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Bio written by Bobb Edwards on Find-A-Grave: "US Congressman. Elected to represent Pennsylvania's 18th District in the Twenty-Fifth and two succeeding Congresses, he served from 1837 until his death. He won his place in American political history with a single speech. Known as the "Gold Spoon Oration", it helped derail President Martin Van Buren's bid for reelection and set a no-holds-barred tone for many future campaigns. The son of US Congressman Alexander Ogle, he was born in Somerset, Pennsylvania. Little is known of his early years though he must have had some classical education, as he was well-versed in ancient Latin and Greek (and spoke fluent French). He was admitted to the bar in 1822 and practiced in Somerset before following his father into politics, winning his first two Congressional terms as an Anti-Masonic candidate. He switched to the Whig Party in 1840. That year the Whigs were mounting a sensationalistic campaign on behalf of their presidential candidate, William Henry Harrison, and this provided the obscure Ogle with a career-making opportunity. On April 14, 1840, during a House debate on White House expenditures, Ogle took the floor and for the next three days wickedly satirized President Van Buren as a spendthrift, out-of-touch elitist who lived in "regal splendor" while the nation's economy was still reeling from the Panic of 1837. Sarcastic humor and accounts of lavish parties and furnishings at the Executive Mansion (gold spoons being prominent) were key refrains. The "Gold Spoon Oration" was immediately published as a pamphlet and distributed by Whigs throughout the country. There was scarcely a word of straight truth in Ogle's diatribe. The gold spoons did not exist, and the wealthy Van Buren paid for most nonessential White House expenses (such as entertaining) out of his own pocket. But popular need for a scapegoat over the Depression, and the President's known fondness for luxury, made it convincing enough to the electorate. Harrison won the election, and the now-famous Ogle was sent back to Capitol Hill for a third term. Victory was short-lived for both. President Harrison died after 32 days in office and tuberculosis claimed Ogle five weeks later. There is a cenotaph for the Representative at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC."

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Biography and Citation Information:
Biography: 
Bio written by Bobb Edwards on Find-A-Grave: "US Congressman. Elected to represent Pennsylvania's 18th District in the Twenty-Fifth and two succeeding Congresses, he served from 1837 until his death. He won his place in American political history with a single speech. Known as the "Gold Spoon Oration", it helped derail President Martin Van Buren's bid for reelection and set a no-holds-barred tone for many future campaigns. The son of US Congressman Alexander Ogle, he was born in Somerset, Pennsylvania. Little is known of his early years though he must have had some classical education, as he was well-versed in ancient Latin and Greek (and spoke fluent French). He was admitted to the bar in 1822 and practiced in Somerset before following his father into politics, winning his first two Congressional terms as an Anti-Masonic candidate. He switched to the Whig Party in 1840. That year the Whigs were mounting a sensationalistic campaign on behalf of their presidential candidate, William Henry Harrison, and this provided the obscure Ogle with a career-making opportunity. On April 14, 1840, during a House debate on White House expenditures, Ogle took the floor and for the next three days wickedly satirized President Van Buren as a spendthrift, out-of-touch elitist who lived in "regal splendor" while the nation's economy was still reeling from the Panic of 1837. Sarcastic humor and accounts of lavish parties and furnishings at the Executive Mansion (gold spoons being prominent) were key refrains. The "Gold Spoon Oration" was immediately published as a pamphlet and distributed by Whigs throughout the country. There was scarcely a word of straight truth in Ogle's diatribe. The gold spoons did not exist, and the wealthy Van Buren paid for most nonessential White House expenses (such as entertaining) out of his own pocket. But popular need for a scapegoat over the Depression, and the President's known fondness for luxury, made it convincing enough to the electorate. Harrison won the election, and the now-famous Ogle was sent back to Capitol Hill for a third term. Victory was short-lived for both. President Harrison died after 32 days in office and tuberculosis claimed Ogle five weeks later. There is a cenotaph for the Representative at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC."
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=12740980
Website Viewing Date: 
Monday, January 30, 2017 - 10:30
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Citation for Birth Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=12740980
Title of Webpage: 
Find-A-Grave
Website Viewing Date: 
Monday, January 30, 2017 - 10:30
Website Last Modified Date: 
Monday, January 30, 2017 - 10:30
Citation for Death Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=12740980
Title of Webpage: 
Find-A-Grave
Website Viewing Date: 
Monday, January 30, 2017 - 10:30
Website Last Modified Date: 
Monday, January 30, 2017 - 10:30