He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 13, 1925, and received his commission the same day.

[2] In 1923 Dawson, still serving as attorney general, was the Republican nominee for Governor of Kentucky.

The Democratic nominee, J. Campbell Cantrill, suddenly died that September, after defeating Alben Barkley for the nomination.

Fields quickly replaced Cantrill on the ticket after Barkley declined the nomination.

Clements went on to become the assistant majority floor leader under Lyndon B. Johnson, serving as Majority Leader of the United States Senate during Johnson's extended absence for medical reasons.