Adam Carlyle Breckenridge

Adam Carlyle Breckenridge (10 July 1916 — 11 June 2001) was an American political scientist and educator. He was a longtime professor of political science at the University of Nebraska.

Early life and education

Breckenridge was born on 10 July 1916 in Turney, Missouri, to Adam Carlisle and Mabel Ruth (Sheldon) Breckenridge. He was educated at Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri, (Bachelor of Arts, 1936); University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, (Master of Arts, 1938); and Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey (Doctor of Philosophy, 1942).

Career

After getting his master's degree, Breckenridge worked as an instructor at Christian College, Columbia, Missouri, beginning in 1940. After earning his Ph.D. from Princeton University, he served during the Second World War in the US Navy. 

In 1946, he joined the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, as an Associate Professor of Political Science. He was promoted to full professor in 1955 and served in that position until he retired in 1981, after which he was professor emeritus. During his tenure at the university, he was department chairman (1953-1955); dean faculties (1955-1966); vice-chancellor (1962-1968); acting director of libraries (1973-1974); acting vice-chancellor academic affairs (1974-1975); and interim chancellor (1975-1976.)

In the summers of 1948 and 1949, Breckenridge was a visiting professor at Pennsylvania State University, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

Breckenridge was the author (with J. G. Heinberg) of Law Enforcement in Missouri (1942), (with Lane W. Lancaster) of Readings in American State Government (1950), and One House for Two: A Study of Nebraska's Unicameral Legislation (1957). His 1970 book The Right to Privacy is based upon the belief that the individual has the right to determine the degree to which he wishes to share of himself with others and has control over the time, place, and circumstances in which he communicates with others; that he has the right to withdraw or participate as he sees fit; and the right to control the dissemination of information about himself.

Personal life

Breckenridge married Marion S. Nickerson on 13 April 1963.

Selected publications

• One house for two: Nebraska's unicameral legislature (January 1957)
• Congress Against the Court (November 1970)
• The Right to Privacy (March 1970)
• The Executive Privilege: Presidential Control Over Information (January 1974)
• Electing the President (February 1982)
• Law Enforcement in Missouri with John Gilbert Heinberg and George Gascoigne (1942)
• State Administrative Supervision of Local Finance in New Jersey (1942)
• Readings in American State Government with L.W. Lancaster (1950)
• The University of Nebraska Mission in Colombia: The First Two Years, 1966-1968 (1968)
• The Executive Privilege (1974)
• Electing the President (1982)

Affiliations

• American Political Science Association
• National Municipal League
• American Society for Public Administration
• American Association of University Professors
• Nebraska State Historical Society
• Pi Sigma Alpha, National Executive Council (1960-1964)
• Member City-County Planning Commission, Lincoln, Nebraska (1965-1971)

Death

Breckenridge died on 11 June 2001, at the age of 84, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He is buried at Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, Nebraska.