Whitney North Seymour Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Whitney North Seymour Jr.
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| United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York | |
| In office January 16, 1970 – June 4, 1973 |
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| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Robert Morgenthau |
| Succeeded by | Paul J. Curran |
| Member of the New York State Senate | |
| In office 1966–1968 |
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| Preceded by | Abraham Bernstein (28th) John J. Marchi (26th) |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Zaretzki (28th) Roy M. Goodman (26th) |
| Constituency | 28th district (1966) 26th district (1967–1968) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 7, 1923 Huntington, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | June 29, 2019 (aged 95) Torrington, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Catryna Ten Eyck
(m. 1951; died 2017) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Whitney North Seymour (father) Thaddeus Seymour (brother) |
| Education | Princeton University Yale Law School |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943–1945 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Whitney North Seymour Jr. (July 7, 1923 – June 29, 2019) was an American lawyer and politician. Friends knew him as Mike Seymour. He came from a well-known family in New York City.
Seymour studied at Princeton University and Yale Law School. He also served in the United States Army during World War II. He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1966 to 1968. Later, he became the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1970 to 1973.
As U.S. Attorney, Seymour worked on many important cases. He also helped start the Natural Resources Defense Council, a group that protects the environment. He was a leader in New York City and helped pass a law to protect historic buildings. Seymour also wrote three books and a play. He passed away in 2019 at the age of 95.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Whitney North Seymour Jr. was born in Huntington, West Virginia, on July 7, 1923. His father, Whitney North Seymour, was a famous lawyer. Whitney Jr. grew up in Greenwich Village in Manhattan, New York City. His brother, Thaddeus Seymour, became an academic.
School and Military Service
Seymour went to the Kent School in Connecticut. In 1943, he joined the United States Army. He served as an officer in the Pacific War during World War II. He left the Army in 1945 as a captain.
After the war, Seymour went to Princeton University. He graduated with honors in 1947. Then, he studied law at Yale Law School, earning his degree in 1950.
Career in Law and Politics
After law school, Seymour joined the law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. His father was a partner there. From 1953 to 1956, he worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in Manhattan.
Serving in the State Senate
Seymour was a member of the New York State Senate from 1966 to 1968. He represented parts of New York City. In 1968, he ran for the United States House of Representatives. He was the Republican candidate for a district in the Upper East Side. He ran against Democrat Ed Koch. Seymour lost the election, but he was still an important figure in New York politics.
Protecting the Environment
In 1970, Seymour helped create the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). This group works to protect the environment. Seymour was involved in a big court case about Storm King Mountain. A power company wanted to build a large power plant there. Seymour and others argued that the plant would harm the environment.
This case helped show that environmental groups could challenge big projects. Because of this, Seymour and others decided to form a national group. They got funding and started the NRDC. This group brought together lawyers and scientists to fight for environmental protection.
U.S. Attorney for New York
From 1970 to 1973, Seymour was the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He took over from Robert Morgenthau. As U.S. Attorney, Seymour worked to clear up many criminal cases. His office also handled cases of police corruption.
He oversaw cases against organized crime figures like Frank Costello. He also prosecuted corrupt public officials. Seymour was initially unsure about a new law called the RICO Act. But later, he saw how useful it was in fighting organized crime.
Seymour also represented the U.S. government in a famous case. This case tried to stop The New York Times from publishing the Pentagon Papers. The United States Supreme Court eventually allowed the Times to publish them. Seymour later said he thought the media was irresponsible in how they handled the case.
Later Legal Work
After being U.S. Attorney, Seymour returned to private law practice. In 1982, he left his large law firm. He felt that big firms were becoming too complicated. He started a smaller firm with another lawyer.
In 1986, Seymour was chosen as an independent counsel. This meant he would investigate a former White House official named Michael Deaver. Deaver was accused of lying under oath. Seymour successfully got a conviction against Deaver.
Seymour continued to work as a lawyer even into his 90s. He never truly retired. In the early 2000s, he represented cartoonist Dan DeCarlo in a case about the ownership of Josie and the Pussycats.
Civic Leadership and Public Service
Seymour was a leader in many community groups. He was president of the New York State Bar Association. He also served as a trustee for the New York Public Library. He was a director of the Municipal Art Society of New York.
In 1964, he led efforts to create the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. His work was very important in passing the Landmarks Law in 1965. This law helps protect historic buildings in New York City.
In 1976, Seymour started a group to help public libraries. He also strongly opposed political action committees (PACs). He believed they had a bad effect on Congress. He helped found Citizens Against PACs.
Writings and Creative Works
Seymour wrote three books during his life:
- Why Justice Fails (1973): This book discussed problems in the justice system. It suggested ways to make things better.
- United States Attorney: An Inside View of 'Justice' in America Under the Nixon Administration (1975): In this book, Seymour wrote about his time as U.S. Attorney. He talked about the history of law enforcement. He also suggested reforms for the U.S. Department of Justice.
- Making a Difference (1984): This book shared stories of different people who made a positive impact. It showed how various character traits lead to public service.
Later in life, Seymour and his family wrote a one-act play called Stars in the Dark. The play was about Hans Scholl and Sophie Scholl. They were part of the White Rose resistance group in Nazi Germany during the 1940s. The play was performed off-Broadway in 2008.
Personal Life
In 1951, Whitney North Seymour Jr. married Catryna Ten Eyck. She passed away in 2017. They had two daughters. Seymour was known as a formal person. He had homes in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, and Salisbury, Connecticut. He enjoyed painting with watercolors and oils. He was a member of The Players club.
