John V. Tunney
Encyclopedia
John Varick Tunney is a former Democratic Party United States Senator
and Representative
.
and Connecticut socialite Polly Lauder Tunney
.
Tunney graduated from Yale University
, where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall
, in 1956. He attended the Hague Academy of International Law
in the Netherlands
and graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law
in 1959, where he was a roommate of future Massachusetts senator Ted Kennedy
, who remained a close friend. Tunney was admitted to the Virginia
and New York
bars in 1959 and practiced law in New York City
.
Tunney joined the United States Air Force
as a judge advocate and served until he was discharged as a captain in April 1963. He taught business law at the University of California, Riverside
in 1961 and 1962. In 1963 he was admitted to practice law in California
. He was a special adviser to the President's Committee on Juvenile Delinquency and Youth Crime from 1963 until 1968.
In 1964, Tunney was elected as a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 38th Congressional District (Riverside
and Imperial
counties). He served from January 3, 1965 until his resignation on January 2, 1971.
, who represented a congressional district that bordered Tunney's district in the Riverside - San Bernardino area of California. One of the key issues was the military draft. While Brown and Tunney both questioned the continuing and expanding U.S. involvement in Vietnam, Brown opposed continuing the military draft while Tunney favored it. This conflict allowed incumbent Republican George Murphy
to gain a lead in the early polls. However, Murphy was in his late 60s and his speaking voice was reduced to a gravelly whisper from throat cancer while Tunney was youthful and energetic, blatantly comparing himself with Robert F. Kennedy, largely through haircut and poses, on the campaign trail. California's growing population was becoming more aware, and Murphy's staunch support for the Vietnam War also hurt his support. As the general election approached, Tunney overtook Murphy in the polls. Ultimately, Californians split their ticket in the 1970 mid-term election, easily re-electing Republican governor Ronald Reagan
and easily electing Democrat Tunney to the Senate.
Tunney was elected in 1970 to the U.S. Senate for a six year term. He was renominated in 1976 despite a high-profile challenge from his left in the form of Tom Hayden
. That fall, Tunney was defeated for re-election in by Republican S. I. "Sam" Hayakawa
, the President of San Francisco State University, who had never held elected office. Hayakawa ran as an outsider, and highlighted Tunney's numerous travels, missed Senate votes, and poor Senate attendance record during the campaign. Still, Tunney led in the polls right up to election night, despite a steadily shrinking lead as the campaign wore on. Despite Democrat Jimmy Carter
's victory in the Presidential election, Tunney lost to Hayakawa in a mild upset (it is to be noted that Republican Gerald Ford
carried California in the Presidential election). Tunney resigned his Senate seat on January 1, 1977, two days before his term was to officially expire, to allow Hayakawa to have seniority over other incoming Senators.
During his Senate term, Tunney produced a weekly radio report to California, in which he often interviewed other legislators. In 1974, he also authored an anti-trust bill known as the Tunney Act
.
Tunney would later write a book, The Changing Dream
.
Other than appearing at a Los Angeles, California campaign fund-raiser in 1980 at the Biltmore Hotel for then Massachusetts U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who was running for the Democratic presidential nomination against President Jimmy Carter, after his U.S. Senate defeat in 1976, Tunney played little role in politics, focusing instead on law practice and service on corporate boards. However, in both 1980 and 1983, Tunney served as a liaison between Ted Kennedy and the KGB during two trips to Moscow. In both cases, Tunney relayed to the Communist leadership that Kennedy felt that the Soviets were being misunderstood and were being unfairly cast in a negative light by President Carter in 1980 and President Reagan in 1983, and that Soviet leadership needed to take a more active role in convincing the American public that they were a benign force for peace in the world (Kennedy volunteered to assist the Soviets in this effort). In February 2003, Tunney joined with other former Senators, including George McGovern
and Fred Harris
, in opposing a war with Iraq
.
Tunney's successful Senate race in 1970 is reportedly the inspiration for the 1972 Robert Redford
film The Candidate
on which the writer Jeremy Larner and director Michael Ritchie
based the film. (Projecting Politics: Political Messages in American Films by Terry Christensen and Peter Hass, page 146)
After he left the Senate, Tunney was a news commentator, and a named partner at the Los Angeles law firm then known as Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg & Tunney
from 1976 until he left in early 1987 to pursue his personal business activities.
Son Mark Tunney works in the financial industry.
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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...
and Representative
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...
.
Biography
He is the son of the famous heavyweight boxing champion Gene TunneyGene Tunney
James Joseph "Gene" Tunney was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1926-1928 who defeated Jack Dempsey twice, first in 1926 and then in 1927. Tunney's successful title defense against Dempsey is one of the most famous bouts in boxing history and is known as The Long Count Fight...
and Connecticut socialite Polly Lauder Tunney
Polly Lauder Tunney
Polly Lauder Tunney was an American philanthropist and Connecticut socialite. An heiress of Andrew Carnegie, Tunney drew international fame during the 1920s for her secret romance and subsequent marriage to world heavyweight boxing champion Gene Tunney. They had four children, including John V....
.
Tunney graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall
St. Anthony Hall
St. Anthony Hall, also known as Saint Anthony Hall and The Order of St. Anthony, is a national college literary society also known as the Fraternity of Delta Psi at colleges in the United States of America. St...
, in 1956. He attended the Hague Academy of International Law
Hague Academy of International Law
The Hague Academy of International Law is a center for high-level education in both public and private international law housed in the Peace Palace in The Hague, The Netherlands...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
in 1959, where he was a roommate of future Massachusetts senator Ted Kennedy
Ted Kennedy
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. Serving almost 47 years, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history...
, who remained a close friend. Tunney was admitted to the Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
bars in 1959 and practiced law in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Tunney joined the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
as a judge advocate and served until he was discharged as a captain in April 1963. He taught business law at the University of California, Riverside
University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United...
in 1961 and 1962. In 1963 he was admitted to practice law in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was a special adviser to the President's Committee on Juvenile Delinquency and Youth Crime from 1963 until 1968.
In 1964, Tunney was elected as a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 38th Congressional District (Riverside
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
and Imperial
Imperial County, California
Imperial County is a county located in the Imperial Valley, in the far southeast of the U.S. state of California, bordering both Arizona and Mexico. It is part of the El Centro Metropolitan Area, which encompasses all of Imperial County. The population as of 2000 was 142,361. The county seat is the...
counties). He served from January 3, 1965 until his resignation on January 2, 1971.
United States Senator
In one of the most bitter primary campaigns in California history, Tunney defeated fellow Congressman George Brown, Jr.George Brown, Jr.
George Edward Brown, Jr. was an American politician. He was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1963 to 1971 and from 1973 to 1999, representing Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties in California.-Background:Brown was born in Holtville, California...
, who represented a congressional district that bordered Tunney's district in the Riverside - San Bernardino area of California. One of the key issues was the military draft. While Brown and Tunney both questioned the continuing and expanding U.S. involvement in Vietnam, Brown opposed continuing the military draft while Tunney favored it. This conflict allowed incumbent Republican George Murphy
George Murphy
George Lloyd Murphy was an American dancer, actor, and politician.-Life and career:He was born in New Haven, Connecticut of Irish Catholic extraction, the son of Michael Charles "Mike" Murphy, athletic trainer and coach, and Nora Long. He was educated at Peddie School, Trinity-Pawling School, and...
to gain a lead in the early polls. However, Murphy was in his late 60s and his speaking voice was reduced to a gravelly whisper from throat cancer while Tunney was youthful and energetic, blatantly comparing himself with Robert F. Kennedy, largely through haircut and poses, on the campaign trail. California's growing population was becoming more aware, and Murphy's staunch support for the Vietnam War also hurt his support. As the general election approached, Tunney overtook Murphy in the polls. Ultimately, Californians split their ticket in the 1970 mid-term election, easily re-electing Republican governor Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and easily electing Democrat Tunney to the Senate.
Tunney was elected in 1970 to the U.S. Senate for a six year term. He was renominated in 1976 despite a high-profile challenge from his left in the form of Tom Hayden
Tom Hayden
Thomas Emmet "Tom" Hayden is an American social and political activist and politician, known for his involvement in the animal rights, and the anti-war and civil rights movements of the 1960s. He is the former husband of actress Jane Fonda and the father of actor Troy Garity.-Life and...
. That fall, Tunney was defeated for re-election in by Republican S. I. "Sam" Hayakawa
S. I. Hayakawa
Samuel Ichiye Hayakawa was a Canadian-born American academic and political figure of Japanese ancestry. He was an English professor, and served as president of San Francisco State University and then as United States Senator from California from 1977 to 1983...
, the President of San Francisco State University, who had never held elected office. Hayakawa ran as an outsider, and highlighted Tunney's numerous travels, missed Senate votes, and poor Senate attendance record during the campaign. Still, Tunney led in the polls right up to election night, despite a steadily shrinking lead as the campaign wore on. Despite Democrat Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
's victory in the Presidential election, Tunney lost to Hayakawa in a mild upset (it is to be noted that Republican Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
carried California in the Presidential election). Tunney resigned his Senate seat on January 1, 1977, two days before his term was to officially expire, to allow Hayakawa to have seniority over other incoming Senators.
During his Senate term, Tunney produced a weekly radio report to California, in which he often interviewed other legislators. In 1974, he also authored an anti-trust bill known as the Tunney Act
Tunney Act
The Tunney Act, officially known as the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act , is anti-trust legislation passed in the United States in 1974....
.
Tunney would later write a book, The Changing Dream
The Changing Dream
The Changing Dream is the book that was written by the former United States Senator and Representative John V. Tunney, who was the son of the 1926 to 1928 heavyweight boxing champion, Gene Tunney....
.
Other than appearing at a Los Angeles, California campaign fund-raiser in 1980 at the Biltmore Hotel for then Massachusetts U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who was running for the Democratic presidential nomination against President Jimmy Carter, after his U.S. Senate defeat in 1976, Tunney played little role in politics, focusing instead on law practice and service on corporate boards. However, in both 1980 and 1983, Tunney served as a liaison between Ted Kennedy and the KGB during two trips to Moscow. In both cases, Tunney relayed to the Communist leadership that Kennedy felt that the Soviets were being misunderstood and were being unfairly cast in a negative light by President Carter in 1980 and President Reagan in 1983, and that Soviet leadership needed to take a more active role in convincing the American public that they were a benign force for peace in the world (Kennedy volunteered to assist the Soviets in this effort). In February 2003, Tunney joined with other former Senators, including George McGovern
George McGovern
George Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
and Fred Harris
Fred R. Harris
Fred Roy Harris is a former Democratic United States Senator from the state of Oklahoma. He served from 1964 until 1973.-Biography:...
, in opposing a war with Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Tunney's successful Senate race in 1970 is reportedly the inspiration for the 1972 Robert Redford
Robert Redford
Charles Robert Redford, Jr. , better known as Robert Redford, is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He has received two Oscars: one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime...
film The Candidate
The Candidate (1972 film)
The Candidate is a 1972 American film starring Robert Redford. Its themes include how the political machine corrupts. There are many parallels between the then-recent 1970 California Senate election between John V. Tunney and George Murphy; however, Redford's character Bill McKay is a political...
on which the writer Jeremy Larner and director Michael Ritchie
Michael Ritchie (film director)
Michael Brunswick Ritchie was an American film director.Ritchie was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the son of Patricia and Benbow Ferguson Ritchie...
based the film. (Projecting Politics: Political Messages in American Films by Terry Christensen and Peter Hass, page 146)
After he left the Senate, Tunney was a news commentator, and a named partner at the Los Angeles law firm then known as Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg & Tunney
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP is a Los Angeles-based law firm of more than 400 attorneys and other professionals founded in 1965. The firm earned revenues of nearly $260 million in 2010...
from 1976 until he left in early 1987 to pursue his personal business activities.
Personal life
On May 22, 1972, Dutch-born Mieke Tunney, 35, sued for dissolution of her 13-year marriage to California's Democratic Senator John V. Tunney, on the basis of irreconcilable differences. In addition to alimony, child support and half the community property, she requested custody of their three children. Tunney, claiming surprise, hurried back from California to see Mieke in Washington. Washington, equally surprised, prepared to get along without one of its most glamorous couples. They were married on February 5, 1959.Son Mark Tunney works in the financial industry.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,944630,00.html#ixzz1MR9rEZnR
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,879089,00.html#ixzz1MR8cw7GZ