Thomas Downey | |
|---|---|
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | James R. Grover Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Rick Lazio |
| Member of theSuffolk County Legislature from the 11th district | |
| In office January 1972 – January 10, 1975 | |
| Preceded by | Patrick Adams |
| Succeeded by | Richard Lambert |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Joseph Downey (1949-01-28)January 28, 1949 (age 76) New York City,New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Carol Browner |
| Education | Cornell University (BS) American University (JD) |
Thomas Joseph Downey (born January 28, 1949) is an American attorney, lobbyist and former politician who served as aU.S. Representative forNew York's 2nd congressional district from 1975 to 1993.
Downey was born inQueens,New York City to Norma (née Morgillo) and Thomas A. Downey Jr.[1] He graduated fromWest Islip High School inWest Islip, New York, in 1966, and went on to earn a B.S. fromCornell University in 1970. He attendedSt. John's University School of Law from 1972 to 1974, and earned aJuris Doctor from theWashington College of Law ofAmerican University in 1980.
He served asSuffolk County, New York legislator from 1972 to 1975, and was a delegate to theDemocratic National Convention in 1972.[2][3][4]
In 1974, he was elected asDemocrat to the94th United States Congress; at 25, he was the youngest member of that Congress. He was re-elected to the eight succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1993) and unsuccessfully ran for reelection to the103rd United States Congress in 1992. He lost his seat after it was revealed that he was among several lawmakers who had frequently overdrawn their House bank accounts without penalty, and that his wife at the time was a House bank auditor.[5]
As a member of theUnited States House Committee on Armed Services, Downey specialized in arms control issues, serving as an adviser to the negotiation teams for theStrategic Arms Limitation Talks andSTART I talks. As a member of the Budget and Ways and Means Committees, he advocated for welfare reform and child care legislation.[6]
In March 1985, Downey was involved in a physical scuffle in the House chamber with Republican CongressmanBob Dornan.[7] Dornan, a veteran of theUnited States Air Force,[8] had earlier described Downey in a public speech as "a draft dodging wimp."[7] During theVietnam War, Downey protested U.S. involvement and was medically exempt from military service because of a perforated eardrum.[7] Downey confronted Dornan and demanded an apology.[7] Dornan refused and told Downey that if he encountered Downey outside the House chamber, when he wasn't under the protection of theSergeant at Arms, Dornan would be glad to continue the altercation.[7] Downey attempted to leave, and Dornan grabbed Downey by the collar and tie.[7] Downey ended the confrontation by walking away.[7]Tip O'Neill, theSpeaker of the House, responded to the scuffle by informing Dornan that violence was a violation of House rules.[7]
A close confidante ofAl Gore since their days in the House of Representatives, Downey playedJack Kemp in Gore's 1996 vice presidential debate rehearsals. He was set to playGeorge W. Bush in Gore's rehearsals for the 2000 presidential debates; however, after mysteriously receiving a package containing Bush's debate preparation materials, he stepped aside to avoid the appearance of an improper advantage for Gore.[9]
Since leaving politics, Downey has worked as alobbyist and chair of Downey McGrath Group, Inc., a lobbying firm he founded in 1993. The president isRay McGrath, also a former U.S. Representative from New York. Downey representedDubai Ports World and lobbied Congress to approve the controversial ports deal. Downey argues that "they would have made this country more secure" because "DP World is one of the few companies that could have worked with us to truly improve security, both at home and abroad."[10] Other past clients included energy companies like Chevron and the Standard Renewable Energy Group, several foreign countries, and the Albright Group.[11] He retired from lobbying in 2015.[12]
He has served on the advisory board forCouncil for a Livable World, a non-partisan advocacy organization dedicated to reducing the danger of nuclear weapons.[13][14] He is also a member of the ReFormers Caucus ofIssue One.[15]
In 1978, Downey married Chris Milanos, with whom he is the father of two children, Lauren Katherine and Theodore Jonathan.[16][17][18] They later divorced, and on June 21, 2007, Downey marriedCarol Browner, the former head of theEnvironmental Protection Agency.[19]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 2nd congressional district 1975–1993 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former US Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former US Representative | Succeeded byas Former US Representative |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
