Politician
Orville's friendship with local politician and judge, Perley Keyes, piqued his interest in politics. Keyes, a fellow Free Mason, encouraged him to publicly stand up against the anti-Masonic fervor that was sweeping the country in the aftermath of the Morgan affair. Keyes also was heavily involved in politics and was a stalwart of the Democratic party. As a result, he joined the Democratic party, effectively becoming Keyes's understudy.
In 1842, as a Democrat, Orville Hungerford was elected to the 28th and two years later to the 29th U.S. Congress. In his second term he served on the powerful Committee on Ways and Means. He supported a tariff on imported goods, which earned him the enmity of Southerners in favor of free trade.
In 1846 Hungerford lost his seat to a Whig party candidate. In 1847, he ran for New York State Comptroller on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated by future U.S. President Millard Fillmore 174,756 votes to 136,027 votes.
Read more about this topic: Orville Hungerford
Famous quotes containing the word politician:
“A politician never forgets the precarious nature of elective life. We have never established a practice of tenure in public office.”
—Hubert H. Humphrey (1911–1978)
“A politician is a statesman who approaches every question with an open mouth.”
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–1965)
“The mark of a true politician is that he is never at a loss for words because he is always half-expecting to be asked to make a speech.”
—Richard M. Nixon (b. 1913)