
life of this extraordinary Floridian. A
week before Charlie’s death, his daughter Cindy Bennett phoned to ask
if
the Historical Society might have an available copy (for her family) of
the televised Jacksonville History Show that had recently aired on
Cable’s
Comcast Channel 29, during August. Appearing on the show were long-time
Bennett family friend Doug Milne, former Bennett aide Senator Steve
Wise
and Property Appraiser Jim Overton, who in recent years videotaped
hours
of conversation with the former Congressman.
The
show’s topic was former Congressman Charles E. Bennett, and it was my
job
to guide the discussion in the allotted time of thirty minutes, which I
knew was woefully inadequate to approach his life and accomplishments.
Charlie
was too ill to participate in the show; his health had been extremely
fragile
for more than a year. But through the videotapes—a project fittingly
originated
three years ago by the National Park Service— Charlie shared memories
of
his life.
The
Jacksonville Historical Society now includes in its archives eight
hours
of oral history with the former Congressman. These tapes are a
treasure,
as was Charlie.
As
scores of others, I have my own memories of Charlie. In recent times, I
treasure that the Congressman spent both his 90th and 91st birthdays
with
the Jacksonville Historical Society; on both occasions he graciously
agreed
to our request to sign books and meet and greet the public.
Several
years ago when I ran a request for Merrill House funding in this
newsletter,
Charlie Bennett was the very first person to respond. Indeed, Charlie
was
the first donor to the Merrill House restoration project.
Of
course, his contributions to local history preservation projects are
legendary
and were part of his life for more than half a century; his beloved Ft.
Caroline and the Timucuan Preserve were his special gifts to Florida
and
the nation. The Congressman’s initial legislation during his 44 years
in
Congress secured this treasure. Among his other gifts to the history
community
were the restoration of Old St. Luke’s Hospital and his acquisition of
the famed Andrew Jackson statue, a replica of the very statue across
from
the White House.
He
authored nine books relating to the history of North Florida. He was
the
consummate historian and scholar, yet presented his material in a
readable
fashion; Mr. Bennett knew the magnificence of the North Florida story
and
he skillfully shared that
passion through his talent for research, writing and
storytelling. His contributions of original 
research
and his additions
to the body of knowledge on the area’s history are staggering. And with
each publication, profits were gifted to the National
Park Service or an
organization in need.
He
is directly responsible for igniting the love for local history in
legions;
through his prolific writing he reminded us again and again of the
incomparable
story of this place we call home.
While
Charlie Bennett delivered in a big way, he never forgot how little
things
counted. Many of us cherish the notes and the letters he was so good at
writing.
Appropriately,
Charlie Bennett stands as the sole recipient of the Jacksonville
Historical
Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award. … He recorded our history, he
preserved
our history, and to North Florida’s great fortune, he is our history.
Charlie
and Jean in 2001
Charlie
Bennett served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives in
1941,
and he served in the U.S. Congresses from January 3, 1949 to January 3,
1993.
Remembering
Charlie
Longtime
Bennett Family Friend Offers a Tribute to a Hero of the Highest Order
by
Doug Milne
(The
following is a eulogy delivered by longtime Bennett family friend,
Attorney Doug Milne,
at a September
9, 2003 memorial service for former Congressman Charles
E. Bennett .)
To
Jean, Cindy, Bruce and Jim and all your families…it is indeed a great
honor,
as high as I can ever image, to be asked to speak today about your and
our beloved Charlie.
You
all loved and supported him in such tender, caring ways – as he, you –
and you generously shared him with us in such unselfish ways. And for
that,
we’re all forever grateful.
We
often hear the cry “What has become of those men who are larger than
life?" Well,
one has – in a way – just left us. Who in this place does not have his
own Charlie Bennett experience? Who among us could not recount how this
amazing – man for all seasons – had positive effects on his or her own
life. The simple truth is, we’ve all been touched, and made better by
Charlie.
And in that very real sense, he’s still with us…and we say to ourselves
happily, he always will be. In our heart, our minds and our spirits.
At
left - Congressman
Bennett, 1964, with his children and wife Jean (center) in front of
Capitol.
From left: son Charlie (also deceased), Jim, Cindy and Bruce. The
Congressman
will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Ceremony.
As
Charlie molded his life around service to others…and, oh so generously…
he became a unique model, a guide for principled living for us all, and
for generations to come. Tireless, ingenious, courageous and
humorous…and
beholden only to God…in whom he – and we – trust.
With
respect for human dignity a life long goal, while admired by kings,
presidents
and captains of industry, he was equally comfortable with – and
interested
in – the concerns of men women and children from all walks of life.
Husband
and father; churchman; scholar and soldier; congressman; historian;
teacher;
author and motivator – everything he undertook was with relentless
care,
integrity, courage, hope and old fashioned determination. A measure for
us all.
A
straighter arrow might never be, and we may well not ever see the likes
of this bold, remarkable man again. But he’s with us.
Left - Congressman
Charles E. Bennett and Eartha Mary Magdalene White on her 89th
birthday.
The party was held in the Clara White Mission auditorium on November 8,
1965.
Charlie,
who knew and appreciated the rich history of La Florida, the Timucua, Jean
Ribault, Isaiah Hart, James Weldon Johnson, and Andrew Jackson, could
view,
cherish, describe and share the unmatched nature of this flowery land –
in the same glowing manner writers had for centuries; particularly
about
great historical personalities who made our land what it
is…personalities
like Charlie, himself – and we had the good fortune of having him with
us and among us – as he lived out that life of caring greatness.
He
taught us all to value, respect and preserve the human events of the
past
and to cherish and exercise meaningful 
stewardship
over the rare, natural
resources with which we’ve been so blessed – by the hands of God – in
whom
Charlie placed his trust.
A
once in a lifetime fellow…this Charlie Bennett. The lives of everyone
here…and
in thousands of other places…are better because of him today…and will
continue
to be tomorrow.
Goodbye,
Charlie. You served your family…your country…your fellowman…and
God…very,
very well.
e-mail
us at