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Pete McCloskey — a pro-environment, anti-war California Republican who co-wrote nan Endangered Species Act and co-founded Earth Day — has died. He was 96.
A fourth-generation Republican "in nan mold of Teddy Roosevelt," he often said, McCloskey represented nan 12th Congressional District for 15 years, moving for president against nan incumbent Richard Nixon successful 1972. He battled statement leaders while serving 7 position successful Congress and went connected to publically disavow nan GOP successful his later years.
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, AUGUST 8, 1974, PRESIDENT NIXON ANNOUNCES HIS RESIGNATION
He died astatine location Wednesday, according to Lee Houskeeper, a family friend.
Years aft leaving Washington, McCloskey made 1 past bid for elective agency successful 2006 erstwhile he challenged Richard Pombo of Northern California’s 11th District successful a superior title that McCloskey described arsenic "a conflict for nan psyche of nan Republican Party." After losing to Pombo, who had spent astir of his tenure successful Washington attempting to undo nan Endangered Species Act, he threw his support down Democrat Jerry McNerney, nan eventual winner.
"It was foolish to tally against him (Pombo), but we didn't person anybody other to do it, and I could not guidelines what a------ they'd become," nan frank-talking erstwhile Marine colonel said of nan modern GOP successful a 2008 question and reply pinch The Associated Press.
Republican statesmanlike campaigner Ronald Reagan, left, admires nan bumper sticker connected nan car of Congressman Pete McCloskey arsenic nan congressman looks on, right, successful San Jose, Calif., Sept. 25, 1980. Reagan was successful nan area connected a run travel anterior to leaving for much campaigning successful Washington and Oregon. Former California Congressman McCloskey, who ran arsenic a Republican challenging President Richard Nixon successful 1972, died connected Wednesday, May 8, 2024, astatine property 96. (AP Photo/Harrity)
McCloskey cited disillusionment from power peddling and morals scandals nether nan George W. Bush management arsenic reasons why he switched parties successful 2007 astatine nan property of 79. "A pox connected them and their values," he wrote successful an unfastened missive explaining nan move to his supporters.
"McCloskey was a rarity successful American authorities — his actions were guided by his consciousness of justice, not by governmental ideology," Joe Cotchett, his rule partner since 2004, said successful a statement. "He hated inequity and did not hesitate to return connected members of his ain governmental party."
Born successful Loma Linda, California, connected Sept. 29, 1927, arsenic Paul Norton McCloskey Jr., he graduated from South Pasadena High School, wherever nan 2nd baseman made nan school's shot hallway of fame, though he self-deprecatingly called himself "perhaps nan worst subordinate connected nan shot team."
McCloskey joined nan Marine Corps arsenic an serviceman and led a firearm platoon during immoderate of nan astir aggravated fighting of nan Korean War. He was awarded nan Navy Cross for bonzer heroism, nan nation’s second-highest honor, a Silver Star for bravery successful combat and 2 Purple Hearts.
He earned a rule grade from Stanford University and founded an biology rule patient successful Palo Alto earlier making nan move to nationalist office. In 1967, he defeated chap Republican Shirley Temple Black and Democrat Roy Archibald successful a typical predetermination for nan San Mateo County legislature seat.
The left-leaning McCloskey had a thundering beingness successful Washington, attempting to get onto nan level of nan 1972 Republican National Convention during his bid to unseat then-President Nixon connected an anti-Vietnam War platform. He yet was blocked by a norm written by his friend and rule schoolhouse statement partner, John Ehrlichman, that said a campaigner could not get to nan level pinch less than 25 delegates. McCloskey had one.
Still, McCloskey loved to opportunity he vanished second.
He would later sojourn Ehrlichman successful prison, wherever Nixon's erstwhile counsel served 1.5 years for conspiracy, perjury and obstruction of justness successful nan Watergate break-in that led to nan president's resignation.
While successful office, McCloskey besides was known for befriending Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and criticized Israeli power connected American politics. The congressman was nan first to request Nixon's impeachment, and nan first to request a repeal of nan Gulf of Tonkin solution that allowed nan Vietnam War.
But his enduring bequest is nan Endangered Species Act, which protects type designated arsenic endangered aliases threatened and conserves nan ecosystems connected which they depend. McCloskey co-wrote nan authorities successful 1973, aft a run by young group empowered by Earth Day activities successfully unseated 7 of 12 Congress members known arsenic "The Dirty Dozen" for their anti-environment votes.
"On that day, nan world changed," McCloskey recalled successful 2008. "Suddenly, everybody was an environmentalist. My Republican colleagues started asking maine for copies of aged speeches I had fixed connected h2o and aerial quality."
"A powerful champion of endangered species, Pete, ironically, became one," said Denis Hayes, co-organizer of nan Earth Day, astir nan rarity of a "green, anti-war Republican."
After 15 years successful nan House, he mislaid his tally for a Senate spot to Republican Pete Wilson, who went connected to beryllium California's governor. He moved backmost to agrarian Yolo County, relishing nan life of a husbandman and part-time attorney.
"You know, if group telephone you 'congressman' each nan time, you'll extremity up reasoning you're smarter than you are," he said.
McCloskey, however, couldn't enactment quiet forever.
In 2006, aft his unsuccessful title against Pombo, he helped shape nan Revolt of nan Elders Coalition, a group of retired Republican congressmen who pushed to get soldiers much money for college, undo measures that made it tougher to analyse morals violations and rallied against those who had received backing from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, including Pombo.
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"If you tin do thing astatine property 80 that positively affects our country, you should beryllium proud of it. Otherwise there's nary redeeming worth successful getting older," he said.
McCloskey is survived by his wife, Helen — his longtime property caput whom he joined successful 1978 — and 4 children by his first wife: Nancy, Peter, John and Kathleen.
