Representative Charles Swindall

Charles Swindall (February 13, 1876 – June 19, 1939) was a Republican U.S. Representative from Oklahoma who served one term in the United States Congress from 1919 to 1921. Over the course of his public life, he participated in the legislative process during a significant period in American history and represented the interests of his Oklahoma constituents in the House of Representatives.

Born on February 13, 1876, Swindall came of age in the post-Reconstruction era, a time of rapid economic and political change in the United States. Details of his early life, including his place of birth, family background, and formative influences, are not extensively documented in the surviving public record, but his later career in law and politics suggests an early interest in public affairs and civic engagement. Growing up in this period likely exposed him to the evolving debates over federal power, economic development, and the role of the states that would shape his later work in Congress.

Swindall’s education, while not fully chronicled in available sources, would have been consistent with the preparation expected of a professional entering public life in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He would have received sufficient formal schooling to qualify for admission to the bar and to pursue a legal or related professional career. His subsequent rise to national office indicates that he developed the legal and rhetorical skills necessary to navigate both the courtroom and the political arena, positioning him to participate effectively in legislative deliberations.

Before entering Congress, Swindall established himself in professional and civic life in Oklahoma, which had achieved statehood in 1907 and was still in the process of building its political institutions. As a member of the Republican Party in a region where political allegiances were still fluid, he aligned himself with the national party’s emphasis on economic development, infrastructure, and a strong, active federal government. His work during this period helped build the reputation and connections that would support his eventual election to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Swindall was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives and served from 1919 to 1921, completing one term in office. His tenure in Congress coincided with the immediate aftermath of World War I, a time when the nation confronted issues of demobilization, veterans’ affairs, economic adjustment, and debates over America’s role in international affairs. As a member of the House of Representatives, Charles Swindall participated in the democratic process, contributed to the legislative work of the 66th Congress, and represented the interests of his Oklahoma constituents during this transitional period. He took part in deliberations on national policy while also attending to the needs of a relatively young state seeking federal support for its growth and development.

After leaving Congress in 1921, Swindall returned to private life and continued his involvement in legal and public affairs in Oklahoma. Although the detailed record of his post-congressional activities is limited, his background and experience suggest that he remained engaged in the civic and political life of his community, drawing on his congressional experience and legal training. He lived through the economic upheavals of the 1920s and 1930s, including the onset of the Great Depression, which had a profound impact on Oklahoma and the broader region.

Charles Swindall died on June 19, 1939. His life spanned from the late nineteenth century into the New Deal era, and his service in the House of Representatives from 1919 to 1921 placed him at the center of national decision-making during a pivotal moment in American history. His interment, recorded in memorial sources such as Find a Grave, marks the resting place of a public servant who contributed to the legislative process and to the representation of Oklahoma in the United States Congress.