Tom Railsback
Encyclopedia
Thomas Fisher Railsback (b. January 22, 1932 in Moline, Illinois
) served eight terms in the United States Congress
from 1967-1983 for in Moline
.
from Grinnell College
in 1954; and a J.D.
from Northwestern University School of Law
, Chicago
in 1957. He served in the United States Army
from 1957-1959.
to Congress in 1966. He was elected in 1966 defeating freshman Democrat
Gale Schisler
in a hotly competitive race. The race was a very friendly one with little to no negative attacks on each other, though Railsback credited his victory to the unpopularity of President Lyndon Johnson. A moderate
Republican, he served on the House Judiciary Committee in the mid-1970s. He voted for one of the articles of impeachment
against Richard Nixon
when they were pending in committee, one of six Republicans to support at least one article.
In 1980, the Congressman was one of three U.S. House members (the others were future Vice President Dan Quayle
(R-Indiana) and Tom Evans
(R-Delaware)) involved in the controversial Florida
golfing trip with lobbyist Paula Parkinson.
In 1982, Railsback's district was renumbered as the 17th District; Illinois had lost two districts after the 1980 census. He was defeated for renomination by a considerably more conservative Republican, State Senator
Kenneth G. McMillan
. McMillan was defeated by Democrat Lane Evans
in November.
After leaving Congress, he worked as a lobbyist
for the telecommunications industry and federal judges association. He has residences in Palm Desert, California
, and McCall, Idaho
.
Moline, Illinois
Moline is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States, with a population of 45,792 in 2010. Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa. The Quad Cities has a population of...
) served eight terms in 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....
from 1967-1983 for in Moline
Moline, Illinois
Moline is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States, with a population of 45,792 in 2010. Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa. The Quad Cities has a population of...
.
Early life
Railsback attended public schools in Moline, received a 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 Grinnell College
Grinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, U.S. known for its strong tradition of social activism. It was founded in 1846, when a group of pioneer New England Congregationalists established the Trustees of Iowa College....
in 1954; and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Northwestern University School of Law
Northwestern University School of Law
The Northwestern University School of Law is a private American law school in Chicago, Illinois. The law school was founded in 1859 as the Union College of Law of the Old University of Chicago. The first law school established in Chicago, it became jointly controlled by Northwestern University in...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1957. 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...
from 1957-1959.
Political career
Railsback served as a member of the Illinois State House of Representatives from 1962-1966 before being elected as a RepublicanRepublican 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...
to Congress in 1966. He was elected in 1966 defeating freshman Democrat
Democratic 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...
Gale Schisler
Gale Schisler
Gale Schisler is a former teacher and politician. Born Darwin Gale Schisler on a farm in Knox County, Illinois, he graduated from Abingdon High School in 1952, served in the United States Air Force from 1952–1955, and graduated from Western Illinois University in 1959...
in a hotly competitive race. The race was a very friendly one with little to no negative attacks on each other, though Railsback credited his victory to the unpopularity of President Lyndon Johnson. A moderate
Moderate
In politics and religion, a moderate is an individual who is not extreme, partisan or radical. In recent years, political moderates has gained traction as a buzzword....
Republican, he served on the House Judiciary Committee in the mid-1970s. He voted for one of the articles of impeachment
Impeachment in the United States
Impeachment in the United States is an expressed power of the legislature that allows for formal charges against a civil officer of government for crimes committed in office...
against Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
when they were pending in committee, one of six Republicans to support at least one article.
In 1980, the Congressman was one of three U.S. House members (the others were future Vice President Dan Quayle
Dan Quayle
James Danforth "Dan" Quayle served as the 44th Vice President of the United States, serving with President George H. W. Bush . He served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Indiana....
(R-Indiana) and Tom Evans
Thomas B. Evans, Jr.
Thomas Beverley Evans, Jr. is an American lawyer and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He is a member of the Republican Party, who served three terms as U. S...
(R-Delaware)) involved in the controversial Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
golfing trip with lobbyist Paula Parkinson.
In 1982, Railsback's district was renumbered as the 17th District; Illinois had lost two districts after the 1980 census. He was defeated for renomination by a considerably more conservative Republican, State Senator
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
Kenneth G. McMillan
Kenneth G. McMillan
Kenneth McMillan served as a Republican member of the Illinois State Senate from 1977 to 1983. McMillan ran for U.S. Congress in 1982 on a conservative platform and defeated moderate Republican incubent Tom Railsback. McMillan however lost in the general election to Democrat Lane Evans by 6%,...
. McMillan was defeated by Democrat Lane Evans
Lane Evans
Lane Allen Evans is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1983 until 2007, representing the 17th District of Illinois...
in November.
After leaving Congress, he worked as a lobbyist
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
for the telecommunications industry and federal judges association. He has residences in Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately east of Palm Springs. The population was 48,445 at the 2010 census, up from 41,155 at the 2000 census...
, and McCall, Idaho
McCall, Idaho
McCall is a resort town on the western edge of Valley County, Idaho, United States. Named after its founder, Tom McCall, it is situated on the southern shore of Payette Lake, near the center of the Payette National Forest...
.
Electoral history
- Election of November 8, 1966
- Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 77,895 52%
- Gale SchislerGale SchislerGale Schisler is a former teacher and politician. Born Darwin Gale Schisler on a farm in Knox County, Illinois, he graduated from Abingdon High School in 1952, served in the United States Air Force from 1952–1955, and graduated from Western Illinois University in 1959...
(D) - 71,050 48%
- Election of November 5, 1968
- Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 114,948 63%
- Craig Lovitt (D) - 66,135 37%
- Election of November 3, 1970
- Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 92,247 68%
- James L. Shaw (D) - 43,094 32%
- Election of November 7, 1972
- Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 138,123 100%
- Election of November 4, 1974
- Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 84,049 65%
- James Gende (D) - 44,677 35%
- Election of November 2, 1976
- Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 132,571 68%
- John Craver (D) - 60,967 32%
- Election of November 7, 1978
- Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 89,770 100%
- Election of November 4, 1980
- Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 142,616 73%
- Thomas J. Hand (D) - 51,753 27%
- Primary Election of March 16, 1982
- Kenneth G. McMillanKenneth G. McMillanKenneth McMillan served as a Republican member of the Illinois State Senate from 1977 to 1983. McMillan ran for U.S. Congress in 1982 on a conservative platform and defeated moderate Republican incubent Tom Railsback. McMillan however lost in the general election to Democrat Lane Evans by 6%,...
(R) - 24,147 51% - Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 23,068 49%
- Kenneth G. McMillan