Actually, you’re right. Rechecking his voting stats, Taft, Jr. was pretty subpar, riding on the line of being a liberal. His average ACU rating for his 6 years was a paltry 49.5% (highest in 1971 with a 58, lowest in 1976 with a 40). He couldn’t even beat the execrable Stalinist Metzenbaum even as Ford carried Ohio in 1976 (and the state had a taste of his moonbattery when he served a year of Saxbe’s term in 1974 when the latter was moved up to U.S. Attorney General).
Kingsley Taft won a 2-month short term (on the same day Bricker won the full term). I recalled reading that Kingsley (who hailed from Cleveland, not Cincinnati) was more liberal, but it’s hard to ascertain because of what was little more than a honorary service during a holiday period (Nov ‘46-Jan ‘47). In 1948, he went on to be elected to the State Supreme Court, eventually dying in office as Chief Justice in 1970.
Had I been around in 1970 to vote, I’d have probably endorsed outgoing Gov. Jim Rhodes over Taft (Rhodes lost the primary). Unfortunately, with the Kent State business of that year, Rhodes probably would’ve lost the Senate race (as his Lieutenant, running for Governor lost to the horrid moonbat Jack Gilligan). In fact, it probably cost him the nomination, since the GOP primary was just two DAYS after the incident. Of course, Gilligan proved so terrible, that despite the Kent State thing, Rhodes came back in 1974 to kick him out of office (one of the few bright spots in the worst election year since 1964 or 1958).
I guess it remains that John Bricker was the last great GOP Conservative Senator from Ohio (with Frank Lausche being the best Democrat Conservative).
Wow those are some names from my youth....
Gilligan spawned the evil Kathy Sebelius.
And hyper-hypocrite Metzenbaum moved to Florida right before he croaked to avoid Ohio’s death tax.
It’s a shame Bricker lost in ‘58. I wasn’t familiar with his rat successor, Stephen Young, sounds like a peach.
A greater shame he wasn’t elected VP in ‘44.
Too bad Lausche wasn’t convinced to switch parties, he sounds ok.
DJ, Ohioans voted for GA Jimmuh in 1976; Ford won ill IL though.