Donald H. Magnuson
Encyclopedia
Donald Hammer Magnuson was a U.S. Representative
from Washington and an investigative journalist for the Daily Olympian
and Seattle Times.
from 1926 to 1928. He was graduated from the University of Washington
at Seattle in 1931. After graduation he worked as a harvester and then as a riveter in an aircraft factory.
and Seattle Times from 1934 to 1952. In 1942, he wrote a series of reports about loafing in the Seattle-Tacoma Shipyards. He was instrumental in obtaining the pardon of Clarence Boggie. He earned a Broun Award for his coverage and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize
in Local Reporting in 1949 by the managing editor of the Seattle Times.
In 1950, Magnuson wrote a series on alcoholism. He interviewed 6,000 men who had been treated over 15 years. He described the "conditioned-reflect treatment" which was intended to create an aversion to alcohol. This treatment was based on Pavlov's work on conditioned reflex. The treatment for alcoholism was for the staff at the sanitarium to give a patient alcohol and at the same time induce nausea with an additive.
to the Eighty-third
and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1953-January 3, 1963). Magnuson was named to the Committee on Merchant Marines and Fisheries in 1955. During his time in Congress he served on the Appropriations Committee subcommittee on Department of State, Justice and Judiciary, and the Department of the Interior. He also served on the Public Works Committee with oversight over the Corp of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and Atomic Energy Commission.
On January 30, 1959, Magnuson introduced a bill to establish a shield law
to keep reporters from having to reveal their sources. On February 2, 1959, he introduced a bill to grant a second income tax exemption to college students who down a job. On February 7, 1959 he was named to the board of oversight of the US Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs for 4 consecutive years. On May 22, 1959, Magnuson voted for an addition to the public works bill in an Appropriations subcommittee for $724,000 to start the Greater Wenatchee reclamation project. On August 4, 1959, Magnuson said about the upcoming Khruschev visit, "What Khruschev sees here may help guard against a fatal miscalculation on his part."
On January 21, 1960, the Bellingham Labor News said that as a member of the Public Works Committee, Magnuson sponsored a resolution to authorize the United States Army Corps of Engineers
to review flood control studies in western Washington. On that same day, he was appointed to become a charter member of the Democratic Study Group
. In 1960, as a member of the Appropriations Committee, he voted to against an additional $73,000,000 for the development of nuclear airplane according to The Labor Journal.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1962 to the Eighty-eighth
Congress. He was employed by Department of Interior from 1963 to 1969, and by Department of Labor from 1969 to 1973.
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...
from Washington and an investigative journalist for the Daily Olympian
The Olympian
The Olympian is a McClatchy newspaper in Olympia, Washington, in the United States.-History:The Olympian started in 1860 as "The Washington Standard" a weekly paper. Daily papers did not start until February 1889. The Olympian started daily service as a way to lead the crusade to make Olympia the...
and Seattle Times.
Background
Born on a farm near Freeman, in Spokane County, Washington. He was the son of Ellis William Magnuson and Ida (Hammer) Magnuson. Magnuson attended the public schools and Spokane UniversitySpokane University
Spokane University was a four-year liberal arts college that operated from 1913 to 1933. In 1935 Spokane University was reorganized as Spokane Junior College and moved into the city of Spokane from its original location in the Spokane Valley...
from 1926 to 1928. He was graduated from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
at Seattle in 1931. After graduation he worked as a harvester and then as a riveter in an aircraft factory.
Journalism career
He was a newspaper reporter for the Daily OlympianThe Olympian
The Olympian is a McClatchy newspaper in Olympia, Washington, in the United States.-History:The Olympian started in 1860 as "The Washington Standard" a weekly paper. Daily papers did not start until February 1889. The Olympian started daily service as a way to lead the crusade to make Olympia the...
and Seattle Times from 1934 to 1952. In 1942, he wrote a series of reports about loafing in the Seattle-Tacoma Shipyards. He was instrumental in obtaining the pardon of Clarence Boggie. He earned a Broun Award for his coverage and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
in Local Reporting in 1949 by the managing editor of the Seattle Times.
In 1950, Magnuson wrote a series on alcoholism. He interviewed 6,000 men who had been treated over 15 years. He described the "conditioned-reflect treatment" which was intended to create an aversion to alcohol. This treatment was based on Pavlov's work on conditioned reflex. The treatment for alcoholism was for the staff at the sanitarium to give a patient alcohol and at the same time induce nausea with an additive.
Political career
Magnuson was elected as a DemocratDemocratic 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...
to the Eighty-third
83rd United States Congress
The Eighty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1953 to January 3, 1955, during the first two years...
and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1953-January 3, 1963). Magnuson was named to the Committee on Merchant Marines and Fisheries in 1955. During his time in Congress he served on the Appropriations Committee subcommittee on Department of State, Justice and Judiciary, and the Department of the Interior. He also served on the Public Works Committee with oversight over the Corp of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and Atomic Energy Commission.
On January 30, 1959, Magnuson introduced a bill to establish a shield law
Shield law
A shield law or reporters' privilege is legislation designed to provide a news reporter with the right to refuse to testify as to information and/or sources of information obtained during the news gathering and dissemination process.-Definition:...
to keep reporters from having to reveal their sources. On February 2, 1959, he introduced a bill to grant a second income tax exemption to college students who down a job. On February 7, 1959 he was named to the board of oversight of the US Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs for 4 consecutive years. On May 22, 1959, Magnuson voted for an addition to the public works bill in an Appropriations subcommittee for $724,000 to start the Greater Wenatchee reclamation project. On August 4, 1959, Magnuson said about the upcoming Khruschev visit, "What Khruschev sees here may help guard against a fatal miscalculation on his part."
On January 21, 1960, the Bellingham Labor News said that as a member of the Public Works Committee, Magnuson sponsored a resolution to authorize the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
to review flood control studies in western Washington. On that same day, he was appointed to become a charter member of the Democratic Study Group
Democratic study group
The Democratic Study Group is a legislative service organization in the United States House of Representatives. It was founded in 1959 "as a liberal counterpoint to the influence of senior conservatives and southern Democrats, it now consists of nearly all Democratic members of the House. Its...
. In 1960, as a member of the Appropriations Committee, he voted to against an additional $73,000,000 for the development of nuclear airplane according to The Labor Journal.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1962 to the Eighty-eighth
88th United States Congress
The Eighty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1963 to January 3, 1965, during the last year of...
Congress. He was employed by Department of Interior from 1963 to 1969, and by Department of Labor from 1969 to 1973.