Walter Wallace Sackett Jr.

Walter Wallace Sackett Jr.
Sackett in 1969
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 110th district
In office
November 7, 1972 – November 2, 1976
Preceded byCarey Matthews
Succeeded byRoberta Fox
Personal details
Born(1905-11-20)November 20, 1905
Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedOctober 5, 1985(1985-10-05) (aged 79)
Political partyDemocratic
Republican
SpouseSophia Sackett[1]
Alma materUniversity of Miami
OccupationPhysician

Walter Wallace Sackett Jr. (November 20, 1905[1] – October 5, 1985) was an American politician and physician.[1][2][3][4] He served as a Democratic member for the 110th district of the Florida House of Representatives.[5]

Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut.[1] Sackett attended the University of Miami, where he later graduated.[1] He then attended the University of Chicago and Rush Medical College, where Sackett earned his medical degree.[1] He moved to Coral Gables, Florida, in 1941, where he practiced medicine and was the president for the Dade County Medical Association.[1]

Sackett wrote a book on baby care entitled "Bringing Up Babies: A Family Doctor's Practical Approach To Child Care", published in 1962. In it, he recommended "bacon and scrambled eggs breakfast" for 9-week-old infants, and later suggested serving coffee to 6-month-old babies.[1][6]

In 1972, Sackett won the election for the 110th district of the Florida House of Representatives.[5] He succeeded Carey Matthews.[5] In 1976, Sackett was succeeded by Roberta Fox for the 110th district.[5] He became a Republican member in the 1970s.[1]

Sackett died in October 1985 in his sleep, at the age of 79.[1] According to his wife, some of Sackett's legislative efforts centered on dignified death, and his proposals caused him to be compared at times to Adolf Hitler.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k United Press International (October 7, 1985). "Dr. Walter Sackett, former state legislator". Tampa Bay Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 23. Retrieved April 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ "An old women writes to Sackett in despair: "What about us who are suffering unbearable pain?" She sees one solution but fears she has neither the courage nor the cruelty for suicide". Tampa Bay Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. May 7, 1972. p. 229. Retrieved April 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  3. ^ "William Buckley: Should any doctor be authorized to give a patient the right to die?". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Santa Fe, New Mexico. August 21, 1972. p. 6. Retrieved April 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  4. ^ "Death With Dignity Measure Gains Support". Barre Montpelier Times Argus. Barre, Vermont. October 12, 1971. p. 3. Retrieved April 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  5. ^ a b c d "House of Representatives". Archived from the original on January 13, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2022 – via Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ Jr, Walter W. Sackett (1962). Bringing Up Babies: A Family Doctor's Practical Approach to Child Care ([1st ed.]. ed.). New York: Harper & Row. OL 5853602M.