Representative James Ernest Wharton - Contact Information

James Ernest Wharton (October 4, 1899 – January 19, 1990) was an American attorney, jurist, and Republican politician who represented New York in the United States House of Representatives from 1951 to 1965. Over seven consecutive terms in Congress, he contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in American history, participating in the democratic process and representing the interests of his constituents.

Wharton was born in Binghamton, New York, on October 4, 1899, the son of James H. Wharton and Mae Dibble. During his childhood his family moved within upstate New York, and he attended the public schools of Richmondville. He graduated from Richmondville High School, laying the foundation for a career that would combine law and public service. Shortly after completing his secondary education, he enrolled at Albany Law School to pursue legal studies.

During World War I, Wharton joined the Student Army Training Corps, reflecting the mobilization of American youth during the final months of the conflict. He enlisted as a private in October 1918 and served briefly before being discharged in December 1918, following the Armistice of November 11, 1918, that ended the war. After his military service, he returned to Albany Law School and completed his legal education, graduating in 1919.

Following law school, Wharton entered the private sector and worked for Travelers Insurance from 1920 until 1929. He was admitted to the bar in 1923, and while still employed in the insurance field he prepared for a full-time legal career. In 1929 he commenced the private practice of law, establishing himself professionally in Schoharie County, New York. His legal work and growing involvement in Republican politics led to a series of local and county offices that would serve as a springboard to higher public service.

A Republican, Wharton was elected district attorney of Schoharie County, New York, serving from 1932 until 1941. In that role he was responsible for prosecuting criminal cases and advising county officials, gaining a reputation for diligence and competence. From 1941 to 1951 he served as Schoharie County’s surrogate, family, and county court judge, presiding over matters ranging from estates and family law to broader county judicial business. This decade on the bench further enhanced his public profile and provided extensive experience in the application and interpretation of the law.

Wharton was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1950 and took office on January 3, 1951. He served seven consecutive terms, remaining in the House until January 3, 1965. His tenure in Congress coincided with the Korean War, the early Cold War, the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations, and the emergence of the modern civil rights movement. In 1960, he faced noted author and Democratic candidate Gore Vidal as his opponent and defeated him to win a fifth term. Throughout his service, Wharton participated actively in the legislative process, representing his New York district’s interests while engaging with national policy debates.

During his congressional career, Wharton supported key civil rights measures that reshaped American law and society. He voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the Civil Rights Act of 1960, and the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as the 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibited the use of poll taxes in federal elections. These votes placed him among those legislators who backed incremental and then sweeping federal action to secure voting rights and equal treatment under the law during a period of intense national division over civil rights. In 1964, amid a changing political climate and a strong Democratic showing nationally, he was defeated for reelection by Democrat Joseph Y. Resnick.

After leaving Congress in January 1965, Wharton resumed the practice of law and became involved in real estate development, continuing his engagement in business and community affairs in upstate New York. Away from public office, he maintained a professional life grounded in the legal training and experience that had characterized his earlier career. In his personal life, Wharton was first married to Freda Boynton (1899–1979); the couple later divorced. He subsequently married Marion Turner (1913–2006). With his first wife, he was the father of a daughter, Beverly Wharton Radez.

James Ernest Wharton died in Summit, New York, on January 19, 1990. He was interred at Cobleskill Rural Cemetery in Cobleskill, New York. His long career as an attorney, local prosecutor, judge, and seven-term member of the House of Representatives reflected more than half a century of participation in public life at the county and national levels.