Leo T. McCarthy
Leo Tarcissus McCarthy (August 15, 1930 – February 5, 2007) was an American politician and businessman. He served as the 43rd lieutenant governor of California from 1983 to 1995.
Leo T. McCarthy | |
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| 43rd Lieutenant Governor of California | |
| In office January 3, 1983 – January 2, 1995 | |
| Governor | George Deukmejian Pete Wilson |
| Preceded by | Mike Curb |
| Succeeded by | Gray Davis |
| 57th Speaker of the California State Assembly | |
| In office 1974–1980 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Moretti |
| Succeeded by | Willie Lewis Brown, Jr., |
| Member of the California State Assembly from District 18 | |
| In office 1975–1983 | |
| Member of the California State Assembly from District 19 | |
| In office 1969–1975 | |
| Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors | |
| In office 1964–1968 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Leo Tarcissus McCarthy August 15, 1930 Auckland, New Zealand |
| Died | February 5, 2007 (aged 76) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, California |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Jacqueline Lee Burke |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence | San Francisco, California |
| Alma mater | University of San Francisco (BA) San Francisco Law School (JD) |
| Profession | Politician, lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1951–1952 |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
Early life and education
McCarthy, whose parents were both natives of Tralee, Ireland, was himself born in Auckland, New Zealand, but emigrated to the United States with his parents Daniel and Nora McCarthy, and siblings when he was three years old. The McCarthy family sailed from the Port of Wellington, New Zealand on the Royal Mail Ship Mazurka, which arrived at the Port of San Francisco, California, on February 9, 1934. He went to elementary school at Mission Dolores. He then went to high school at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco, and also attended college and law school within the city, receiving his B.A. in history from the University of San Francisco and a law degree from San Francisco Law School, now integrated to Alliant International University.
Military service
McCarthy served in the United States Air Force, 1951–1952, during the Korean War, briefly taking part in a Strategic Air Command mission to Saudi Arabia to simulate the start of World War III.[1]
Career in politics
In 1958, the year that saw the Democrats capture statewide offices for the first time since World War II, McCarthy managed the successful campaign for State Senate of John Eugene McAteer. After the election, served as McAteer's administrative assistant.
McCarthy first ran for office in 1963 when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He served there until 1967. In 1968, he was elected to the State Assembly, serving as speaker of the Assembly from 1974 to 1980. (Art Agnos, elected mayor of San Francisco in 1988, had his political start as McCarthy's first legislative assistant, and later as the speaker's chief of staff.) As speaker, McCarthy earned a reputation as a partisan, take-no-prisoners insider in Democratic Party politics.[2]
McCarthy unexpectedly lost the speakership to Willie Brown in 1980. McCarthy had been facing a stiff challenge from Howard Berman. Seeing his fellow Democrats so divided, Brown worked with Republicans to gain the speakership. Both of the losers in this struggle soon left the legislature. Berman ran for Congress and McCarthy ran for statewide office.
Lieutenant governor of California
McCarthy was first elected to statewide office to the first of three consecutive four-year terms as lieutenant governor of California in 1982, at the same time that Republican George Deukmejian was elected governor. In 1986, the incumbent McCarthy ran against Republican Mike Curb, a former film producer and music promoter with a reputation for opposing drug use by artists. In a hotly-contested race for lieutenant governor that centered largely around violent crime and drug policy, McCarthy alleged that Curb made a fortune in making 'exploitation films' that glorified drugs, sex, and violence.[3] Curb was so incensed at the charges that he filed a $7-million libel and slander suit against McCarthy, who ultimately won the election.[4]
After his failed 1988 Senate campaign, McCarthy won a third term as lieutenant governor in 1990, while his 1988 opponent Pete Wilson won the election for governor.
1988 Senate Campaign
In 1988, McCarthy ran for the US Senate. He easily won the Democratic Party nomination but was beaten in the general election by the Republican incumbent Pete Wilson. As of 2021, this was the last time a Democrat lost a Senate campaign in California. McCarthy's 4,287,253 votes set a record for the most votes given to a losing Democratic Senate candidate that lasted until it was broken by MJ Hegar of Texas in 2020. McCarthy is the first person ever to get 4 million votes in a losing Senate campaign.
1992 Senate Campaign
In 1992, McCarthy entered the Democratic primary election for the US Senate but lost the nomination to US Representative (and later general election winner) Barbara Boxer.[5]
McCarthy retired from public office at the end of his third term as lieutenant governor on January 2, 1995, having been prohibited from seeking re-election to a fourth term in office because of state term limits. He was succeeded by fellow Democratic then-State Controller and future Governor Gray Davis. McCarthy's 12 years are the longest any California lieutenant governor has served. Upon leaving politics, he created an investment company, The Daniel Group, named for his father and located in San Francisco.
Leo T. McCarthy Center
He helped found the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good at the University of San Francisco.
Family and later life
McCarthy was married on December 17, 1955, to the former Jacqueline Lee Burke. They had four children (Sharon, Conna, Adam, and Niall) and eleven grandchildren.
After a long illness, McCarthy died from a kidney ailment at his home in San Francisco on February 5, 2007.[6]
Sources
References
- Leo T. McCarthy, Oral History Interview, California State Archives, 1995–1996, Pg. 11
- Balzar, John, "Leo McCarthy, 76; Democrat served as lieutenant governor, Assembly speaker", Los Angeles Times, February 6, 2007
- Shuitt, Douglas, "California Elections: Curb, McCarthy – Vying to Become the Toughest Cop?", Los Angeles Times, October 10, 1986
- "Curb Files $7-Million Suit Against McCarthy", Los Angeles Times, October 28, 1986
- Reinhold, Robert (June 3, 1992). "THE 1992 CAMPAIGN: California; 2 Women Win Nomination In California Senate Races". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
- Leo McCarthy dead at 76, sfgate.com; accessed February 26, 2017.
External links
| California Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Charles W. Meyers |
California State Assemblyman, 19th District 1969–1974 |
Succeeded by Lou Papan |
| Preceded by Willie Brown |
California State Assemblyman, 18th District 1974–1982 |
Succeeded by Alister McAlister |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Bob Moretti |
Speaker of the California State Assembly June 1974 – November 1980 |
Succeeded by Willie Brown |
| Preceded by Mike Curb |
Lieutenant Governor of California January 3, 1983 – January 2, 1995 |
Succeeded by Gray Davis |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Jerry Brown |
Democratic Party nominee for United States Senator (Class 1) from California 1988 |
Succeeded by Dianne Feinstein |
| Preceded by Mervyn M. Dymally |
Democratic Party nominee for Lieutenant Governor of California 1982, 1986, 1990 |
Succeeded by Gray Davis |
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