Our Rich History: Spence was more than a bridge; Congressman did great things in 32 years of service

(This is part of a regular series especially for the NKyTribune on local history by three distinguished historians, Paul Tenkotte of NKU, James Claypool, NKU professor emeritus of history, and David Schroeder of Kenton County Public Library. They are co-authors of the new “Gateway City,” a 450-page history of Covington, marking its 200th birthday.)

By Paul A. Tenkotte
Special to NKyTribune

I have to admit it. I feel sorry for Brent Spence. This dedicated public servant, a U.S. Congressman for 32 years (1931-63), did more for the good of Northern Kentucky than any other politician on record. And the poor soul has a “functionally obsolete” bridge named for him, prompting who-knows-how-many people to inadvertently curse, using his name each and every day of the year. It’s time to set the record straight.

Born in December 1874, Brent Spence was the great-grandson of Washington Berry and Alice Thornton Taylor, sister of the founder of Newport, James Taylor Jr. Further, Spence was the grandson of James Berry, founder of Dayton, and the nephew of Albert Berry, founder of Bellevue, mayor of Newport, and a U.S. representative (1893-1901).

Brent Spence graduated from the Law School of the University of Cincinnati in 1895, and joined the law firm of his uncle Albert. In 1930, during the Great Depression, he was elected to the first of 16 consecutive terms to the U.S. House of Representatives. A staunch Democrat, he was a new dealer, that is, a supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt (president, 1933-45).

Brent Spence played a major role in the post-World War II world as chairman of the U.S. House’s committee on Banking and Currency. He was a delegate at the Bretton Woods Conference, which set the course for the economic rebuilding of the war-torn world. The Bretton Woods Agreement established the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, now part of the World Bank. It also, based the stability of world currency on the U.S. dollar, which was then tied to gold.

Regionally, Brent Spence used his influence to gain important projects for Northern Kentucky, including the Great Cincinnati Airport (now, the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport), the Internal Revenue Service Center in Covington, public housing projects, and floodwalls for Covington, Maysville, and Newport.

Spence died in September 1967, aged 92. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Southgate.

Paul A. Tenkotte is Professor of History and Director of the Center for Public History at NKU. With other well-known regional historians, James C. Claypool and David E. Schroeder, he is a co-editor of the new 450-page Gateway City: Covington, Kentucky, 1815-2015, now available at your local booksellers, the Center for Great Neighborhoods in Covington and online sellers.