John Heinz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator fromPennsylvania | |
| In office January 3, 1977 – April 4, 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Hugh Scott |
| Succeeded by | Harris Wofford |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's18th district | |
| In office November 2, 1971 – January 3, 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Corbett |
| Succeeded by | Doug Walgren |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Henry John Heinz III (1938-10-23)October 23, 1938 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | April 4, 1991(1991-04-04) (aged 52) Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Helicopter crash |
| Resting place | Homewood Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, includingAndré andChristopher |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Henry J. Heinz (great-grandfather) Drue English (stepmother) |
| Education | Yale University (BA) Harvard University (MBA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Air Force (Reserves) |
| Years of service | 1963–1969 |
Henry John Heinz III (October 23, 1938 – April 4, 1991) was an American businessman and politician who served as aUnited States senator from Pennsylvania from 1977 untilhis death in 1991. An heir to the Heinz family fortune, Heinz entered politics in 1971 when he won a special election to replaceRobert Corbett to representPennsylvania's 18th congressional district. In1976, Heinz ran to replace retiring Senate Minority LeaderHugh Scott. Heinz narrowly won in the Republican primary over future SenatorArlen Specter and defeatedWilliam Green III in the general election. Heinz won re-election in 1982 and 1988 by large margins. On April 4, 1991, Heinz was killed when his plane, facing mechanical problems,collided with a helicopter inspecting the plane, killing all involved in the crash.
Henry John Heinz III was born on October 23, 1938, inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the only child of Joan (Diehl) andH. J. "Jack" Heinz II, heir to theH. J. Heinz Company. His parents divorced in 1942. Heinz moved to San Francisco, California, with his mother and stepfather,U.S. Navy Captain Clayton Chot "Monty" McCauley. Although he was raised and primarily resided in San Francisco throughout his childhood, Heinz often spent the summer months with his father in Pittsburgh.[1]
In 1956, Heinz graduated fromPhillips Exeter Academy.[2] He then attended and graduated fromYale University, whereTheodore Stebbins was his roommate, in 1960, majoring in history, arts and letters. Heinz subsequently graduated fromHarvard Business School in 1963. As a Harvard Business School student, he met his future wife,Teresa Simões Ferreira, who attended theUniversity of Geneva, over summer break.
After graduating from Harvard Business School in 1963, Heinz served in theUnited States Air Force Reserve and was on active duty during the same year.[1] He remained in the Air Force Reserve until 1969.[2]
Heinz served as an assistant to Pennsylvania Republican U.S. SenatorHugh Scott and played an active role as assistant campaign manager during Scott's campaign for re-election. Heinz then worked in the financial and marketing division of the H. J. Heinz Company between 1965 and 1970, after which he taught business at theCarnegie Mellon University'sGraduate School of Industrial Administration until 1971.[1]
In 1971, Heinz entered politics after RepresentativeRobert Corbett, who representedPennsylvania's 18th congressional district, died in office. After winning the Republican primary, Heinz won the special election on November 2, 1971, to fill the vacancy created by Corbett's death. Heinz was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in1972 and1974.[2][1] During his tenure, he cultivated a moderate record in the vein of Pennsylvania's two Republican senatorsHugh Scott andRichard Schweikert.[3] Also in 1974, he declined to challenge Democratic governorMilton Schapp.[4]
Heinz opted not to run for re-election to his seat in the House of Representatives, announcing on December 10, 1975 to run for Pennsylvania's openUnited States Senate seat created by the retirement of incumbentHugh Scott.[5] In the primary, Heinz faced opposition fromArlen Specter. During the campaign, the Supreme Court issued a ruling inBuckley v. Valeo, allowing candidates to spend with few restrictions, benefitting Heinz.[6] During the campaign, Heinz came under fire for having accepted illegal donations totaling $6,000 fromGulf Oil, which Heinz returned, claimed was an accident and denied legal culpability.[7] Heinz would defeat Specter in the primary, performing strongly in western Pennsylvania.[8] Heinz faced congressmanWilliam Green III in the general election. Heinz was criticized by Green for his wealth and spending.[9] Heinz defeated Green in November.[10] He was subsequently re-elected in1982 and in1988.[1]
In the Senate, Heinz was a moderate-to-liberal Republican.[11] He was a member of theCommittee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, theCommittee on Finance, theNational Commission on Social Security Reform, the National Commission on Health Care Reform, the Northeast Coalition, and the Steel Caucus. He also served as chairman of the Subcommittee on International Finance and Monetary Policies, theSpecial Committee on Aging, and the Republican Conference Task Force on Job Training and Education.[1]
Heinz voted in favor of thebill establishingMartin Luther King Jr. Day as afederal holiday and theCivil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 (as well as to overridePresident Reagan's veto).[12][13][14] Heinz voted in favor of theRobert Bork Supreme Court nomination.[15]
He was elected chairman of theNational Republican Senatorial Committee for two terms, 1979–1981 and 1985–1987.
The New York Times noted that Heinz built a solid record in the Senate as "a persistent defender of the nation's growing elderly population and of the declining steel industry", that he was "instrumental in pushing through legislation that put the Social Security system on sounder financial footing", and "played a major role in strengthening laws regulating retirement policies, pension plans, health insurance and nursing homes", and "pushed successfully for trade laws that encourage American exports and protect American products, like steel, from foreign imports".[16]
In 1991, Heinz began evaluating aPennsylvania gubernatorial bid, with advisors thinking it was a move towards a future bid for theWhite House.[17]
On April 4, 1991, Heinz and six other people, including two children, were killed when a Sun Co. Aviation DepartmentBell 412 helicopter and aPiper Aerostar, with Heinz aboard, collided in mid-air aboveMerion Elementary School inLower Merion Township, Pennsylvania. All aboard both aircraft, as well as two children at the school, were killed.[18] The helicopter was attempting to investigate a problem with the landing gear of Heinz's plane, and while moving in for a closer look, collided with the plane, causing both aircraft to lose control and crash.[19] The subsequentNTSB investigation attributed the cause of the crash to poor judgment by the pilots of the two aircraft involved.[20][21]
Following a funeral atHeinz Chapel[22] in Pittsburgh and a Washington, D.C. memorial service that was attended by PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush and Vice PresidentDan Quayle,[23] Senator Heinz's remains were interred in the Heinz family mausoleum inHomewood Cemetery, located in thePoint Breeze neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[2]
Heinz's long time friend,Senator Tim Wirth of Colorado,[24] remarked: "He really believed he could make the world a better place, such a contrast to the jaded resignation of our time. He could send the Senate leadership up a wall faster than anyone I've seen." Heinz's sonAndré said at the services: "Dad, I am so grateful for the time we had, and I miss you and I love you."[25]
In 1995,Teresa, Heinz's widow, married Heinz's Senate colleague, future Democratic presidential nominee and Secretary of StateJohn Kerry.[26]
The Tinicum Wildlife Preserve was renamed to theJohn Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum in Heinz's honor following his death. The 1,200 acre (4.9 km2) refuge includes the largest remaining freshwater tidalmarsh in Pennsylvania, as well as other habitats that are home to a variety of plants and animals native to Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Heinz was elected to theAmerican Philosophical Society in 1991.[27]
In 1993, his family established theHeinz Awards, which honors individual innovation in five categories. One of theJefferson Awards for Public Service annual awards, for "Greatest Public Service by an Elected or Appointed Official", is named in his honor.
Several institutions bear his name, including:
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | H. John Heinz III | 103,543 | 66.6 | ||
| Democratic | John E. Connelly | 49,269 | 31.7 | ||
| Constitution | John E. Backman | 2,737 | 1.7 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | H. John Heinz, III | 358,715 | 37.73 | ||
| Republican | Arlen Specter | 332,513 | 34.98 | ||
| Republican | George Packard | 160,379 | 16.87 | ||
| Republican | Others | 99,074 | 10.43 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | H. John Heinz III | 2,381,891 | 52.39 | ||
| Democratic | William J. Green, III | 2,126,977 | 46.79 | ||
| Constitution | Andrew J. Watson | 26,028 | 0.57 | ||
| Socialist Workers | Frederick W. Stanton | 5,484 | 0.12 | ||
| Labor Party | Bernard Salera | 3,637 | 0.08 | ||
| Communist Party | Frank Kinces | 2,097 | 0.05 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | H. John Heinz III (Incumbent) | 2,136,418 | 59.28 | ||
| Democratic | Cyril Wecht | 1,412,965 | 39.20 | ||
| Libertarian | Barbara I. Karkutt | 19,244 | 0.53 | ||
| Socialist Workers | William H. Thomas | 18,951 | 0.53 | ||
| Consumer | Liane Norman | 16,530 | 0.46 | ||
| Majority | 723,453 | 20.08 | |||
| Turnout | 3,604,108 | ||||
| Republicanhold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | H. John Heinz III (Incumbent) | 2,901,715 | 66.45 | ||
| Democratic | Joseph Vignola | 1,416,764 | 32.45 | ||
| Consumer | Darcy Richardson | 25,273 | 0.58 | ||
| Libertarian | Henry E. Haller II | 11,822 | 0.27 | ||
| Populist | Samuel Cross | 6,455 | 0.15 | ||
| New Alliance | Sam Blancato | 4,569 | 0.11 | ||
| Majority | 1,484,951 | 34.00 | |||
| Turnout | 4,366,598 | ||||
| Republicanhold | Swing | ||||
Carefully he patterned his moderate-to-liberal voting record after Scott's and Schweiker's...
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)Due to the recent Buckley v. Valeo ruling, Heinz was able to run his campaign with virtually unlimited funding...
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 18th congressional district 1971–1977 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 1) from Pennsylvania 1977–1991 Served alongside:Richard Schweiker andArlen Specter | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Robert Packwood Oregon | Chairman of theNational Republican Senatorial Committee 1979–1981 | Succeeded by Robert Packwood Oregon |
| Preceded by Richard Lugar Indiana | Chairman of theNational Republican Senatorial Committee 1985–1987 | Succeeded by Rudy Boschwitz Minnesota |
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forU.S. Senator from Pennsylvania (Class 1) 1976,1982,1988 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Lawton Chiles Florida | Chairman of theSenate Aging Committee 1981–1987 | Succeeded by John Melcher Montana |
| Class 1 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 3 | ||
| Notes | † Never officially seated | |
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| National | |
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| Other | |
