S. 2539. Frear amend. To reduce public housing units authorized in the bill.

On Aug 17, 1959, the Senate voted 40–51 (S 2539). Result: failed. By party: Democrats 16–47, Republicans 25–8. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 24 members voted against their own party.

During the 86th Congress (1959–1960), Dwight D. Eisenhower was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 40
No: 51
Did not vote: 5
Date: Aug 17, 1959

By party

Democrats16 yes · 47 no · 3 didn’t vote
Republicans25 yes · 8 no · 2 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

John Little Mcclellan D-AR voted yes
Joseph Allen Frear Jr. D-DE voted yes
George Armistead Smathers D-FL voted yes
Spessard Lindsey Holland D-FL voted yes
Herman Eugene Talmadge D-GA voted yes
Richard Brevard Russell Jr. D-GA voted yes
Homer Earl Capehart R-IN voted no
John Sherman Cooper R-KY voted no
Margaret Chase Smith R-ME voted no
James Oliver Eastland D-MS voted yes
John Cornelius Stennis D-MS voted yes
Benjamin Everett Jordan D-NC voted yes
Samuel James Ervin Jr. D-NC voted yes
William Langer R-ND voted no
Clifford Philip Case R-NJ voted no
Jacob Koppel Javits R-NY voted no
Kenneth Barnard Keating R-NY voted no
Frank John Lausche D-OH voted yes
Robert Samuel Kerr D-OK voted yes
Hugh Doggett Scott Jr. R-PA voted no
James Strom Thurmond D-SC voted yes
Frank Edward (Ted) Moss D-UT voted yes
Absalom Willis Robertson D-VA voted yes
Harry Flood Byrd D-VA voted yes

How each senator voted: Yes

How each senator voted: No

Voted present

Allen Joseph Ellender D-LA
Francis Higbee Case R-SD

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

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Capitol Receipts, “S. 2539. Frear amend. To reduce public…: Senate Vote, Aug 17, 1959,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/86-S-161/s-2539-frear-amend-to-reduce-public-housing-units (accessed 2026-10-17).