James P. Dugan
Encyclopedia
James P. Dugan is an American Democratic Party
lawyer
and politician
who served in the New Jersey Senate
and as chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee
.
Dugan served in the Korean War
as a captain in the United States Marine Corps
. After the war he studied at Fordham University Law School, receiving a J.D.
degree in 1957. He was admitted to the New York Bar in 1957 and the New Jersey Bar in 1959.
Dugan was elected to the State Senate
in 1969, serving for eight years. In 1973 he was named chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Also in that year he was selected as chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee
and helped nominate Brendan Byrne
for Governor of New Jersey
, though he would later become a critic of Byrne. The rift between Byrne and Dugan is said to have contributed to Jimmy Carter
losing New Jersey in the 1976 presidential elections
to Gerald Ford
. Dugan stepped down from the party chairmanship in 1977 and also lost his Senate seat that year in a primary challenge.
Dugan joined the New Jersey law firm Waters, McPherson, McNeill in 1994. He has resided in Bayonne
and Saddle River
.
Dugan's son went on to continue his work in Bayonne, as Founder and President of the Bayonne Community Action League. http://tbcal.com
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...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served in the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
and as chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee
New Jersey Democratic State Committee
The New Jersey Democratic State Committee is the New Jersey state affiliate of the United States Democratic Party.New Jersey Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski is the Chairman and Camden Mayor Dana Redd is the Vice-Chairwoman. They were elected on January 27, 2010.-Party structure:The NJDSC is the...
.
Dugan served in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
as a captain in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. After the war he studied at Fordham University Law School, receiving a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree in 1957. He was admitted to the New York Bar in 1957 and the New Jersey Bar in 1959.
Dugan was elected to the State Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
in 1969, serving for eight years. In 1973 he was named chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Also in that year he was selected as chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee
New Jersey Democratic State Committee
The New Jersey Democratic State Committee is the New Jersey state affiliate of the United States Democratic Party.New Jersey Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski is the Chairman and Camden Mayor Dana Redd is the Vice-Chairwoman. They were elected on January 27, 2010.-Party structure:The NJDSC is the...
and helped nominate Brendan Byrne
Brendan Byrne
Brendan Thomas Byrne is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served as the 47th Governor of New Jersey, from 1974 to 1982.-Early life and education:...
for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
, though he would later become a critic of Byrne. The rift between Byrne and Dugan is said to have contributed to Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
losing New Jersey in the 1976 presidential elections
United States presidential election, 1976
The United States presidential election of 1976 followed the resignation of President Richard Nixon in the wake of the Watergate scandal. It pitted incumbent President Gerald Ford, the Republican candidate, against the relatively unknown former governor of Georgia, Jimmy Carter, the Democratic...
to Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
. Dugan stepped down from the party chairmanship in 1977 and also lost his Senate seat that year in a primary challenge.
Dugan joined the New Jersey law firm Waters, McPherson, McNeill in 1994. He has resided in Bayonne
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
and Saddle River
Saddle River, New Jersey
Saddle River is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 3,152. Saddle River has the second-highest per-capita income in the state...
.
Dugan's son went on to continue his work in Bayonne, as Founder and President of the Bayonne Community Action League. http://tbcal.com
External links
- Biographical information for James P. Dugan from The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...