1966 Edward Brooke first African American elected to US Senate
Edward William Brooke III (born October 26, 1919) is an American politician and was the first African American to be elected by popular vote to the United States Senate when he was elected as a Republican from Massachusetts in 1966, defeating his Democratic opponent, Endicott Peabody, 58%-42%.
Born in Washington, DC, Brooke was the son of a Veterans Administration attorney. In 1937, Brooke was duly initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, through its Beta Chapter located on the campus of Howard University on Saturday, December 04, 1937. Upon his graduation from Howard University in 1941, he spent five years as a captain in the United States Army, infantry. Following his release, he graduated from Boston University Law School in 1948.
The following year, he ran for a seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, but lost. He then made two more tries for office, including one for secretary of state, but again fell short in both races.
He was the chairman of Finance Commission of Boston from 1961-1962. Brooke was elected Attorney General of Massachusetts in 1962 and re-elected in 1964. In this position, he gained a reputation as a vigorous prosecutor of organized crime.