Pete McCloskey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pete McCloskey
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McCloskey in 1969
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California | |
| In office December 12, 1967 – January 3, 1983 |
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| Preceded by | J. Arthur Younger |
| Succeeded by | Ed Zschau |
| Constituency |
11th district (1967–1973)
17th district (1973–1975) 12th district (1975–1983) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Paul Norton McCloskey Jr.
September 29, 1927 Loma Linda, California, U.S. |
| Died | May 8, 2024 (aged 96) Winters, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (2007–2024) |
| Other political affiliations |
Republican (1948–2007) |
| Spouses |
Caroline Wadsworth
(m. 1949; div. 1972)Helen V. Hooper
(m. 1982) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Stanford University (AB, LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy (1945–1947) United States Marine Corps (1950–1952)U.S. Marine Forces Reserve (1952–1974) |
| Years of service | 1945–1964 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
| Awards | Navy Cross Silver Star Purple Heart (2) |
Paul Norton "Pete" McCloskey Jr. (September 29, 1927 – May 8, 2024) was an American politician. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives for California from 1967 to 1983. He was a member of the Republican Party for most of his career.
McCloskey was born in Loma Linda, California. He became a lawyer after studying at Stanford Law School. He was a brave soldier in the Korean War, serving in the United States Marine Corps. For his courage, he received important awards like the Navy Cross and the Silver Star.
In 1967, he was elected to Congress. He helped create the important 1973 Endangered Species Act. This law protects animals and plants that are in danger of disappearing. He was also one of the first politicians to speak out against the Vietnam War. Later, he even ran for president against Richard Nixon because of the war.
Pete McCloskey was known for speaking his mind. He was the first member of Congress to publicly ask President Nixon to resign during the Watergate scandal. He changed his political party later in life, becoming a Democrat in 2007.
Contents
Pete McCloskey's Early Life
Pete McCloskey's family came to California a long time ago. His great-grandfather arrived in 1853 after a difficult time in Ireland. His family were farmers and had always been Republicans.
McCloskey was born on September 29, 1927, in Loma Linda, California. His parents were Mary Vera and Paul Norton McCloskey. He went to public schools in South Pasadena and San Marino. He was even honored in his high school's Hall of Fame for baseball. He studied at Occidental College and California Institute of Technology. He finished his studies at Stanford University in 1950 and Stanford Law School in 1953.
Serving His Country: Military Career
McCloskey volunteered to serve in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1947. He then joined the United States Marine Corps from 1950 to 1952. He continued to serve in the Marine Corps Reserve until 1974, reaching the rank of colonel.
He earned the Navy Cross and Silver Star for his bravery during the Korean War. He also received two Purple Hearts, which are given to soldiers wounded in battle. He even volunteered for the Vietnam War, though he later spoke out against it. In 1992, he wrote a book called The Taking of Hill 610 about his experiences in Korea.
A Career in Politics
Before joining Congress, McCloskey worked as a lawyer. He was a Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County from 1953 to 1954. He also practiced law in Palo Alto from 1955 to 1967. He even taught about legal ethics at Santa Clara University and Stanford Law School.
In 1967, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He won a special election to fill a vacant seat. He was re-elected many times, serving until 1983. He once said he was the first Republican elected who was against the Vietnam War. This was unusual because most people in his area supported the war at the time.
McCloskey was a strong voice in Congress. He was the first lawmaker to publicly ask for President Nixon to be removed from office after the Watergate scandal. He also pushed for the repeal of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which had allowed the U.S. to get more involved in the Vietnam War. In 1975, he visited Cambodia to see the effects of U.S. bombing. He said his country had caused "greater evil" there.
Challenging President Nixon
In 1972, McCloskey ran for president against the sitting President, Richard M. Nixon. He campaigned on a platform of peace and ending the Vietnam War. He received a good number of votes in the New Hampshire primary. Even though he didn't win, he showed that there were Republicans who disagreed with the war.
Working for Peace in the Middle East
In 1980, McCloskey was part of a group of representatives who visited countries in the Middle East. They met with leaders to discuss peace in the region. He believed in being fair to all sides in the Middle East.
In 1982, McCloskey tried to become a U.S. Senator for California. It was a tough race with many candidates. He did not win the Republican nomination.
2006 Congressional Campaign
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In 2006, McCloskey decided to run for Congress again. He ran against a Republican who had been in office for a long time, Richard Pombo. McCloskey wanted to "Restore Ethics to Congress." He famously said, "Congressmen are like diapers. You need to change them often, and for the same reason."
He was supported by major newspapers like the San Francisco Chronicle. However, he lost the primary election. After that, he supported the Democrat, Jerry McNerney, who eventually won the election against Pombo. The Sierra Club, an environmental group, honored McCloskey for his efforts.
Outside Congress
Supporting the USS Liberty Crew
McCloskey helped organize a special ceremony in 1991. It was for the crew members of the USS Liberty, a U.S. Navy ship attacked in 1967. The crew finally received a special award they were given but never presented. McCloskey continued to support the USS Liberty veterans.
Council for the National Interest
In 1989, McCloskey helped start the Council for the National Interest. This group works to promote U.S. policies in the Middle East that are fair and serve America's interests. He also taught political science at Santa Clara University.
Opposing the Iraq War
McCloskey was against the Iraq War. In 2004, he went against his party and supported John Kerry, a Democrat, for president. Kerry was running against George W. Bush, who was a Republican.
Change of Political Party
In 2007, McCloskey announced he was changing his political party. He became a Democrat. He explained that the "new brand of Republicanism" no longer fit his beliefs. He felt it was wrong for him to stay a Republican.
In the 2020 United States presidential election, McCloskey was chosen to be an elector for California. When Joe Biden won the state, McCloskey cast his vote for Biden and Kamala Harris.
Political Beliefs
McCloskey supported stem cell research. He was also a co-chair for the very first Earth Day in 1970. This shows his dedication to environmental protection.
Personal Life
Pete McCloskey had four children with his first wife, Caroline Wadsworth. Their names were Nancy, Peter, John, and Kathleen. He later married Helen V. Hooper.
Pete McCloskey passed away on May 8, 2024, at his home in Winters, California. He was 96 years old.
Films
- Earth Days (2009) (Self)
- The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers (2009) (Self)
- Pete McCloskey: Leading from the Front: The Story of a True Political Maverick (2010) (Self)
- GrowthBusters (2011) (Self)
- Last Days in Vietnam (2014) (Self)
