Illinois Republican Everett McKinley Dirksen had a long and storied career as both a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. Dirksen was first elected to U.S. House in 1933 and served 16 years representing central Illinois. Dirksen then won election to the U.S. Senate in 1950, where he served until his death at age 73 in 1969. Senator Dirksen rose through the leadership ranks of the Republican Party, eventually serving as Minority Leader from 1959-69.
