Joseph A. McNamara | |
|---|---|
.jpg) From Volume 3 of 1940'sThe Lake Champlain and Lake George Valleys | |
| United States Attorney for Vermont | |
| In office 1933–1953 | |
| Appointed by | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Harry B. Amey |
| Succeeded by | Louis G. Whitcomb |
| President of theVermont Bar Association | |
| In office 1941–1942 | |
| Preceded by | Horace H. Powers |
| Succeeded by | Deane C. Davis |
| Judge of theBurlington, Vermont Municipal Court | |
| In office 1921–1923 | |
| Preceded by | Henry B. Shaw |
| Succeeded by | Clarence P. Cowles |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1891-08-04)August 4, 1891 |
| Died | March 25, 1972(1972-03-25) (aged 79) |
| Resting place | Resurrection Park Cemetery,South Burlington, Vermont |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Mary P. Magner (m. 1922) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | College of the Holy Cross (BA) Harvard University (GrDip) |
| Occupation | Attorney Public official |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1918–1919 |
| Rank |  Sergeant |
| Unit |  Company D, 312th Supply Train,87th Division |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
Joseph A. McNamara (August 4, 1892 - March 25, 1972) was a Vermont attorney and politician. ADemocrat, he was most notable for his service asUnited States Attorney for Vermont from 1933 to 1953.
McNamara was a native ofFair Haven, Vermont, and attended the schools of Fair Haven. He graduated fromCollege of the Holy Cross in 1915,studied law with a Vermont attorney, and attendedHarvard Law School. Leaving law school early to enter the military forWorld War I, McNamara served in theUnited States Army and attained the rank of sergeant as a member of the87th Division.
After leaving the Army, McNamara wasadmitted to the bar and began to practice law inBurlington, Vermont. He became active in politics as a Democrat, and served as Burlington's municipal court judge from 1921 to 1923. After unsuccessful runs forVermont Attorney General and the U.S. House, in 1933 McNamara was named US Attorney for Vermont. He held the post through the administrations of DemocratsFranklin Roosevelt andHarry Truman, and resigned after RepublicanDwight Eisenhower became president.
After leaving the US Attorney's position, McNamara continued to practice law in Burlington. He died in Burlington on March 25, 1972, and was buried at Resurrection Park Cemetery inSouth Burlington, Vermont.
Joseph Augustin McNamara (sometimes spelled Augustine) was born inFair Haven, Vermont, on August 4, 1892, the son of Catherine Foy and James McNamara, who was active in the slate manufacturing business.[1] He attended the schools of Fair Haven, graduated fromFair Haven High School in 1910, and attendedSaint Michael's College from 1910 to 1911.[1] He then attendedCollege of the Holy Cross from which he received hisBachelor of Arts degree in 1915.[1]
McNamarastudied law with attorney Thomas W. Moloney ofRutland and attendedHarvard Law School.[2] In 1918 he received the school's "war diploma", which was awarded to students near to graduation who left early to enter military service.[3] He was undergoing his initial military training at theUniversity of Vermont inBurlington in July 1918 when he was permitted to take a special bar exam.[4][5] The exam was available to recently qualified applicants who were serving in the military, and McNamara passed.[5]
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McNamara joined theUnited States Army in May 1918.[6] After his initial training at theUniversity of Vermont he was assigned to Company D, 312th Supply Train, a unit of the87th Division.[6][7]
McNamara completed his induction and training in the summer of 1918 and sailed for France, arriving on September 11.[6] The 87th Division had not completed its final pre-combat training before the war ended in November, so its members were used as replacements for soldiers in other units who had been killed or wounded, and to construct roads, bases and other facilities.[8] McNamara attained the rank ofsergeant, and was discharged from the military in June 1919.[6]
After leaving the Army, McNamara wasadmitted to the bar and began to practice in Burlington.[1] In 1919, he was appointed assistant supervisor of the 1920 federal census in Vermont.[9] McNamara was a Democrat during the era when theRepublicans dominated Vermont politics and government, and served as an election inspector, chairman of the Burlington andChittenden County Democratic Committees, and a delegate to several state and national party conventions.[1]
Despite his party affiliation, the judge of Burlington's municipal court, Henry B. Shaw, recommended McNamara as his replacement in 1921 when Shaw resigned to become Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs (chief assistant) to GovernorJames Hartness.[10] Hartness concurred and appointed McNamara, who served until 1923.[10][11]
In 1924, 1926 and 1928, McNamara was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee forVermont Attorney General.[12] In 1930, he was the Democratic nominee inVermont's 1st congressional district, and received 42 percent of the vote in his unsuccessful race against RepublicanJohn E. Weeks, who was the incumbent governor.[12] Vermont's 1st and 2nd Districts were eliminated following the 1930 Census, and in 1932 McNamara was the Democratic nominee in Vermont's new at-large district.[12] He lost to incumbent 2nd District RepublicanErnest Willard Gibson by 64 percent to 36.[12]
Franklin Roosevelt won the presidency in 1932, enabling him to make appointments of US Attorneys once his term commenced in March 1933.[13] In June 1933, he appointed McNamara to succeedHarry B. Amey as theUnited States Attorney for Vermont.[13] McNamara was confirmed later that month, and was sworn in on July 1, 1933.[13]
Because the U.S. Attorney's caseload did not require a full time prosecutor, McNamara continued to practice law.[14] In 1940, he began to practice in partnership withRobert W. Larrow as McNamara & Larrow.[14] This firm is still in existence, and is now known as McCormick, Fitzpatrick, Kasper & Burchard, P.C.[14]
In 1948, most Vermont political observers expected McNamara to be appointed as Vermont's U.S. District Court Judge following the death ofJames P. Leamy, but incumbent Republican GovernorErnest W. Gibson Jr. expressed his interest in the position to PresidentHarry S. Truman.[14] Truman, who had known Gibson's fatherErnest Willard Gibson when they served in theUnited States Senate, and the younger Gibson when he served briefly as his father's appointed replacement, admired the younger Gibson'sWorld War II military career and the progressive political record he built as governor.[14] Despite the difference in their party affiliations, these factors caused Truman to nominate Gibson for the judgeship.[14]
McNamara resigned as US Attorney in October 1953, after the election of RepublicanDwight D. Eisenhower to the presidency, enabling Eisenhower to name a Republican to the position.[15] Eisenhower appointedLouis G. Whitcomb, who served until 1961.[15]
After leaving office, McNamara continued to practice law in Burlington.[16] Among his notable cases was his defense in 1966 and 1967 ofState Senator andVermont Democratic Party chairman Frederick J. Fayette, who was accused of accepting a bribe to influence the appointment of thepostmaster inSt. Johnsbury.[16] Fayette was convicted and fined $300,[16] and his conviction was affirmed on appeal.[17]
From 1941 to 1942, McNamara served as president of theVermont Bar Association.[18][19]
McNamara was a member of the Burlington Country Club, Ethan Allen Club,Elks,American Legion, andVeterans of Foreign Wars.[20] He was an associate trustee ofSaint Michael's College, and a fourth degree member of theKnights of Columbus.[20]
McNamara died in Burlington on March 25, 1972.[20] He was buried at Resurrection Park Cemetery inSouth Burlington, Vermont.[20]
In 1925, Holy Cross awarded McNamara thehonorary degree ofMaster of Arts,[21] and he received an honoraryLL.D. from Holy Cross in 1953.[22]
In 1922, McNamara married Mary P. Magner.[1][20] They were the parents of son James J. and daughters Maureen, Nancy (Mrs. Clifton Harris) and Martha (Mrs. Russell Mahoney).[1][20]