James T. Blair (D)

Overview

At a Glance

• Created Missouri Commission on Human Rights (1957)
• Established Missouri State Employees Retirement System (1957)
• Created Council on Higher Education
• Supported Nursing Home Licensing Law
• Supported legislation creating state junior colleges
• Established commission advocating for children with disabilities
• Created budget review and control office
• Put state's idle funds in interest-bearing accounts
• Passed new speed limits and expanded jurisdiction of State Highway Patrol
• Improved prison and mental health programs

Personal History

James Thomas Blair, Jr. was born in Maysville, Missouri, and grew up attending public schools in Jefferson City, Missouri, and the Staunton Military Academy in Virginia. As a child, he played with the sons of Gov. Herbert Hadley, nurturing dreams of living in the Governor's Mansion. Encouraged by his father, a Missouri Supreme Court justice and a St. Louis attorney, Blair pursued these dreams by attending Southwest Missouri State Teachers College and the University of Missouri before earning his law degree from Cumberland University in Tennessee in 1924. After passing the bar exam, he began practicing law in Jefferson City and married Emilie Chorn from Kansas City, Missouri, on July 17, 1926. The couple had two children, James Thomas III and Mary Margaret.

In 1930, Blair was elected president of the Missouri State Bar Association, and in 1932, he returned to his law practice. He served as chairman of the Cole County Democratic Committee for eight years and was a delegate at the 1936 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. During World War II, Blair served as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Forces in the European theater. He earned multiple awards for his service, including the Air Medal for his participation in one of the longest massed unescorted troop-carrier flights. He was promoted from major to lieutenant colonel after assisting in the placement of airborne troops in preparation for seaborne operations in France. His military honors included the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, and 11 battle stars. He returned to Missouri after his discharge in 1945.

Following his term as governor, Blair remained politically active, supporting Missouri's U.S. Senator William Stuart Symington in his 1960 presidential campaign. Blair also publicly supported John F. Kennedy amid controversies regarding Kennedy's Catholicism, advocating that religion should not be a factor in politics. Tragically, two years after leaving office, Blair and his wife, Emilie, died from carbon monoxide poisoning at their home in Jefferson City. He was buried in Riverview Cemetery in Jefferson City.

Political History

Blair's political career began to gain momentum during the Republican landslide of 1925 when he achieved the only Democratic victory in Jefferson City by being elected city attorney. In 1928, he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives, where he was reelected for a second term. At the young age of 29, he became the majority floor leader in 1931, making him the youngest person to hold that position in Missouri at the time.

In 1947, Blair successfully ran for mayor of Jefferson City, gaining a reputation as one of the most innovative mayors of his era. However, he resigned after one year to accept the position of lieutenant governor of Missouri, a role he held for eight years. In 1956, Blair won the governorship, defeating Republican candidate Lon Hocker by a margin of 74,718 votes.

As governor, Blair took strong stances against racial discrimination and segregation in Missouri, proposing the establishment of a committee aimed at fostering mutual respect and understanding among various ethnic, racial, and religious groups. He declared to the General Assembly, "Always and everywhere I will identify myself with any victim of oppression or discrimination, whoever or wherever he may be." In May 1957, the Missouri General Assembly created the Missouri Commission on Human Rights in response to his advocacy.

By April 1958, the United States was facing a recession with unemployment exceeding 5 million. Blair contended that the federal government should provide greater support for the state's public assistance programs, which were consuming one-third of Missouri's tax revenue. When the federal government announced plans to limit matching funds for the administrative costs of these programs, Blair appealed to U.S. Representative Clarence A. Cannon to challenge the decision. He also aimed to improve what he viewed as an inefficient welfare system in Missouri, criticizing its overly liberal requirements that allowed too many individuals to qualify for financial assistance, thereby reducing benefits for those who needed them most. Additionally, he sought to enhance healthcare programs for public assistance recipients by increasing the number of public health units and extending aid through the Federal Disability Insurance Program to all disabled individuals, regardless of age.

Historical Significance

During his time as Missouri Governor, James T. Blair Jr. tackled a wide range of issues, including human rights, welfare, and education. The legislation enacted under his administration aimed to enhance the quality of life for all Missourians, with a particular focus on providing equal opportunities for disadvantaged groups.

Blair had a complicated stance on welfare, opposing liberal criteria for safety nets that he believed allowed those who did not need assistance to benefit from state programs. Despite this, he established the Missouri State Employees Retirement System (MOSERS), which now administers retirement, life insurance, and long-term disability benefits for most state employees, including members of the Missouri General Assembly, elected officials, judges, and administrative law judges. While the creation of a pension system for elected officials may seem like an unnecessary safety net to some today, Blair's initiatives regarding elderly Missourians highlighted his awareness of the need for financial security among vulnerable populations. He strongly advocated for ensuring that elderly individuals could receive appropriate care at home, preventing them from being relegated to mental institutions or substandard nursing homes.