Dirksen, Everett M. (1896-1969)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1969 Sep 11 p. 3

Birth date: 1896

text of obituary:

. . .

Prominent National Figures Taken in Death

The death of three prominent national figures — in the fields of politics, journalism and religion — highlighted the news during the past week.

In Washington, Sen. Everett M. Dirksen, top-ranking Republican in Congress, died unexpectedly of heart failure after undergoing an operation for lung cancer. He was 73.

Also succumbing to a heart ailment from which he had suffered for a long time was Drew Pearson, 71, whose "Washington Merry-Go-Round" appeared in 625 daily and weekly newspapers for many years. A Quaker, Pearson concentrated on exposing behind-the-scenes activities of government officials.

Found dead on a cliffside in Israel, two miles from the Dead Sea, was America's most controversial ex-churchman, Dr. James A. Pike, who had gone to the Holy Land with his wife to study "the origins of Christianity." The two-times divorced former Episcopal bishop had only recently severed all connections with his church over such issues as the Virgin Birth, immortality, and communication with the dead.