Clifford P. Case

Clifford Philip Case Jr. (April 16, 1904 – March 5, 1982), was an American lawyer and politician. For over 30 years, Case represented the state of New Jersey as a member of the Republican Party in both the U.S. House of Representatives (1945–1953) and the U.S. Senate (1955–1979).

Case began his life in politics in 1937, serving in the Rahway Common Council from 1938 to 1942. He then served one term in the New Jersey General Assembly, from 1943 to 1945, before being elected to represent New Jersey's 6th congressional district from 1945 to 1953. As one of the most left-leaning Republicans of the House, Case was supportive of President Harry S. Truman's Fair Deal and Marshall Plan programs. After an unsuccessful attempt at the Republican nomination for the 1953 New Jersey gubernatorial election, Case became president of the Ford Foundation's Fund for the Republic.

After Robert C. Hendrickson's retirement, Case defeated fellow U.S. Representative Charles R. Howell for Hendrickson's seat in the United States Senate. In the Senate, Case was one of the strongest supporters of Democratic presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson's New Frontier and Great Society programs. Case's support of civil rights for African-Americans and welfare programs often put him at odds with the right wing of the Republican Party. Initially supportive of the Vietnam War, Case began to have doubts about the war, supporting the McGovern-Hatfield Amendment, and co-sponsoring the Case-Church Amendment with Idaho Senator Frank Church. In 1978, Case lost renomination to his Senate seat against fellow Republican Jeffrey Bell, who ran to his right. After leaving the Senate, Case returned to practicing law. A heavy smoker, Case died of lung cancer in 1982.