Evening star., 1945-02-09
Admiral Hart Named
Ito Serve in Senate
Until 1916 Election
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
HARTFORD. Conn, Feb. e.-Gov.
Raymond E. Baldwin, Republican.
has named Admiral Thomas C. Hart.
81, member Of the Nays General
Board and commander In chief of
the Asiatic Fleet at the time of Pearl
Harbor, to succeed the late Senator
Francis T. Maloney, Democrat.
The Governors action, forecast in
an address to the electorate last
Monday, was announced yesterday.
Immediately after he had signed q
bin empowering him to fill the va
lcancy by appointment.
Admiral Hart, whose politics are
undetermined and who has stead
fastly refused to comment in ad-
vance OF legislative action, is a resi-
dent Of Sharon, Conn. Mr.. Ma
loney, Connecticut's senior Senator,
died January 16 of a heart attack.
Admiral Hartis appointment will
hold until after the November, 1876,
election. when the voters will choosc
a Senator for Mr.. Maloney's unex-
pired term ending January, 1947, and
for the succeeding full six-year
term.
Mrs. Luce Called Publicity Seeker"
In a final oratorical flourish which
preceded the Democratic controlled
State Senate's acquiesscence in a bill
approved by the Republican House
OF Representatives to give Gov.
Baldwin the right of appointment,
the name of Representative Clare
Boothe Luce, Republican, of Green
wich figured prominently.
The Democratic floor leader, Sen
ator Leon Riscassi, taking cognizance
OF published reports that she had
proposed Admiral Hart for the post
and of Gov. Baldwin's emphatic
assertion that he alone was respon-
sible for the admirals choice, called
Mrs. Luce publicity seeker"
Mr.. Riscassi further alleged that
Mrs. Luce had "attempted to plant
a kiss of death" on a bipartisan
agreement looking to Admiral Harts
appointment.
He described her as "the Green
wich candidate for Life's lady of
the year." in reference to Mrs.
Luce's husband, Henry Luce, who is
editor of Life Magazine.
Mr.. Riscassi's remarks were i'm
mediately resented by Senator Will
liam E. Sheehy, Republican, who
lives in Mrs. Luce's congressional
district. Mr.. Sheehy asserted he
saw no reason to question her
veracity and declared that all she
had done was to express, like many
others, her approval of the admiral.
Hart Born in Michigan.
Admiral Hart was born June IL,
1877 in Genessee County, Mich. He
was appointed to the Naval Acad-
emy May 10, 1893. and after his
graduation served during the Span
ish- American war on the battleship
Massachusetts and other vessels.
Promoted through the various
grades, he served as a commander
OF the Pacific Fleet submarine forces
In the World War, and later did
similar duty in European waters.
| AAC a" OCu lllS OlSGll1RulSIeQ
Service Medal in connection with
his submarine work.
| He was promoted to the rank of
rear admiral in 1919, and after serv-
ing a year as commander of the con-
troll force, United States Fleet, served
three years as superintendent of the
Naval Academy.
He became commander In chief of
the Asiatic Fleet on July Is, 1889,
and later commanded the combined
forces in the American British
Dutch and Australian area. On de-
tachment from that command In
February, 1912, he went on duty at
headquarters of the commander in
chief of the fleet.
President Roosevelt presented him
the Gold Star, in place of a second
Distinguished Service Medal, for
Exceptionally meritorious service as
commander in chief, United States
Asiatlc Fleet