Joseph McGahn
Encyclopedia
Dr. Joseph Leo McGahn was an American
obstetrician and Democratic Party
politician from New Jersey
who served for six years in the New Jersey Senate
from 1972 to 1978, where he was a key figure in bringing casino gambling to Atlantic City
.
, graduating summa cum laude in 1939 and was awarded his Doctor of Medicine
degree in 1943 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
. After graduating from medical school, he served as a general surgeon in the United States Army Medical Corps
during World War II
.
After returning from military service, he practiced internal medicine
and surgery in Atlantic City. Starting in 1951, he began a specialty in obstetrics
and gynecology.
City Council and as its mayor. He won the Democratic primary for State Senate in 1971 in the district, in which registered Republican Party
heavily outnumbered Democrats, and ran for office without the support of the local Democratic Party leadership. On Election Day, November 3, 1971, McGahn defeated incumbent Frank S. Farley
, who had served a total of 34 years in the New Jersey Legislature
, to win a seat in the New Jersey Senate, in a race in which McGahn focused on corruption, in the wake of federal investigation of the Republican Party machine in Atlantic City.
Shortly after taking office, McGahn was the cosponsor of a bill to bring casino gambling to New Jersey. He was described by The New York Times
as the "principal architect" of legislation that brought casino gambling to Atlantic City. He also pushed for the creation of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission
, considered the most rigorous casino enforcement agency at the time.
He ran for office again in 1973, again winning without support of the Democratic establishment. While in the Senate, he served as chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Energy and the Environment.
In 1974, McGahn pushed for legislation granting exemptions to healthcare institutions from a requirement to provide abortions or sterilizations if they objected on religious or moral grounds. The bill passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Brendan Byrne
despite his feelings that the legislation "may have gone too far,"
Party leadership at the Democratic convention in 1977 roundly supported Steven P. Perskie
, a Democratic member of the New Jersey General Assembly
, by a margin of 266 to 77. McGahn ran in the general election as an independent, with Perskie beating both McGahn and Republican candidate Frederick Perone. Both McGahn and Perskie had won election to the Legislature in 1971, despite the Republicans 4-1 edge in registration.
In 1981, McGahn ran for and won the Republican primary, and again challenged Perskie in the general election. Perskie won reelection with 29,151 votes, defeating McGahn, who received 28,149.
. From 1984 to 1989, he became medical director at Resorts International
.
On September 27, 1995, the South Jersey Transportation Authority
named the bridge connecting the Atlantic City Expressway
with local Atlantic City streets in honor of McGahn.
McGahn had been a longtime resident of Absecon, New Jersey
. He died on December 24, 1999 at Meadowview Nursing Home in Northfield, New Jersey
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
obstetrician and Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
who served for six years in the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
from 1972 to 1978, where he was a key figure in bringing casino gambling to Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
.
Education and medical career
McGahn was born in Atlantic City. He attended St. Mary's College of MarylandSt. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's College of Maryland, established in 1840, is a public, secular liberal arts college located in St. Mary's City, Maryland. It is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges and designated as a Public Honors College . St. Mary's College is a small college, with about 2,000...
, graduating summa cum laude in 1939 and was awarded his Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree in 1943 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is a medical school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. The School of Medicine is also known as Pitt Med, and is ranked as a “top medical school” by U.S. News & World Report in the publication's categories of research and primary care...
. After graduating from medical school, he served as a general surgeon in the United States Army Medical Corps
Medical Corps (United States Army)
The Medical Corps of the U.S. Army is a staff corps of the U.S. Army Medical Department consisting of commissioned medical officers – physicians with either an MD or a DO degree, at least one year of post-graduate clinical training, and a state medical license.The MC traces its earliest origins...
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...
.
After returning from military service, he practiced internal medicine
Internal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
and surgery in Atlantic City. Starting in 1951, he began a specialty in obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
and gynecology.
Legislative career
McGahn served on the Absecon, New JerseyAbsecon, New Jersey
Absecon is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 8,411.What is now the City of Absecon was originally incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 29, 1872, from portions of Egg Harbor...
City Council and as its mayor. He won the Democratic primary for State Senate in 1971 in the district, in which registered Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
heavily outnumbered Democrats, and ran for office without the support of the local Democratic Party leadership. On Election Day, November 3, 1971, McGahn defeated incumbent Frank S. Farley
Frank S. Farley
Francis Sherman "Hap" Farley was a New Jersey State Senator from Atlantic County, New Jersey who exercised considerable power on the local and state levels for several decades...
, who had served a total of 34 years in the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
, to win a seat in the New Jersey Senate, in a race in which McGahn focused on corruption, in the wake of federal investigation of the Republican Party machine in Atlantic City.
Shortly after taking office, McGahn was the cosponsor of a bill to bring casino gambling to New Jersey. He was described by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
as the "principal architect" of legislation that brought casino gambling to Atlantic City. He also pushed for the creation of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission
New Jersey Casino Control Commission
The Casino Control Commission is a New Jersey state governmental agency that was founded in 1977 as the state's gaming control board, responsible for administering the Casino Control Act and its regulations to assure public trust and confidence in the credibility and integrity of the casino...
, considered the most rigorous casino enforcement agency at the time.
He ran for office again in 1973, again winning without support of the Democratic establishment. While in the Senate, he served as chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Energy and the Environment.
In 1974, McGahn pushed for legislation granting exemptions to healthcare institutions from a requirement to provide abortions or sterilizations if they objected on religious or moral grounds. The bill passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Brendan Byrne
Brendan Byrne
Brendan Thomas Byrne is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served as the 47th Governor of New Jersey, from 1974 to 1982.-Early life and education:...
despite his feelings that the legislation "may have gone too far,"
Party leadership at the Democratic convention in 1977 roundly supported Steven P. Perskie
Steven P. Perskie
Steven P. Perskie is a former New Jersey Superior Court judge in Atlantic City, New Jersey and a former Democratic Party politician from Margate, New Jersey. Perskie served as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 2nd legislative district from 1971 to 1977. He was...
, a Democratic member of the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
, by a margin of 266 to 77. McGahn ran in the general election as an independent, with Perskie beating both McGahn and Republican candidate Frederick Perone. Both McGahn and Perskie had won election to the Legislature in 1971, despite the Republicans 4-1 edge in registration.
In 1981, McGahn ran for and won the Republican primary, and again challenged Perskie in the general election. Perskie won reelection with 29,151 votes, defeating McGahn, who received 28,149.
After the legislature
Both before and after his service in the legislature, he worked at the Atlantic City Medical Center, specializing in emergency medicineEmergency medicine
Emergency medicine is a medical specialty in which physicians care for patients with acute illnesses or injuries which require immediate medical attention. While not usually providing long-term or continuing care, emergency medicine physicians diagnose a variety of illnesses and undertake acute...
. From 1984 to 1989, he became medical director at Resorts International
Resorts Atlantic City
Not to be confused with the Las Vegas, Nevada based casino/resort operator Resorts International Holdings.Resorts Casino Hotel is a hotel and casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Resorts was the first casino hotel in Atlantic City, becoming the first legal casino outside of Nevada in the United...
.
On September 27, 1995, the South Jersey Transportation Authority
South Jersey Transportation Authority
The South Jersey Transportation Authority is a quasi-private agency created by the New Jersey Legislature in 1991 to manage transportation-related services in the six South Jersey counties: Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem....
named the bridge connecting the Atlantic City Expressway
Atlantic City Expressway
The Atlantic City Expressway is a , controlled-access toll road in New Jersey, managed and operated by the South Jersey Transportation Authority...
with local Atlantic City streets in honor of McGahn.
McGahn had been a longtime resident of Absecon, New Jersey
Absecon, New Jersey
Absecon is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 8,411.What is now the City of Absecon was originally incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 29, 1872, from portions of Egg Harbor...
. He died on December 24, 1999 at Meadowview Nursing Home in Northfield, New Jersey
Northfield, New Jersey
Northfield is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 8,624.Northfield was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 21, 1905, from portions of Egg Harbor Township...
.