John J. Gilligan
Encyclopedia
John Joyce Gilligan (born March 22, 1921) is a American Democratic politician from the state of Ohio
who served as a U.S. Representative
and the 62nd Governor of Ohio. He is the father of Kathleen Sebelius
. Gilligan and Sebelius are the only father and daughter ever have been elected state governors.
in 1943 and the University of Cincinnati College of Law
in 1947, serving in between in the United States Navy
during World War II in the Atlantic, Pacific and Mediterranean as a destroyer
gunnery officer. He was awarded a Silver Star
for gallantry in action at Okinawa.
from 1948 to 1953. He also served as member of the Cincinnati city council from 1953 to 1963, and was a candidate for Ohio Congressman-at-Large in 1962. In 1964 he was elected to the Eighty-ninth Congress
as a representative
for Ohio's 1st district, serving from January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967. Gilligan narrowly lost his re-election bid to the Ninetieth Congress
in 1966 to Republican Robert Taft Jr.
after the Republican-controlled Ohio General Assembly
redrew his district to favor the Republican Party. In 1968, Gilligan defeated sitting U.S. Senator
Frank J. Lausche in the Democratic primary; however, he narrowly lost in the general election to Republican William B. Saxbe
after Lausche refused to support him in the general election.
Gilligan won the election for the Governorship of Ohio in 1970, defeating Republican state Auditor Roger Cloud
, and serving from 1971 to 1975. Gilligan lost the office to former Republican governor James A. Rhodes
(who had been barred from running in 1970 due to term limits) by only 11,488 votes out of 3,072,010 cast.
He subsequently served as the administrator of United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) from 1977 to 1979. He served as director of the Institute for Public Policy from 1979 to 1986, and taught at the University of Notre Dame
from 1986 to 1992. He also served as director of the civic issues forum at the University of Cincinnati
School of Law.
In 1999, Gilligan was elected to the Board of Education of the Cincinnati Public Schools. He chose not to stand for re-election when his term expired in 2007.
Gilligan is the father of four children, including Kathleen Sebelius
, the current United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
and former Governor of Kansas
.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
who served as a U.S. Representative
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...
and the 62nd Governor of Ohio. He is the father of Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius is an American politician currently serving as the 21st Secretary of Health and Human Services. She was the second female Governor of Kansas from 2003 to 2009, the Democratic respondent to the 2008 State of the Union address, and chair-emerita of the Democratic Governors...
. Gilligan and Sebelius are the only father and daughter ever have been elected state governors.
Early life
Gilligan was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Harry and Blanche Gilligan. He graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1939, the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in 1943 and the University of Cincinnati College of Law
University of Cincinnati College of Law
The University of Cincinnati College of Law is the fourth oldest continually running law school in the United States and a founding member of the Association of American Law Schools. It was started in 1833 as the Cincinnati Law School...
in 1947, serving in between in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II in the Atlantic, Pacific and Mediterranean as a destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
gunnery officer. He was awarded a Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
for gallantry in action at Okinawa.
Career
After the war, Gilligan returned to Cincinnati to teach literature at Xavier UniversityXavier University (Cincinnati)
Xavier University is a co-educational Jesuit university in the United States located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation and has an undergraduate enrollment of about 4,000 students and graduate enrollment of 2,600 students. Xavier is primarily...
from 1948 to 1953. He also served as member of the Cincinnati city council from 1953 to 1963, and was a candidate for Ohio Congressman-at-Large in 1962. In 1964 he was elected to the Eighty-ninth Congress
89th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President of the Senate: Hubert Humphrey , starting January 20, 1965* President pro tempore: Carl Hayden - Majority leadership :* Majority Leader and Democratic Conference Chairman: Mike Mansfield...
as a representative
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...
for Ohio's 1st district, serving from January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967. Gilligan narrowly lost his re-election bid to the Ninetieth Congress
90th United States Congress
The Ninetieth 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, 1967 to January 3, 1969, during the last two years of...
in 1966 to Republican Robert Taft Jr.
Robert Taft, Jr.
Robert Taft Jr. was a member of the Taft political family who served as a Republican Congressman from Ohio between 1963 and 1965, as well as between 1967 and 1971. He also served as a U.S. Senator between 1971 and 1976....
after the Republican-controlled Ohio General Assembly
Ohio General Assembly
The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio. It consists of the 99-member Ohio House of Representatives and the 33-member Ohio Senate...
redrew his district to favor the Republican Party. In 1968, Gilligan defeated sitting U.S. Senator
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...
Frank J. Lausche in the Democratic primary; however, he narrowly lost in the general election to Republican William B. Saxbe
William B. Saxbe
William Bart "Bill" Saxbe was an American politician affiliated with the Republican Party, who served as a U.S. Senator from Ohio, as U.S. Attorney General under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald R. Ford, and as United States Ambassador to India.At the time of his death, Saxbe was the...
after Lausche refused to support him in the general election.
Gilligan won the election for the Governorship of Ohio in 1970, defeating Republican state Auditor Roger Cloud
Roger Cloud
Roger Cloud , was an American politician of the Republican party.Cloud attended high school in his native DeGraff, graduating in 1926 as his class's valedictorian....
, and serving from 1971 to 1975. Gilligan lost the office to former Republican governor James A. Rhodes
Jim Rhodes
James Allen Rhodes was an American Republican politician from Ohio, and one of only five US state governors to serve four four-year terms in office. As governor in 1970, he decided to send National Guard troops onto the Kent State University campus, resulting in the shooting of students on May 4...
(who had been barred from running in 1970 due to term limits) by only 11,488 votes out of 3,072,010 cast.
He subsequently served as the administrator of United States Agency for International Development
United States Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...
(USAID) from 1977 to 1979. He served as director of the Institute for Public Policy from 1979 to 1986, and taught at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
from 1986 to 1992. He also served as director of the civic issues forum at the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
School of Law.
In 1999, Gilligan was elected to the Board of Education of the Cincinnati Public Schools. He chose not to stand for re-election when his term expired in 2007.
Gilligan is the father of four children, including Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius is an American politician currently serving as the 21st Secretary of Health and Human Services. She was the second female Governor of Kansas from 2003 to 2009, the Democratic respondent to the 2008 State of the Union address, and chair-emerita of the Democratic Governors...
, the current United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, concerned with health matters. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet...
and former Governor of Kansas
Governor of Kansas
The Governor of the State of Kansas is the head of state for the State of Kansas, United States. Under the Kansas Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Kansas executive branch, of the government of Kansas. The Governor is the...
.
See also
- Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, 1st District
- Election Results, Ohio GovernorElection Results, Ohio GovernorThe voters of the U.S. state of Ohio elect a governor for a four-year term. There is a term limit of two consecutive terms as governor. Bold type indicates victor. Italic type indicates incumbent. Starting in 1978, the nominees for governor and lieutenant governor ran on a joint ticket.-Democratic...
- Election Results, Ohio Governor (Democratic Primaries)
- Election Results, U.S. Senator from Ohio
- List of United States Representatives from Ohio
- List of Governors of Ohio