Clinton D. McKinnon
Encyclopedia
Clinton Dotson McKinnon was a former American
Democratic politician
and journalist
from San Diego
.
McKinnon was born 1906 in Dallas, Texas
to Dr. John and Tennie McKinnon. He was 12 and the only child when his father died and his mother, a nurse, raised him. He graduated from Palo Alto High School
, Palo Alto, California
. McKinnon attended Stanford University
in 1924, attended the University of Geneva
in 1930, and received a BA from University of Redlands
in 1930.
McKinnon and his wife Lucille had two sons, Clinton Daniel (Dan) and Michael Dean (Mike), and a daughter Connie.
McKinnon was a journalist and owned newspapers in Texas and California. He started local "throw-away" newspapers and sold ads to local merchants.
He organized the only daily newspaper to begin during World War II
, the San Diego Daily Journal in 1944, by stringing together several throwaways. The Journal competed with the much-larger San Diego Tribune
. This was possible because the Democratic Roosevelt administration allocated newsprint, then under ration, to the Journal to compete with the Republican Tribune. Other Journal alumni included Tribune editor and columnist Neil Morgan and Congressman Lionel Van Deerlin
. Van Deerlin recalled:
McKinnon sold the paper in 1947, before running for Congress, and it was eventually absorbed into the Tribune.
Time Magazine described McKinnon as: "a jockey-sized little fireball with unruly black hair and bounding energy."
McKinnon was first elected to the House of Representatives
in 1948, defeating Republican incumbent Charles K. Fletcher
, founder of Home Federal Savings and Loan. During the campaign McKinnon hogged the stage for 15 minutes keeping President Truman
from speaking to the crowd waiting for him. Later in Washington, McKinnon apologized to Truman, and Truman glared back at McKinnon, then said: "Well, you got elected, didn't you? That's the only thing that matters."
McKinnon served until 1953. In Congress he fought for water projects for San Diego. Gordon Luce, then the California Republican Party Chairman, said that he was a bright and hard-working leader that even political opponents respected. In 1952, instead of running for reelection, he ran for the Democratic nomination for Senator
against better-known Republican Senator Bill Knowland
. Candidates could run in multiple party primaries under old California elections laws, and Knowland won both the Republican and Democratic primaries. Since the Congressional districts were redrawn in 1952, McKinnon was the last Representative to serve all of San Diego County. McKinnon was a delegate to Democratic National Conventions in 1952 and 1956.
McKinnon would rather be known as a journalist than a politician. His other ventures included the La Jolla Light, Coronado Journal, and radio station KSDJ (now KCBQ
).
McKinnon died 2001 in La Jolla, California.
His son Michael D. is the majority stockholder in McKinnon Broadcasting
, owner of San Diego Home & Garden Lifestyles Magazine, and a former Texas state legislator (1972-1976). His son C. Dan was the former owner of KSON
radio, is a minority stockholder in McKinnon Broadcasting, and now national campaign chairman of Duncan Hunter
for President in 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
from San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
McKinnon was born 1906 in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
to Dr. John and Tennie McKinnon. He was 12 and the only child when his father died and his mother, a nurse, raised him. He graduated from Palo Alto High School
Palo Alto High School
Palo Alto Senior High School, known locally as "Paly," was founded in 1898 and is one of the oldest high schools in the region. Located in Palo Alto, California, United States, Paly is nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, and is adjacent to Stanford University. Paly is known for its academically...
, Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
. McKinnon attended Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1924, attended the University of Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
in 1930, and received a BA from University of Redlands
University of Redlands
The University of Redlands is a private liberal arts and sciences university located in Redlands, California. The university's campus sits on near downtown Redlands. The university was founded in 1907 and was associated with the American Baptist Church. The land for the university was donated by...
in 1930.
McKinnon and his wife Lucille had two sons, Clinton Daniel (Dan) and Michael Dean (Mike), and a daughter Connie.
McKinnon was a journalist and owned newspapers in Texas and California. He started local "throw-away" newspapers and sold ads to local merchants.
He organized the only daily newspaper to begin during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the San Diego Daily Journal in 1944, by stringing together several throwaways. The Journal competed with the much-larger San Diego Tribune
The San Diego Union-Tribune
-Predecessors:The predecessor newspapers of the Union-Tribune were:* San Diego Sun, founded 1861 and merged with the Evening Tribune in 1939.* San Diego Union, founded October 10, 1868.* Evening Tribune, founded December 2, 1895.-Ownership:...
. This was possible because the Democratic Roosevelt administration allocated newsprint, then under ration, to the Journal to compete with the Republican Tribune. Other Journal alumni included Tribune editor and columnist Neil Morgan and Congressman Lionel Van Deerlin
Lionel Van Deerlin
Lionel Van Deerlin was an American politician who served as a Democratic United States Representative from California from 1963 to 1981, representing a San Diego area district.-Biography:...
. Van Deerlin recalled:
- "He was one of the guys-very different from your standard publisher. At the company picnics, he would be pitching softballs. He would come through the newsroom and he would know the names of your kids and which ones had been sick."
McKinnon sold the paper in 1947, before running for Congress, and it was eventually absorbed into the Tribune.
Time Magazine described McKinnon as: "a jockey-sized little fireball with unruly black hair and bounding energy."
McKinnon was first elected to the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1948, defeating Republican incumbent Charles K. Fletcher
Charles K. Fletcher
Charles Kimball Fletcher was a Republican politician from San Diego, California.Fletcher was born 1902 to "Colonel" Ed Fletcher and Mary C...
, founder of Home Federal Savings and Loan. During the campaign McKinnon hogged the stage for 15 minutes keeping President Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
from speaking to the crowd waiting for him. Later in Washington, McKinnon apologized to Truman, and Truman glared back at McKinnon, then said: "Well, you got elected, didn't you? That's the only thing that matters."
McKinnon served until 1953. In Congress he fought for water projects for San Diego. Gordon Luce, then the California Republican Party Chairman, said that he was a bright and hard-working leader that even political opponents respected. In 1952, instead of running for reelection, he ran for the Democratic nomination for Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
against better-known Republican Senator Bill Knowland
William F. Knowland
William Fife Knowland was a United States politician, newspaperman, and Republican Party leader. He was a U.S. Senator representing California from 1945 to 1959. He served as Senate Majority Leader from 1953-1955, and as Minority Leader from 1955-1959. He was defeated in his 1958 run for...
. Candidates could run in multiple party primaries under old California elections laws, and Knowland won both the Republican and Democratic primaries. Since the Congressional districts were redrawn in 1952, McKinnon was the last Representative to serve all of San Diego County. McKinnon was a delegate to Democratic National Conventions in 1952 and 1956.
McKinnon would rather be known as a journalist than a politician. His other ventures included the La Jolla Light, Coronado Journal, and radio station KSDJ (now KCBQ
KCBQ
KCBQ is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format and is owned by Salem Communications. The station offers Conservative talk programming such as Mike Gallagher, Dennis Prager and Michael Medved...
).
McKinnon died 2001 in La Jolla, California.
His son Michael D. is the majority stockholder in McKinnon Broadcasting
McKinnon Broadcasting
McKinnon Broadcasting Company is a privately owned television broadcasting company based in San Diego, California. Michael Dean McKinnon Sr...
, owner of San Diego Home & Garden Lifestyles Magazine, and a former Texas state legislator (1972-1976). His son C. Dan was the former owner of KSON
KNSN
KNSN is a radio station licensed to serve San Diego, California, USA. The station is owned by Multi Cultural Broadcasting Inc.It broadcasts a Spanish Music format.-History:...
radio, is a minority stockholder in McKinnon Broadcasting, and now national campaign chairman of Duncan Hunter
Duncan Hunter
Duncan Lee Hunter is an American politician. He was a Republican member of the House of Representatives from California's 52nd, 45th and 42nd districts from 1981 to 2009....
for President in 2008.
See also
- Bowman-Lamb, Molly. Clinton McKinnon and The New Voice for San Diego: San Diego Journal, History thesis, University of San Diego, 1996.
- "Member of Congress, newspaper owner dies. He was last representative of entire county of San Diego", The San Diego Union-Tribune, December 30, 2001, by Steve La Rue. Obituary includes portrait.
- "Out of the Valley", November 2, 1942, and "PM for Post Mortem", March 22, 1948, Time magazine
External links
- Bioguide (U.S. Congress)
- "Chapter 4: The City—the End of One Civic Dream", History of San Diego (1977) by Richard Pourade. Describes Journal during the war.