William I. Cowin
Encyclopedia
William Irvin Cowin is an American jurist, politician, and state cabinet secretary who served as Massachusetts Secretary of Consumer Affairs from 1971 to 1972 and Massachusetts Secretary of Administration and Finance from 1972 to 1974. He was a candidate for State Attorney General
in 1974 and Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
in 1978.
in 1959 and Harvard Law School
in 1962. From 1963 to 1966 he was an Assistant Massachusetts Attorney General
. When Attorney General Edward Brooke
was elected to the United States Senate, Cowin joined him as a legislative assistant. He returned to Massachusetts in 1968 as special counsel to Mayor of Boston Kevin White.
In 1969 he was named Chairman of the State Public Utilities Commission by Governor Francis W. Sargent
.
and Charles Codman Cabot, Jr., chose to bypass the convention. During the campaign, Cowin struggled to raise money and trailed Spaulding in polls.
Cowin finished third in the Republican primary with 24% of the vote.
After the primary, Governor Sargent asked state Republican chairman
William Barnstead
's resignation and recommended that Cowin succeed him. Sargent later postponed his efforts to remove Barnstead to focus on his race against Michael Dukakis
.
In 1975, Cowin became a partner at Friedman & Atherton, LLP.
announced Cowin's candidacy for lieutenant governor as Hatch's running mate.
On September 19, 1978 he defeated State Representative Peter L. McDowell in the Republican Primary 128,914 votes to 86,250.
On November 7, 1978, Hatch and Cowin lost the general election to Edward J. King
and Thomas P. O'Neill III
53% to 47%.
Justice Judith Cowin
. They have three grown children.
Massachusetts Attorney General
The Massachusetts Attorney General is an elected executive officer of the Massachusetts Government. The office of Attorney-General was abolished in 1843 and re-established in 1849. The current Attorney General is Martha Coakley....
in 1974 and Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
The Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts is the first in the line to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor following the incapacitation of the Governor of Massachusetts...
in 1978.
Early career
Cowin graduated from Harvard CollegeHarvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1959 and Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1962. From 1963 to 1966 he was an Assistant Massachusetts Attorney General
Massachusetts Attorney General
The Massachusetts Attorney General is an elected executive officer of the Massachusetts Government. The office of Attorney-General was abolished in 1843 and re-established in 1849. The current Attorney General is Martha Coakley....
. When Attorney General Edward Brooke
Edward Brooke
Edward William Brooke, III is an American politician and was elected to the United States Senate as a Republican from Massachusetts in 1966, defeating his Democratic opponent, Endicott Peabody, 60.7%–38.7%...
was elected to the United States Senate, Cowin joined him as a legislative assistant. He returned to Massachusetts in 1968 as special counsel to Mayor of Boston Kevin White.
In 1969 he was named Chairman of the State Public Utilities Commission by Governor Francis W. Sargent
Francis W. Sargent
Francis William Sargent was the 64th Governor of Massachusetts from 1969 to 1975. Born in 1915 in Hamilton, Massachusetts, he was known for his sharp wit and self-deprecating manner...
.
State cabinet secretary
In 1971, Cowin was appointed Massachusetts Secretary of Consumer Affairs. After Secretary of Administration and Finance Robert Yasi was appointed as a judge in the Suffolk Probate Court, Cowin was chosen to succeed him. As Administration and Finance Secretary Cowin was in charge of outlining the state budget.1974 Attorney General campaign
Cowin resigned from Sargent's cabinet on May 9, 1974 to run for State Attorney General. He officially entered the race four days later. He won the convention endorsement after his two Republican opponents, Josiah SpauldingJosiah Spaulding
Josiah Augustus "Si" Spaulding was an American businessman, attorney, and politician.-Education and military service:...
and Charles Codman Cabot, Jr., chose to bypass the convention. During the campaign, Cowin struggled to raise money and trailed Spaulding in polls.
Cowin finished third in the Republican primary with 24% of the vote.
After the primary, Governor Sargent asked state Republican chairman
Massachusetts Republican Party
The Massachusetts Republican Party is the Massachusetts branch of the United States Republican Party. Governance of the party takes the form of a State Committee which, in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 52, consists of one man and one woman from each of the 40 Senate Districts...
William Barnstead
William Barnstead
William A. Barnstead was an American businessman and politician who served as chairman of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee from 1974 to 1975.-Early career:...
's resignation and recommended that Cowin succeed him. Sargent later postponed his efforts to remove Barnstead to focus on his race against Michael Dukakis
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
.
In 1975, Cowin became a partner at Friedman & Atherton, LLP.
1978 Lieutenant Governor campaign
On May 25, 1978, Cowin and gubernatorial candidate Francis W. Hatch, Jr.Francis W. Hatch, Jr.
Francis W. Hatch, Jr. is a former Massachusetts politician who was a member of the Board of Alderman in Beverly, Massachusetts from 1957–1963 and as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1963–1979...
announced Cowin's candidacy for lieutenant governor as Hatch's running mate.
On September 19, 1978 he defeated State Representative Peter L. McDowell in the Republican Primary 128,914 votes to 86,250.
On November 7, 1978, Hatch and Cowin lost the general election to Edward J. King
Edward J. King
Edward Joseph "Ed" King was the 66th Governor of the U.S. state of Massachusetts from 1979 to 1983.Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and a graduate of Boston College and Bentley College, King played professional football as a guard with the All-America Football Conference Buffalo Bisons from 1948 to...
and Thomas P. O'Neill III
Thomas P. O'Neill III
Thomas Phillip O'Neill III leads a public relations and government affairs firm called O'Neill and Associates in Boston. He is the son of Tip O'Neill, who served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1977 to 1987.From 1975 to 1983, O'Neill served as lieutenant governor of...
53% to 47%.
Later career
From 2001 to 2008 Cowin was an Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court.Personal life
Cowin is married to retired Massachusetts Supreme Judicial CourtMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The SJC has the distinction of being the oldest continuously functioning appellate court in the Western Hemisphere.-History:...
Justice Judith Cowin
Judith Cowin
Judith Cathy Arnold Cowin is a retired justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.Cowin received her undergraduate degree from Wellesley College and her J.D. degree from Harvard Law School. She began her legal career in 1971 as assistant legal counsel to the Massachusetts Department of...
. They have three grown children.