John J. McFall
Encyclopedia
John Joseph McFall was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives
, representing the state of California
, rising to the position of House Majority Whip.
. He and his family moved to Manteca, California
where he attended school, and in 1936 graduated from Modesto Junior College
. In 1938 he graduated from the University of California, Berkeley
, and obtained his law degree there in 1941. His career as an attorney
was interrupted by a stint in the United States Army Counterintelligence Corps from 1942 to 1946.
councilman. He was elected to the state assembly in 1951 and served there until his election to the United States Congress
in 1956. McFall served eleven terms in Congress, but lost his bid for re-election to a 12th term in 1978.
.
. He died March 7, 2006 from complications of a broken hip and Parkinson's disease
.
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...
, representing the state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, rising to the position of House Majority Whip.
Early life and career
McFall was born in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. He and his family moved to Manteca, California
Manteca, California
Manteca is a city in , USA. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 67,096.- History :Manteca is a city in the Central Valley of California, 76 miles east of San Francisco. It was founded in 1861 by Joshua Cowell. Cowell claimed around and built houses on what is now the corner of Main...
where he attended school, and in 1936 graduated from Modesto Junior College
Modesto Junior College
The Modesto Junior College is a community college located in Central Valley's Modesto, California.-Accreditation:Modesto Junior College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. In January 2008, the Western Association Colleges and Schools notified the college that it had...
. In 1938 he graduated from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, and obtained his law degree there in 1941. His career as an attorney
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...
was interrupted by a stint in the United States Army Counterintelligence Corps from 1942 to 1946.
Politics
In 1948 McFall became a MantecaManteca, California
Manteca is a city in , USA. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 67,096.- History :Manteca is a city in the Central Valley of California, 76 miles east of San Francisco. It was founded in 1861 by Joshua Cowell. Cowell claimed around and built houses on what is now the corner of Main...
councilman. He was elected to the state assembly in 1951 and served there until his election to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in 1956. McFall served eleven terms in Congress, but lost his bid for re-election to a 12th term in 1978.
Koreagate
Congressman McFall, along with other elected officials, was reprimanded for his role in the influence peddling scandal that came to be known as KoreagateKoreagate
"Koreagate" was an American political scandal in 1976 involving South Korean political figures seeking influence from 10 Democratic members of Congress. An immediate goal of the scandal seems to have been reversing President Richard Nixon's decision to withdraw troops from South Korea...
.
Personal life and death
He married to Evelyn A.M. Anklam McFall in 1950. The couple had four children. In 1978 he retired to Alexandria, VirginiaAlexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
. He died March 7, 2006 from complications of a broken hip and Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
.