Lawrence Walsh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lawrence Walsh
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| 5th United States Deputy Attorney General | |
| In office December 29, 1957 – January 20, 1961 |
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| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | William P. Rogers |
| Succeeded by | Byron White |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York | |
| In office April 28, 1954 – December 29, 1957 |
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| Appointed by | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | Lloyd Francis MacMahon |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lawrence Edward Walsh
January 8, 1912 Port Maitland, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Died | March 19, 2014 (aged 102) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Columbia University (AB, LLB) |
Lawrence Edward Walsh (January 8, 1912 – March 19, 2014) was an American lawyer and judge. He served as a federal judge in New York. Later, he became the United States Deputy Attorney General. He is best known for being the Independent Counsel who investigated the Iran–Contra affair during the Reagan presidency.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Lawrence Walsh was born in Port Maitland, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1912. His father was a doctor. When Lawrence was 10 years old, his family moved to the United States. He became a naturalized citizen, meaning he officially became a U.S. citizen.
He grew up in Queens, New York. He went to Flushing High School. After high school, he attended Columbia University. He earned his first degree in 1932 and his law degree in 1935.
Early Public Service Roles
After finishing law school, Walsh began a career in public service. He worked for the government in different roles. From 1936 to 1938, he was a special assistant attorney general. He also worked as a deputy assistant district attorney in Manhattan.
Later, he served as an assistant counsel to New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey. This was from 1943 to 1949. He then became the Governor's main counsel from 1950 to 1951. He also worked for the Public Service Commission.
Federal Judge Service
In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower chose Lawrence Walsh to be a federal judge. He was appointed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The United States Senate approved his appointment.
He officially became a judge on April 28, 1954. He served as a judge for about three and a half years. He resigned from this position in December 1957.
Later Career and Public Roles
After leaving his judge position, Walsh continued his public service. He became the United States Deputy Attorney General. This was a high-ranking job in the U.S. Department of Justice. He served in this role from 1957 to 1960.
Afterward, Walsh returned to working as a private lawyer. He was a partner at a law firm in New York City. He worked there from 1961 to 1981. During this time, he represented large companies.
In 1969, he briefly served as an ambassador. He was part of the U.S. Delegation to the Paris Peace Accords. These were talks aimed at ending the Vietnam War. He also served as president of the American Bar Association from 1975 to 1976. This is a major organization for lawyers in the U.S.
In 1981, Walsh moved his law practice to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He joined a law firm there.
Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair
In December 1986, Lawrence Walsh was chosen for a very important job. He was named the independent counsel for the Iran–Contra affair investigation. This was a major event during the Ronald Reagan presidency. His job was to look into what happened.
His investigation examined the actions of several people. These included former National Security Advisor John Poindexter and Oliver North. His work helped uncover many details about the affair.
Walsh also investigated former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. He looked into whether Weinberger had made false statements. One part of the investigation into Weinberger was later dropped.
The investigation continued for several years. On the day before the 1992 presidential election, Walsh continued his investigation into Weinberger. This event caused a lot of discussion. Later, President George H. W. Bush pardoned Weinberger. This meant the investigation into Weinberger ended.
Walsh always said his investigation was not about politics. He submitted his final report on August 4, 1993. He also wrote books about his experiences. These books were called Firewall: The Iran-Contra Conspiracy and Cover-Up and The Gift of Insecurity: A Lawyer's Life.
Personal Life and Longevity
Lawrence Walsh married Maxine Winton in 1936. They had five children together. Maxine passed away in 1964. In 1965, Walsh married Mary Alma Porter. They were married until her death in 2012.
Walsh lived a very long life. He celebrated his 100th birthday on January 8, 2012. He passed away on March 19, 2014, at the age of 102. He died in Oklahoma City.
See also
- List of centenarians (jurists and practitioners of law)
