Representative Cecil Fielding White

Cecil Fielding White (December 12, 1900 – March 29, 1992) was an American farmer, cotton broker, and Democratic politician who served one term as a United States Representative from California. Born at the turn of the twentieth century, he came of age in an era when agriculture and landownership were central to the economic and social fabric of the American West. Before entering public life, White established himself in the agricultural sector, gaining firsthand experience with the concerns of farmers and ranchers that would later inform his political career.

White worked as a cotton broker and owned his own ranch, occupations that placed him at the intersection of production, markets, and rural community life. His professional background gave him a practical understanding of commodity pricing, land use, and the challenges facing growers in California’s agricultural regions. This experience helped shape his political identity and provided a base of support among constituents who shared his livelihood and priorities.

At the age of 47, White entered electoral politics, seeking a seat in the United States House of Representatives from California’s 9th congressional district. Running as a Democrat, he challenged and defeated seven-term incumbent Republican Bertrand W. Gearhart, a notable political upset that reflected shifting political currents in the post–World War II period. His victory brought a change in representation to the district and underscored the growing influence of Democratic candidates in parts of California that had long been represented by Republicans.

White served in the Eighty-first Congress from 1949 to 1951, representing California’s 9th congressional district. During his single term in the House of Representatives, he participated in the legislative process at a time of significant national transition, as the United States moved from wartime mobilization into the early years of the Cold War and grappled with domestic economic adjustments. As a member of the Democratic Party, he took part in debates and votes on issues affecting both his agricultural constituency and the broader national interest, contributing to the work of the House during this consequential period in American history.

As a Representative from California, White’s service in Congress involved advocating for the interests of his district’s residents, many of whom were engaged in farming, ranching, and related industries. He participated in the democratic process by representing their concerns in Washington, D.C., and by engaging with federal policy questions that bore directly on the economic well-being of his region. Although he served only one term, his tenure reflected the perspective of a working agriculturalist at the federal level.

After leaving Congress in 1951, White returned to private life, drawing on his longstanding ties to agriculture and his experience in public office. His post-congressional years were spent outside the national political spotlight, but his earlier work as a cotton broker, ranch owner, and legislator remained a defining part of his public identity. Cecil Fielding White died on March 29, 1992, closing a life that bridged the worlds of agriculture and national politics during a transformative era in California and American history.