Brent Spence

Who was Brent Spence?

Brent Spence, a native of Newport, Kentucky, was a long time Democratic Congressman, attorney, and banker from Northern Kentucky.

Spence was born in Newport, Kentucky to Philip and Virginia Spence. He was graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1894 with a degree in law and was admitted to the bar that same year. He married Ida Bitterman on September 6, 1919.

He was very active in local and state politics, serving first in the Kentucky Senate, 1904–1908, then as city solicitor of Newport, 1916-1924. In 1930 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the 6th District; he held this position from March 4, 1931 until January 3, 1963 when illness forced him to retire. Spence, was at the time of his retirement, one of the oldest members to serve in the House.

Spence chaired the U.S. House Banking and Currency Committee. He was a delegate to the 44-nation Bretton Woods Conference in 1944, to promote fair commerce. This led to creating the International Monetary Fund and Bank, and Spence's sponsoring legislation in Congress. Spence was a strong supporter of the New Deal and the Fair Deal.