Joseph Montoya
Encyclopedia
Joseph Manuel Montoya was a Democratic
U.S. Senator for the State
of New Mexico
from 1964 until 1977.
. His parents, Thomas and Frances Montoya, were Roman Catholic descendants of eighteenth-century Spanish
settler
s to New Mexico. He received his early education in public schools in Sandoval County
and graduated from Bernalillo High School
in 1931. He continued his education at Regis College
in Denver, Colorado
. In 1934 he began law school at Georgetown University
in Washington, D.C.
.
. In Congress Montoya gained a recognition as a political moderate, a dedicated Democrat, and a diligent legislator — qualities that earned him the esteem of his fellow legislators and made him an effective congressman. In 1962 he defeated Republican Jack Redman, also an Albuquerque High School
alum.http://www.jstor.org/pss/444959 In 1963 he became a member of the House Appropriations Committee. He was a strong advocate of education measures and soon authored the Vocational Education Act. In 1964 he sponsored the Wilderness Act
, which protected wilderness areas. Montoya won the 1964 Senate
election to complete the term of Dennis Chavez
, who died in office despite the fact the Governor of New Mexico, Edwin L. Mechem
, had resigned the governorship in order fill the seat temporarily. Thus began an eleven year career in the Senate, where he served on the Appropriations Committee; the Public Works Committee; the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy; and most memorably, the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, popularly known as the Senate Watergate Committee.
In 1976 Montoya was defeated by Republican Harrison Schmitt
by over 16 points.
Montoya spent the next two years primarily helping Senator Pete Domenici
to keep the federal installations in New Mexico open. Montoya died in Washington, D.C. at the age of 62.
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...
U.S. Senator for the State
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
from 1964 until 1977.
Education
Montoya was born in Peña Blanca, New MexicoPena Blanca, New Mexico
Peña Blanca is a census-designated place in Sandoval County, New Mexico, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 661. It is part of the Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. His parents, Thomas and Frances Montoya, were Roman Catholic descendants of eighteenth-century Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
settler
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
s to New Mexico. He received his early education in public schools in Sandoval County
Sandoval County, New Mexico
-Indian reservations:Sandoval County has 12 Indian reservations and two joint-use areas lying within its borders, the second most of any county in the United States -Indian reservations:Sandoval County has 12 Indian reservations and two joint-use areas lying within its borders, the second most of...
and graduated from Bernalillo High School
Bernalillo High School
Bernalillo High School is a public high hchool in Bernalillo, New Mexico, US. The school is a part of the Bernalillo Public School District and is the only high school in the district. The mascot is the Spartan.*Senior Class President: Maria Monclova...
in 1931. He continued his education at Regis College
Regis University
Regis University is a private, co-educational Roman Catholic, Jesuit university in the United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1877, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. In 1934 he began law school at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
Later life & career
In 1936 at age 21, while Montoya was still at Georgetown, he became the youngest representative in the history of the state to be elected to the New Mexico State House of Representatives. In 1938 Montoya graduated from law school and was reelected. The following year he was elected the Democratic majority floor leaderNew Mexico state election
Montoya continued his political ascent with his election to the New Mexico State Senate in 1940, once again becoming the youngest member of that body ever elected. By the time he left the Senate in 1946, Montoya had been twice reelected to the State Senate and held the positions of majority whip and Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. From 1947 to 1957 he was elected Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico three times and also served two additional terms in the State Senate.US Election
In 1957 Montoya was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election after the sudden death of the recently reelected New Mexican Congressman Antonio M. FernándezAntonio M. Fernández
Antonio Manuel Fernández was a United States Representative from New Mexico. He was born in Springer, New Mexico where he attended the public schools, and Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico...
. In Congress Montoya gained a recognition as a political moderate, a dedicated Democrat, and a diligent legislator — qualities that earned him the esteem of his fellow legislators and made him an effective congressman. In 1962 he defeated Republican Jack Redman, also an Albuquerque High School
Albuquerque High School
Albuquerque High School is a public senior high school near Downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is a part of the Albuquerque Public School district. Enrollment at AHS stands at 1,803.-History:...
alum.http://www.jstor.org/pss/444959 In 1963 he became a member of the House Appropriations Committee. He was a strong advocate of education measures and soon authored the Vocational Education Act. In 1964 he sponsored the Wilderness Act
Wilderness Act
The Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...
, which protected wilderness areas. Montoya won the 1964 Senate
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...
election to complete the term of Dennis Chavez
Dennis Chavez
Dionisio "Dennis" Chavez was a Democratic politician from the U.S. State of New Mexico who served in the United States House of Representatives, and in the United States Senate from 1935 to 1962.-Early life:...
, who died in office despite the fact the Governor of New Mexico, Edwin L. Mechem
Edwin L. Mechem
Edwin Leard Mechem was a prominent Republican politician from New Mexico. He served as the 15th, 17th and 19th Governor of New Mexico and represented the state in the United States Senate...
, had resigned the governorship in order fill the seat temporarily. Thus began an eleven year career in the Senate, where he served on the Appropriations Committee; the Public Works Committee; the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy; and most memorably, the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, popularly known as the Senate Watergate Committee.
Successes
Montoya's most important accomplishment was his work on the Senate Agriculture Committee, where he gained expertise concerning the inspection and regulation of the meat packing industry. This led to an interest in consumer safety and health. He authored numerous pieces of legislation aimed at eliminating unsanitary conditions in the meat packing industry, including the Wholesome Meat Act of 1967, the Wholesome Poultry Act of 1968 and the Clean Hot Dog Act of 1974.Beliefs and other work
Montoya also worked on behalf of civil rights, education, health care, alien workers. In the health-care area he supported medicare, medicaid, and introduced a bill to provide bilingual training for those in the health care professions. Montoya also supported environmental protection and programs to assist the elderly. His positions on the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy and the Senate Appropriations Committee allowed him to have a strong influence on maintenance of the federal installations in New Mexico.In 1976 Montoya was defeated by Republican Harrison Schmitt
Harrison Schmitt
Harrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt is an American geologist, a retired NASA astronaut, university professor, and a former U.S. senator from New Mexico....
by over 16 points.
Montoya spent the next two years primarily helping Senator Pete Domenici
Pete Domenici
Pietro Vichi "Pete" Domenici is an American Republican politician, who served six terms as a United States Senator from New Mexico, from 1973 to 2009, the longest tenure in the state's history....
to keep the federal installations in New Mexico open. Montoya died in Washington, D.C. at the age of 62.
External links
- Inventory of the Joseph M. Montoya Papers, 1913-1977, Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico.