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1 of 2 | Pete McCloskey, a erstwhile California congressman who founded Earth Day and challenged President Richard Nixon for nan Republican information successful 1972, has died astatine nan property of 96. Photo courtesy of Grand Canyon National Park
May 8 (UPI) -- Pete McCloskey, a erstwhile California congressman who founded Earth Day and challenged President Richard Nixon for nan Republican information successful 1972, has died astatine nan property of 96.
McCloskey died Wednesday astatine his location successful Winters, westbound of Sacramento, according to family spokesman Lee Houskeeper.
McCloskey, who was calved successful confederate California and graduated from Stanford and later Stanford Law School, was elected arsenic a Republican to nan U.S. House of Representatives to correspond San Mateo County successful 1967, aft defeating Shirley Temple Black successful a typical election. He went connected to service 7 position successful nan U.S. House until 1982, erstwhile he unsuccessfully ran for nan U.S. Senate.
Before getting into politics, McCloskey served successful nan U.S. Marine Corps during nan Korean War, wherever he was awarded nan Navy Cross and Silver Star.
"I sewage wounded twice," McCloskey told ABC7 successful an interview. "The ridge lines were truthful constrictive that you couldn't opportunity 'Sergeant, return nan hill.' You conscionable had to opportunity 'follow me,' because you could only get 1 feline connected nan hill."
Despite serving successful nan Korean War, McCloskey was outspoken successful his guidance to nan warfare successful Vietnam -- calling it a warfare that could not beryllium won -- arsenic he tried to unseat Nixon for nan Republican information successful 1972.
"To talk, arsenic nan president does, of winding down nan warfare while he is expanding nan usage of aerial powerfulness is simply a deliberate deception," McCloskey said during his run for nan nomination. "I'll astir apt get licked, but I can't support quiet."
"When McCloskey came retired against nan warfare successful Vietnam, arsenic a Marine warfare hero, it was a large deal," said biology activistic Robert Caughlan, who was besides a friend of McCloskey.
Nixon yet won nan information and went connected to triumph nan presidency successful a landslide earlier resigning 2 years later during nan Watergate scandal. McCloskey was nan first personnel of Congress to telephone for Nixon's impeachment.
Throughout his legislature profession arsenic a Republican, McCloskey's stances connected nan war, nan situation and Israel were controversial, yet starring him to move parties to go a Democrat successful 2007. He called "the caller marque of Republicanism" dispute to progressive causes.
McCloskey protested nan warfare successful Vietnam and later criticized Israel arsenic a teacher astatine Stanford. He introduced biology authorities including nan Endangered Species Act of 1973, and was besides nan co-chairman of nan first Earth Day held connected April 22, 1970.
"Well, possibly nan top achievement, and we didn't cognize it astatine nan time, was we held an Earth Day successful 1970, and retired of that Earth Day a batch of students sewage progressive successful redeeming nan environment, aliases trying to," McCloskey said arsenic he reflected connected nan nickname years later.
Earth Day, which is now observed successful 192 countries, will observe 55 years successful 2025.
"I deliberation that he was a leader for nan environment," said Caughlan. "A leader for bid and a leader successful war. He led a genuinely heroic life."
