U.S. senator from 1943 to 1955 and 38th district California State Assembly member from 1936 to 1942. Head of the California Senate Factfinding Subcommittee on Un-American Activities ("Tenney Committee") and leader of anti-communist investigations.
Union organizer for the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers International Union, and Federation of Retired Union Members (FORUM).