Robert García
Encyclopedia
Robert García is a former Democratic United States Representative who represented New York's
21st district between 1978 and 1990.
, New York. He attended the public schools and graduated from Haaren High School in Manhattan
in 1950. He served in the United States Army
during the Korean War
with the Third Infantry Division, from 1950 to 1953.
García then continued his education from 1953 until 1957 by enrolling in the City College of New York
, although he also attended the Community College of New York as well as the RCA Institute. After graduation, he worked as a computer engineer with IBM Control Data, from 1957 to 1965.
García served in the New York assembly
, from 1966 to 1967, and the New York senate
, from 1967 to 1978. In the senate he was the deputy minority leader from 1975 to 1978. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in 1976.
García was elected to the United States House of Representatives
in a special election
on February 14, 1978, to replace Herman Badillo
who resigned. He took his seat on February 21, 1978, and represented New York's 21st and 18th District for almost 12 years until January 7, 1990, when he was forced to resign as a result of his involvement in the Wedtech scandal
. After his resignation, the Department of Justice through its district attorney's office chose to end the prosecution against him and filed its nolle prosequi
after suffering two reversals handed down by unanimous appellate courts, the last of which cited to United States Supreme Court precedence.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
21st district between 1978 and 1990.
Biography
García was born in BronxThe Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York. He attended the public schools and graduated from Haaren High School in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
in 1950. 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...
during 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...
with the Third Infantry Division, from 1950 to 1953.
García then continued his education from 1953 until 1957 by enrolling in the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
, although he also attended the Community College of New York as well as the RCA Institute. After graduation, he worked as a computer engineer with IBM Control Data, from 1957 to 1965.
García served in the New York assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, from 1966 to 1967, and the New York senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
, from 1967 to 1978. In the senate he was the deputy minority leader from 1975 to 1978. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1976.
García was elected to the United States 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...
in a special election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
on February 14, 1978, to replace Herman Badillo
Herman Badillo
Herman Badillo is a Bronx, New York politician who has been a borough president, United States Representative, and candidate for Mayor of New York City. He was the first Puerto Rican to be elected to these posts and be a mayoral candidate in the continental United States.-Early years:Badillo was...
who resigned. He took his seat on February 21, 1978, and represented New York's 21st and 18th District for almost 12 years until January 7, 1990, when he was forced to resign as a result of his involvement in the Wedtech scandal
Wedtech scandal
The Wedtech Scandal was the name of an American political scandal that came to light in the late 1980s involving the Wedtech Corporation.The company had been founded in Bronx County, New York by a Puerto Rican immigrant named John Mariotta, and originally manufactured baby carriages...
. After his resignation, the Department of Justice through its district attorney's office chose to end the prosecution against him and filed its nolle prosequi
Nolle prosequi
Nolle prosequi is legal term of art and a Latin legal phrase meaning "to be unwilling to pursue", a phrase amounting to "please do not prosecute". It is a phrase used in many common law criminal prosecution contexts to describe a prosecutor's decision to voluntarily discontinue criminal charges...
after suffering two reversals handed down by unanimous appellate courts, the last of which cited to United States Supreme Court precedence.