William V. Roth, Jr.

For the United States Trade Representative, see William M. Roth.

William Victor "Bill" Roth, Jr. (July 22 1921 – December 13 2003) was an American lawyer and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a veteran of World War II and a member of the Republican Party, who served as U.S. Representative from Delaware and U.S. Senator from Delaware.

Early life and family

Roth was born July 22 1921 in Great Falls, Montana. He attended public schools in Helena, Montana, graduating from Helena High School, which is also the alma mater of Senator Max Baucus, who succeeded Roth as Senate Finance Committee Chairman in 2001. Roth graduated from the University of Oregon in 1943, Harvard Business School in 1947, and Harvard Law School in 1949. During World War II he served in a United States Army intelligence unit from 1943 until 1946. After being admitted to the California Bar in 1950, he moved permanently to Delaware in 1954, and began his work as an attorney for the Hercules Corporation. He married Jane Richards in 1965 and they had two children, William V. III and Katharine. Jane Richards Roth is also a lawyer. She was U.S. District Court Judge, for the District of Delaware from 1985 until 1991 and since then has been a Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. They are members of the Episcopal Church.

Political career

Roth lost the election for Lieutenant Governor of Delaware in 1960. In 1966, he defeated incumbent U.S. Representative Harris B. McDowell, Jr., and went on to serve two terms in the United State House of Representatives from January 3 1967 until December 31 1970. He then began his five terms in the United States Senate, succeeding the retiring incumbent U.S. Senator John J. Williams. He served in the U.S. Senate from January 1 1971 until January 3 2001, having been defeated in the 2000 election by the Democratic candidate, Governor Thomas R. Carper.

Roth was known as a fiscal conservative. He was a long time member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs and the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, serving as Chairman from September 12, 1995 through January 3, 2001. He is best remembered as a strong advocate of tax cuts, and he co-authored the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (also known as the Kemp-Roth Tax Cut) with Jack Kemp. Roth was also the legislative sponsor of the individual retirement account plan that bears his name, the Roth IRA. He was one of the few Republicans to vote for the Brady Bill and also the ban on semi-automatic weapons. Roth strongly supported environmental protections.

Roth was a witty man but unnatural campaigner. To help himself, he would ease himself into public appearances by bringing along a Saint Bernard dog. His succession of St. Bernards through his 34 year political career became a trademark of sorts.

Death and legacy

Roth died December 13 2003 in Washington, DC. It was recently announced that the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal Bridge carrying Delaware Route 1 will be named for Roth. The bridge is a cable-stayed bridge and notable landmark in northern Delaware. Roth helped secure its funding.

The aforementioned Roth IRA, bearing Roth's name, is a popular individual retirement account that has existed since 1998.^[1] The Roth 401(k), which did not become available until 2006, is also named after Roth.^[2]

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Almanac

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators take office January 3rd, and have two year and six year terms respectively.

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