William Willett Jr.

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William Willett
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 14th district
In office March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1911
Preceded by	Charles A. Towne
Succeeded by	John J. Kindred
Personal details
Born	William Forte Willett Jr. (1869-11-27)November 27, 1869 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	February 12, 1938(1938-02-12) (aged 68) New York City, New York, U.S.
Resting place	Evergreen Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York
Political party	Democratic
Education	New York University (LLB)

William Forte Willett Jr. (November 27, 1869 – February 12, 1938) was an American lawyer and politician who served two terms as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1907 to 1911 and fourteen months in Sing Sing for conspiracy and bribery shortly thereafter.

William Willett Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 27, 1869. He attended the public schools of his native city and then graduated from the law department of New York University, New York City, in 1895. He was admitted to the bar the following year and commenced the practice of law in New York City.

Willett was elected as a Democrat to the Sixtieth and Sixty-first Congresses (March 4, 1907 - March 3, 1911).

On January 18, 1909, Willett denounced President Theodore Roosevelt in a speech that was so outrageous that he was ordered to sit down, and the House voted 126 to 78 against allowing him to continue.^[1] On January 27, the House, by voice vote, expunged the speech from the Congressional Record for "language improper and in violation of the privileges of debate".^[2]

Willett did not stand for renomination in 1910.

Willett was indicted in 1912 on charges that he paid Democratic Party leaders for a seat on the State Supreme Court. In 1913, he was convicted of conspiracy and bribery.^[2] After exhausting his appeals he served 14 months in Sing Sing.^[3]

Willett then went into the real estate business.

Willett died in New York City on February 12, 1938, his body interred in Cemetery of the Evergreens, Brooklyn.

• United States Congress. "William Willett Jr. (id: W000481)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress