Кентукки саяхатшысы Уолтер Дарлингтон Хаддлстон

American politician from Kentucky

Walter Darlington "Dee" Huddleston (April 15, 1926 – October 16, 2018) was an American politician. He was a Democrat from Kentucky who represented the state in the United States Senate from 1973 until 1985. He was defeated for re election in 1984 by Mitch McConnell by 5,269 votes. Huddleston had a career in commercial broadcasting prior to entering politics.

Huddleston was born in Burkesville, Kentucky. After he graduated from high school, he enlisted in the United States Army and served as a tank gunner in Europe during and after World War II from 1944 to 1946. He then attended the University of Kentucky with support from the G. I. Bill, and he graduated in 1949. In 1947, Huddleston married Martha Jean Pearce, and they had two sons, Stephen Huddleston and Philip Huddleston (died April 10, 2022). She died on August 18, 2003. After graduating from college, Huddleston worked as the sports and program director for WKCT in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He was elected as a state senator in 1965, serving until 1972; for a time, he was the body's majority leader. He narrowly defeated Republican Louie B. Nunn, a recent former governor, receiving a 51% to 48% margin. Huddleston ran the camapaign by repeatedly faulting Nunn for raising the sales tax when was governor. During his Senate Career, Huddleston supported the Equal Rights Amendment to prohibit sex discrimination, but was critical of abortion rights. He endorsed voluntary school prayers and Kentucky products like tobacco, bourbon and coal. He supported price control through shifting some of the price to the farmers. He also voiced opposition to excessive drinking labels. He supported the 1977 treaty which ceded the canal to Panama and wished to limit covert intelligence operations. McConnell accused him of putting "his private speaking engagements ahead of his Senate responsibilities." Despite these ads, the race was very close, with McConnell only defeating Huddleston when the last returns came in (49.9% to 49.5%).

Huddleston was known as a member of the moderate wing of the Democratic Party, as was typical of party members from Kentucky. After his retirement, Huddleston returned to Elizabethtown, Kentucky and began working as a lobbyist for railroad, tobacco and agricultural clients. He also lobbied in behalf of Louisville based health insurance company Humana and Capitol Holding, a parent of Commonwealth Life Insurance. In 2012, Huddleston announced he was stepping down as chairman of First Financial Service Corporation.

Huddleston died in his sleep on October 16, 2018, in Warsaw, Kentucky, at age 92. Sen. Mitch McConnell issued a statement on Huddleston's death soon after, in which he honored Huddleston's "tenacity," and stated that both he and his wife, Elaine Chao, were "saddened" when they heard of his passing.