John Doar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Michael Doar
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Doar in 2012, upon receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom
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| Born | December 3, 1921 |
| Died | November 11, 2014 (aged 92) New York City, New York, US
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| Alma mater | Princeton University (A.B.) UC Berkeley School of Law (LL.B.) |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Awards |  President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service (1964) |
John Michael Doar (December 3, 1921 – November 11, 2014) was an important American lawyer. He worked in New York City. During the 1960s, he served in the U.S. Department of Justice. He was a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement. He helped protect people fighting for equal rights. Later, in the 1970s, he led the legal team for the U.S. House of Representatives during the impeachment investigation of President Richard Nixon.
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John Doar's Early Life
John Doar was born in New Richmond, Wisconsin, on December 3, 1921. He went to school in Saint Paul, Minnesota. During World War II, he served as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces. After the war, he studied at Princeton University. He then earned his law degree from the University of California-Berkeley. From 1950 to 1960, Doar worked at his family's law firm in Wisconsin.
Fighting for Civil Rights
John Doar was a Republican. From 1960 to 1967, he worked for the U.S. Department of Justice. He was a top lawyer in the Civil Rights Division. During this time, he was involved in many major events of the American Civil Rights Movement.
Protecting Freedom Riders
In 1961, Doar went to Montgomery, Alabama. He worked to protect the Freedom Riders. These brave activists rode buses through the South to challenge segregation.
Helping James Meredith
In 1962, Doar faced Ross Barnett, the governor of Mississippi. Barnett tried to stop James Meredith, a Black student, from attending the University of Mississippi. The university was segregated at the time. Doar helped ensure Meredith could enter the school.
Seeking Justice for Activists
Doar also worked on important legal cases. He prosecuted Collie Leroy Wilkins for federal civil rights violations. This was after the murder of Viola Liuzzo, a civil rights activist. Doar secured a conviction from an all-white jury in Alabama. In 1963, after the murder of civil rights leader Medgar Evers, Doar helped calm an angry crowd.
He also led the federal case against those accused of murdering Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner. These young civil rights workers were killed in Mississippi. Doar also helped write the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This important law aimed to secure equal rights for all citizens.
Selma to Montgomery March
In March 1965, Doar was one of the first government officials to arrive in Montgomery, Alabama. This was during the third of the Selma to Montgomery marches. He walked ahead of the marchers into Montgomery.
Nixon Impeachment Inquiry
John Doar left the government in 1967. He worked in private law practice for a while. In December 1973, he was hired for a very important job. He became the lead special counsel for the House Judiciary Committee's impeachment investigation. This was during the impeachment inquiry against President Richard Nixon.
Doar managed a large team of about 100 people. This team included lawyers and investigators. He set strict rules to keep their work private. This helped ensure the investigation was fair and focused.
Later Life and Honors
After the impeachment inquiry, Doar started his own law firm in New York City.
John Doar passed away in New York City on November 11, 2014, at the age of 92. He was remembered for his dedication to justice and civil rights. In 2012, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is one of the highest honors a civilian can receive in the United States.
Representation in Film and Television
- The 1988 film Mississippi Burning was inspired by the murders of the three civil rights workers.
- An episode from the Discovery Channel series, "US Marshals: Mission in Mississippi" (1997), featured an interview with Doar. He spoke about his role in helping James Meredith enroll at the University of Mississippi in 1962.
- In the 2014 film Selma, actor Alessandro Nivola played John Doar.
Gallery
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Doar (right) and U.S. marshals escorting James Meredith to class at the University of Mississippi
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Doar (center-right) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Rodino speaking with reporters during the Nixon impeachment inquiry
