James P. Gleason
Encyclopedia
James P. Gleason was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1921 and received a law degree from Georgetown University in 1950. He served as a legislative assistant to Senator Richard Nixon
, administrative assistant to Senator Knowland, consultant to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Assistant Administrator of NASA
, and as a member of many other task forces and committees. He was also chairman of both the Washington Suburban Transit Commission and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
. In 1968, he was appointed to the Montgomery County
Council, and in 1970, Gleason, a Republican, was elected as the first Montgomery County Executive in an overwhelmingly Democratic district.
Gleason's tenure was marked by an extensive reorganization of County government in 1972 and by conflicts with the County Council and County citizens. Loath to compromise, he threatened to withhold Montgomery County funds from Washington Metro
, which he had helped plan and which he avidly supported, unless it promised to build two lines into the County. He refused to play party politics, and instead appointed department heads and staff with an even-handedness based on merit. In 1978, despite assured reelection, he announced his retirement from politics to pursue a writing career.
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
, administrative assistant to Senator Knowland, consultant to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Assistant Administrator of NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, and as a member of many other task forces and committees. He was also chairman of both the Washington Suburban Transit Commission and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is a tri-jurisdictional government agency that operates transit service in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess...
. In 1968, he was appointed to the Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
Council, and in 1970, Gleason, a Republican, was elected as the first Montgomery County Executive in an overwhelmingly Democratic district.
Gleason's tenure was marked by an extensive reorganization of County government in 1972 and by conflicts with the County Council and County citizens. Loath to compromise, he threatened to withhold Montgomery County funds from Washington Metro
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
, which he had helped plan and which he avidly supported, unless it promised to build two lines into the County. He refused to play party politics, and instead appointed department heads and staff with an even-handedness based on merit. In 1978, despite assured reelection, he announced his retirement from politics to pursue a writing career.