Robert John Cornell
Encyclopedia
Robert John Cornell, O Praem (December 16, 1919 - May 10, 2009) was a Roman Catholic priest and American
politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives
from Wisconsin
from 1975 to 1979.
Robert John Cornell was born in Gladstone, Michigan
and attended parochial schools in Green Bay, Wisconsin
. He earned his B.A. from St. Norbert College
(De Pere, Wisconsin
) in 1941 and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Catholic University of America (CUA) in 1957. On June 17, 1944, he was ordained a priest of the Norbertine Order
after six years in the order.
Cornell taught social sciences in parochial schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
from 1941 to 1947. He taught at St. Norbert High School, Abbot Pennings High School and St. Norbert College. He was a professor of history and political science at St. Norbert College from 1947 to 1974, and again from 1979 until his death in 2009.
He was the chairman of the Eighth Congressional District of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin
from 1969 to 1974, and was a member of the State Administrative Committee of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin from 1969 to 1974.
Cornell was elected as a Democrat
from in 1974, defeating freshman Republican
Harold Vernon Froehlich
to become only the second Democrat to represent the district in the 20th century. He was reelected in 1976, but lost to State Assemblyman
Toby Roth
in 1978. In 1980, he decided to seek a rematch against Roth, but abandoned his bid when the Vatican ordered all priests to withdraw from politics.
He was the second (after Father Robert Drinan
) and last Roman Catholic priest to serve in the United States Congress
.
Cornell lived in De Pere, Wisconsin
until his death at the age of 89 in 2009. "I lived my life for the two greatest things in this world, my God and my country," he said during a speech he made at St. Norbert College.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives
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...
from Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
from 1975 to 1979.
Robert John Cornell was born in Gladstone, Michigan
Gladstone, Michigan
Gladstone is a city in Delta County in the U.S. state of Michigan. First settled in 1877, Gladstone's original name was Saunders Point. The population was 5,032 at the 2000 census....
and attended parochial schools in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
. He earned his B.A. from St. Norbert College
St. Norbert College
St. Norbert College is a private Catholic liberal arts college in De Pere, Wisconsin. Founded in October 1898 by Abbot Bernard Pennings, a Norbertine priest and educator, the school was named after Saint Norbert of Xanten. In 1952, the college became coeducational and today enrolls about 2,175...
(De Pere, Wisconsin
De Pere, Wisconsin
De Pere is a city located in Brown County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 20,559 at the 2000 census. De Pere is a suburb of Green Bay and is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Registered historic places:...
) in 1941 and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Catholic University of America (CUA) in 1957. On June 17, 1944, he was ordained a priest of the Norbertine Order
Premonstratensian
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines, or in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons , are a Catholic religious order of canons regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg...
after six years in the order.
Cornell taught social sciences in parochial schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
from 1941 to 1947. He taught at St. Norbert High School, Abbot Pennings High School and St. Norbert College. He was a professor of history and political science at St. Norbert College from 1947 to 1974, and again from 1979 until his death in 2009.
He was the chairman of the Eighth Congressional District of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin
Democratic Party of Wisconsin
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin. As of 2009, it is headed by state party chairman Mike Tate, who is the youngest chairman of a state party...
from 1969 to 1974, and was a member of the State Administrative Committee of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin from 1969 to 1974.
Cornell was elected as a 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...
from in 1974, defeating freshman 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...
Harold Vernon Froehlich
Harold Vernon Froehlich
Harold Vernon Froehlich is an American Republican politician.Born in Appleton, Wisconsin, Froehlich served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. In 1959, Froehlich graduated from University of Wisconsin–Madison and then received his law degree in 1962. Harold Froelhich served in...
to become only the second Democrat to represent the district in the 20th century. He was reelected in 1976, but lost to State Assemblyman
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
Toby Roth
Toby Roth
Tobias Anton Roth is a former Republican United States congressman who represented Wisconsin's 8th congressional district. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 1997, when he did not run for re-election. Previously, Roth served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from...
in 1978. In 1980, he decided to seek a rematch against Roth, but abandoned his bid when the Vatican ordered all priests to withdraw from politics.
He was the second (after Father Robert Drinan
Robert Drinan
Robert Frederick Drinan, S.J. was a Roman Catholic Jesuit priest, lawyer, human rights activist, and Democratic U.S. Representative from Massachusetts...
) and last Roman Catholic priest to serve in the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
.
Cornell lived in De Pere, Wisconsin
De Pere, Wisconsin
De Pere is a city located in Brown County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 20,559 at the 2000 census. De Pere is a suburb of Green Bay and is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Registered historic places:...
until his death at the age of 89 in 2009. "I lived my life for the two greatest things in this world, my God and my country," he said during a speech he made at St. Norbert College.