Charles Melvin Price

Charles Melvin Price
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 21st district
In office January 3, 1983 – April 22, 1988
Preceded by	Edward R. Madigan
Succeeded by	Jerry Costello
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 23rd district
In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1983
Preceded by	George E. Shipley
Succeeded by	District eliminated
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 24th district
In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1973
Preceded by	Charles W. Vursell
Succeeded by	Kenneth J. Gray
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 25th district
In office January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1953
Preceded by	C. W. Bishop
Succeeded by	C. W. Bishop
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 22nd district
In office January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1949
Preceded by	Calvin D. Johnson
Succeeded by	Rolla C. McMillen
Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services
In office 1975–1985
Preceded by	F. Edward Hebert
Succeeded by	Les Aspin
Member of the St. Clair County, Illinois Board of Supervisors
In office 1929–1931
Personal details
Born	January 1, 1905 East St. Louis, Illinois
Died	Camp Springs, Maryland
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	St. Louis University
Military service
Allegiance	United States Army
Service/branch	Quartermaster Corps
Years of service	1943–1944

(Charles) Melvin Price (January 1, 1905 - April 22, 1988) was a longtime member of the United States House of Representatives. Most notably, he served as the chairman of the United States House Committee on Armed Services between 1975 and 1985. He lost this position at the beginning of the 99th United States Congress. Overthrowing a committee chairman was not a common occurrence at that time, but a majority of the House Democratic Caucus seemed to feel that the aged Price was no longer up to the job. In addition, Price, while liberal on domestic issues, was notably more supportive of defense spending than most Democrats. When it came to choosing Price's successor, the Caucus bypassed several other old hawkish members of the committee in favor of Les Aspin, who was not only much younger than Price and other more senior members, but also seemed closer in his defense policy preferences to the majority of the Democratic Caucus.

Price was born in East St. Louis, Illinois, and graduated from St. Louis University High School and Saint Louis University. After graduating, he worked for several years as a journalist before taking work as a secretary for Congressman Edwin Schaefer in 1933. He served there for ten years, after which he joined the U.S. Army in 1943, at the height of World War II; Price served in the quartermaster corps. He was elected to Congress in his own right in 1944. During his time in Congress, he also chaired the Ethics Committee (1967–76) and the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy (1973–74). He remained in Congress until his death.

Congressman Price is probably most famous for his role in enacting the Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act. He died in 1988 of pancreatic cancer. Price is the namesake of the Melvin Price Locks and Dam, near Alton, Illinois on the Upper Mississippi River, and the Melvin Price Federal Building and United States Courthouse in East St. Louis.

External links

• Congressional Biographical Dictionary entry
• Charles Melvin Price at Find a Grave
• Louisa H. Bowen Special Collections and University Archives at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville houses Congressman Price's papers

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Calvin D. Johnson	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 22nd congressional district 1945–1949	Succeeded by Rolla C. McMillen
Preceded by C. W. Bishop	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 25th congressional district 1949–1953	Succeeded by C. W. Bishop
Preceded by Charles W. Vursell	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 24th congressional district 1953–1973	Succeeded by Kenneth J. Gray
Preceded by George E. Shipley	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 23rd congressional district 1973–1983	District eliminated
Preceded by Edward R. Madigan	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 21st congressional district 1983–1988	Succeeded by Jerry Costello
Political offices
Preceded by F. Edward Hebert	Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee 1975–1985	Succeeded by Les Aspin