Gordon Leo McDonough (January 2, 1895 – June 25, 1968) was an American politician who served nine terms as a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

from

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

from 1945 to 1963.

Early life and career

Born in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New York (state), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and county seat of Erie County, New York, Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of ...

, McDonough moved with his parents to Emporium, Pennsylvania, in 1898. He attended the public schools and graduated from the high school there. He engaged as an industrial chemist in Emporium from 1915 to 1918. He moved to

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

and resumed his former occupation, from 1918 to 1933. He served on the

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (LACBOS) is the five-member Board of Supervisors, governing body of Los Angeles County, California, United States. History On April 1, 1850 the citizens of Los Angeles elected a three-man Court of Se ...

from 1933 to 1944, serving as County chair for one year.

Congress

McDonough was elected as a Republican to the Seventy-ninth and to the eight succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1963). In 1962 California gained eight U.S. House seats. To boost the chances for re-election for Republican colleagues and opportunities for potential new Republican House members, McDonough ran in a newly drawn but unfavorable district against Democrat Edward Roybal, a member of the

Los Angeles City Council The Los Angeles City Council is the Legislature, lawmaking body for the Government of Los Angeles, city government of Los Angeles, California, the second largest city in the United States. It has 15 members who each represent the 15 city council ...

. Roybal defeated McDonough to become the first

Latino American Hispanic and Latino Americans are Americans who have a Spanish or Latin American background, culture, or family origin. This demographic group includes all Americans who identify as Hispanic or Latino, regardless of race. According to th ...

member of Congress from California in 80 years. McDonough voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and

1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Janu ...

, as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Private life

He was married to Catherine McNeil and they raised seven children. McDonough appeared on the

Groucho Marx Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx (; October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977) was an American comedian, actor, writer, and singer who performed in films and vaudeville on television, radio, and the stage. He is considered one of America's greatest comed ...

game show ''

You Bet Your Life ''You Bet Your Life'' is an American comedy quiz series that has aired on both radioBethesda, Maryland Bethesda () is an unincorporated, census-designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. Located just northwest of Washington, D.C., it is a major business and government center of the Washington metropolitan region ...

, June 25, 1968, and was interred in Holy Cross Mausoleum,

Electoral history

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McDonough, Gordon L. 1895 births 1968 deaths Politicians from Buffalo, New York Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from California People from Emporium, Pennsylvania Catholics from New York (state) Catholics from California Catholics from Pennsylvania 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives