Lawrence Joseph DeNardis
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Joseph DeNardis (b. March 18, 1938) is a former U.S. Congressman and university president.
, on March 18, 1938; graduated from Hamden High School
, Hamden, Connecticut
, in 1956 and received a B.A. from Holy Cross College
in 1960, an M.A. and a Ph.D. from New York University
, in 1964 and 1989, respectively.
. He was President of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges in 1979-1980 after serving in the Connecticut State Senate from 1970 to 1979.
landslide as a Republican
to the Ninety-seventh United States Congress (January 3, 1981-January 3, 1983), defeating then-State Senator Joe Lieberman
to win a seat that had been held for 22 years by Democrat
Robert Giaimo
.
During his term in Congress DeNardis was known as a moderate "Gypsy Moth
" Republican. He was narrowly upset in a 1982 mid-term election characterized by voter anger over a poor economy and the strong grassroots campaign by Democrat Bruce Morrison
, a Bill Clinton
classmate at Yale Law School
. Morrison also won a rematch against DeNardis in 1984, with Reagan again at the top of the ticket.
He joined the University of New Haven
as President, serving in that position from 1991 to 2004 before becoming President Emeritus. He led a great expansion of programs and facilities during his tenure as the University's President, including substantial international programs, and has participated in international election monitoring missions. Since retiring as university president, he has continued to serve as a member of the faculty, teaching national security policy. He also is chairman of the Institute for New Democracies
, a nongovernmental organization that advises evolving democracies. He has been an independent election observer in central Asia
n countries, and in December 2009 was an advisor to the Democratic League of Kosovo
(LDK) as it participated in local elections in Kosovo
.
He announced on January 12, 2010, that he was forming an exploratory committee to run for Governor of Connecticut in 2010 as a Republican.
Early life and education
DeNardis was born in New Haven, ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, on March 18, 1938; graduated from Hamden High School
Hamden High School
Hamden High School is a four year high school for grades 9 through 12. It is located at 2040 Dixwell Avenue in Hamden, Connecticut. It is part of the Hamden Public School System and is the only public high school within the town of Hamden....
, Hamden, Connecticut
Hamden, Connecticut
Hamden is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant." Hamden is home to Quinnipiac University. The population was 58,180 according to the Census Bureau's 2005 estimates...
, in 1956 and received a B.A. from Holy Cross College
Holy Cross College
Holy Cross College may refer to:*Holy Cross College , Bangladesh*Holy Cross College , in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States*Holy Cross College , Western Province, Sri Lanka*Holy Cross College...
in 1960, an M.A. and a Ph.D. from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, in 1964 and 1989, respectively.
After graduation
He served in the United States Naval Reserve, 1960–1963 and was associate professor at Albertus Magnus CollegeAlbertus Magnus College
Albertus Magnus College is a small private liberal arts college in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. It is located about two miles from the central campus of Yale University in a residential area near the border with Hamden. The neighborhood is on Prospect Street just above Edgerton park and...
. He was President of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges in 1979-1980 after serving in the Connecticut State Senate from 1970 to 1979.
Election and congressional service
DeNardis was elected in the 1980 Ronald ReaganRonald 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....
landslide as a Republican
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...
to the Ninety-seventh United States Congress (January 3, 1981-January 3, 1983), defeating then-State Senator Joe Lieberman
Joe Lieberman
Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman is the senior United States Senator from Connecticut. A former member of the Democratic Party, he was the party's nominee for Vice President in the 2000 election. Currently an independent, he remains closely affiliated with the party.Born in Stamford, Connecticut,...
to win a seat that had been held for 22 years by Democrat
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...
Robert Giaimo
Robert Giaimo
Robert Nicholas Giaimo was a Democratic US Representative from Connecticut. He co-sponsored the legislation creating the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities...
.
During his term in Congress DeNardis was known as a moderate "Gypsy Moth
Gypsy moth Republican
A Gypsy moth Republican, informally, is a politically pejorative term used by conservative Republicans to describe a moderate Republican serving in the U.S. House of Representatives who happens to represent a northeastern or midwestern urban area of the U.S....
" Republican. He was narrowly upset in a 1982 mid-term election characterized by voter anger over a poor economy and the strong grassroots campaign by Democrat Bruce Morrison
Bruce Morrison
Bruce Andrew Morrison is a former Congressman from Connecticut and candidate for Governor of Connecticut. He is a lobbyist and immigration lawyer...
, a Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
classmate at Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
. Morrison also won a rematch against DeNardis in 1984, with Reagan again at the top of the ticket.
After Congress
After losing the 1984 election, DeNardis was given a political appointment in the Reagan Administration, serving as assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 1985 to 1987.He joined the University of New Haven
University of New Haven
The University of New Haven is a private university that combines a liberal arts education with professional training. The university comprises five colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the Tagliatela College of Engineering, the Henry C...
as President, serving in that position from 1991 to 2004 before becoming President Emeritus. He led a great expansion of programs and facilities during his tenure as the University's President, including substantial international programs, and has participated in international election monitoring missions. Since retiring as university president, he has continued to serve as a member of the faculty, teaching national security policy. He also is chairman of the Institute for New Democracies
Institute for New Democracies
The Institute for New Democracies is a United States-based nonprofit organization established to promote good governance, human rights and the rule of law in countries undergoing political transformation....
, a nongovernmental organization that advises evolving democracies. He has been an independent election observer in central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
n countries, and in December 2009 was an advisor to the Democratic League of Kosovo
Democratic League of Kosovo
The Democratic League of Kosovo is the second largest political party in Kosovo. It is a conservative and liberal conservative party; the main right-wing party in Kosovo....
(LDK) as it participated in local elections in Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
.
He announced on January 12, 2010, that he was forming an exploratory committee to run for Governor of Connecticut in 2010 as a Republican.