David A. Norcross
Encyclopedia
David A. Norcross is an American
Republican Party
politician
who ran for United States Senate
in 1976 and served as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
.
in 1937. He received his B.A.
from University of Delaware
in 1958 and his LL.B from University of Pennsylvania
in 1961. He served in the United States Army
in the Judge Advocate General's Corps
, stationed in Asmara
, Ethiopia
from 1962 to 1965.
He was executive assistant to Governor William T. Cahill
from 1971 to 1973, when the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission was created. He became the commission's first executive director, serving from 1973 to 1976.
In 1976 Norcross ran as the Republican candidate for United States Senate
against the incumbent Harrison A. Williams
. A relative unknown, he used his expertise in campaign financing to attack Williams for what he said were unethical fundraising practices. Norcross was soundly defeated, but Williams would later be convicted of bribery and conspiracy in the Abscam
scandal.
He was selected by State Senator Raymond Bateman
, then the Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey
, to replace Webster B. Todd
as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
in 1977.
Norcross also became a member of the Republican National Committee
in 1977. He would go on to serve in a number of positions for the RNC, including Counsel to the Chairman (1983–1989) and General Counsel (1993–1997).
Norcross is a partner in the Philadelphia-based law and lobbying firm Blank Rome LLP. His dual role as RNC insider and lobbyist came under scrutiny during the 2004 Republican National Convention
, for which Norcross served as chairman of the Committee on Arrangements. The New York Times
reported that Norcross had been lobbying the Bush
administration on behalf of clients like the defense contractor Raytheon
, but it acknowledged that there was nothing illegal about Norcross serving in both capacities.
In 2007-2008 Norcross served as co-chair of presidential candidate Mitt Romney
's New Jersey campaign. He was also considered a frontrunner to replace Jim Saxton
in the House of Representatives
until he withdrew his name from consideration.
Norcross served four years as Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Order of Business on the Republican National Committee from 2005 to 2009. He is an elected member of the Temporary Committee on Primaries of the RNC.
In 2009 he was elected Chairman of The Board of Governors of the Republican Nationals Lawyers Association.
Norcross resides in Alexandria, Virginia.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who ran for United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1976 and served as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
New Jersey Republican State Committee
The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the Republican Party in New Jersey. The Committee was founded in 1880. The party is led by Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee Sam Raia of Saddle River, New Jersey.-Membership:...
.
Biography
Norcross was born in Camden, New JerseyCamden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
in 1937. He received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
in 1958 and his LL.B from University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1961. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in the Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...
, stationed in Asmara
Asmara
Asmara is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people...
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
from 1962 to 1965.
He was executive assistant to Governor William T. Cahill
William T. Cahill
William Thomas Cahill was an American Republican Party politician who served as the 46th Governor of New Jersey, from 1970 to 1974, and who represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in the U.S...
from 1971 to 1973, when the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission was created. He became the commission's first executive director, serving from 1973 to 1976.
In 1976 Norcross ran as the Republican candidate for United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
against the incumbent Harrison A. Williams
Harrison A. Williams
Harrison Arlington "Pete" Williams, Jr. was a Democrat who represented New Jersey in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate . Williams was convicted on May 1, 1981 for taking bribes in the Abscam sting operation, and resigned from the U.S. Senate in 1982...
. A relative unknown, he used his expertise in campaign financing to attack Williams for what he said were unethical fundraising practices. Norcross was soundly defeated, but Williams would later be convicted of bribery and conspiracy in the Abscam
Abscam
Abscam was a United States Federal Bureau of Investigation sting operation run from the FBI's Hauppauge, Long Island, office in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
scandal.
He was selected by State Senator Raymond Bateman
Raymond Bateman
Raymond H. Bateman "Ray" is an American Republican Party politician, who represented the 16th Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate in the 1960s and 70s, and was the Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey in 1977...
, then the Republican candidate 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...
, to replace Webster B. Todd
Webster B. Todd
Webster Bray Todd was a prominent American businessman, a Republican Party leader in New Jersey and the father of New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman.-Biography:...
as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee
New Jersey Republican State Committee
The New Jersey Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the Republican Party in New Jersey. The Committee was founded in 1880. The party is led by Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee Sam Raia of Saddle River, New Jersey.-Membership:...
in 1977.
Norcross also became a member of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
in 1977. He would go on to serve in a number of positions for the RNC, including Counsel to the Chairman (1983–1989) and General Counsel (1993–1997).
Norcross is a partner in the Philadelphia-based law and lobbying firm Blank Rome LLP. His dual role as RNC insider and lobbyist came under scrutiny during the 2004 Republican National Convention
2004 Republican National Convention
The 2004 Republican National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States, took place from August 30 to September 2, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York...
, for which Norcross served as chairman of the Committee on Arrangements. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
reported that Norcross had been lobbying the Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
administration on behalf of clients like the defense contractor Raytheon
Raytheon
Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
, but it acknowledged that there was nothing illegal about Norcross serving in both capacities.
In 2007-2008 Norcross served as co-chair of presidential candidate Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
's New Jersey campaign. He was also considered a frontrunner to replace Jim Saxton
Jim Saxton
Hugh James "Jim" Saxton is an American Republican Party politician. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented from 1984 to 1993. From 1993 to 2009, he represented .-Life:...
in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
until he withdrew his name from consideration.
Norcross served four years as Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Order of Business on the Republican National Committee from 2005 to 2009. He is an elected member of the Temporary Committee on Primaries of the RNC.
In 2009 he was elected Chairman of The Board of Governors of the Republican Nationals Lawyers Association.
Norcross resides in Alexandria, Virginia.