Tom Railsback | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIllinois's19th district | |
| In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Gale Schisler |
| Succeeded by | Lane Evans |
| Member of theIllinois House of Representatives | |
| In office 1962–1966 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Fisher Railsback (1932-01-22)January 22, 1932 Moline, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | January 20, 2020(2020-01-20) (aged 87) Mesa, Arizona, U.S. |
| Resting place | Rock Island Memorial Park Cemetery Rock Island, Illinois |
| Political party | Republican |
Thomas Fisher Railsback (January 22, 1932 – January 20, 2020) was an American politician and lawyer who served eight terms in theUnited States House of Representatives from 1967 to 1983 forIllinois's 19th congressional district. A member of theRepublican Party, he sat on theHouse Judiciary Committee, which in 1974, voted to referarticles ofimpeachment against PresidentRichard Nixon to the full House.
Railsback was born on January 22, 1932, inMoline, Illinois, to municipal lawyer Fred Railsback and Elizabeth (Johnson) Railsback.[1] He attended public schools in Moline, received aB.A. fromGrinnell College in 1954, and received aJ.D. fromNorthwestern University School of Law inChicago in 1957.[2] He served in theUnited States Army from 1957 to 1959.[1][2]
In November 1962 Railsback was elected as aRepublican to theIllinois House of Representatives. Four years later, in the1966 election, he was elected to theU.S. House of Representatives, defeating theDemocraticincumbentGale Schisler.[1]
Although inspired to enter politics by the staunchlyconservativeBarry Goldwater, Railsback was amoderate Republican while in the House.[3] A longtime member of theHouse Committee on the Judiciary, he participated in the1973–74 impeachment process againstPresidentRichard Nixon.[4] Railsback and his Democratic colleagueWalter Flowers led what Railsback called a "fragile bipartisan coalition" which crafted twoarticles ofimpeachment against Nixon, charging him with:obstruction of justice in attempting to impede the investigation of theWatergate break-in andabuse of power by misusing the authority of the office of the presidency on multiple occasions, dating back to the first year of his administration (1969). He, along with five other Republicans (out of the 17 on the committee), voted with all 21 Democrats in advancing these articles to the House floor.[5] In an emotional July 24, 1974 speech on the House floor, he said that his obligations to uphold theConstitution superseded his personal loyalties to Nixon, a friend who Railsback praised as having many significant achievements.[1]
Support for Nixon's impeachment among congressional Republicans was the key factor leading to Nixon's decision toresign his office the next month.[4][6] Despite the vitriol voiced against him by pro-Nixon commentators and constituents, he went on to be re-elected four more times.[7]
While in the House, Railsback had a key role in the passage of theJuvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974.[1][8] In 1979, he and Wisconsin DemocratDavid Obey co-sponsored legislation to reduce the influence ofpolitical action committees in election spending.[9] He opposedRonald Reagan's effort to abolish and eliminate funding for theLegal Services Corporation, which providedlegal aid to poor Americans.[10]
In 1980, Railsback was one of three U.S. House members, along with future Vice PresidentDan Quayle of Indiana andTom Evans of Delaware, involved in the controversialFlorida golfing trip with lobbyist Paula Parkinson.[11] Parkinson told Larry King in 1988 that she had a "brief" and "fun" affair with Railsback.[12]
Over eight terms in office,[1] Railsback had established strong political support in his district; theWashington Post noted that "He took what might have been a marginal district—a mixture of rural Republican counties and a labor stronghold in Moline-Rock Island—and built a secure political base by salting his GOP voting record with support for civil rights and some labor positions."[13] In 1982, however, Illinois had lost two districts inreapportionment after the1980 census, and throughredistricting, Railsback's district (now renumbered as the 17th District) changed in composition to become significantly more conservative.[13][14] He was defeated for renomination in the 1982 Republicanprimary by a considerably more conservative Republican,State SenatorKenneth G. McMillan.[14] McMillan was defeated by DemocratLane Evans in November.[15]
Railsback was a mentor toRaymond H. LaHood,[1] who worked for Railsback from 1977 to 1982[16] before becoming a U.S. Representative himself, and laterU.S. Secretary of Transportation in theObama administration.[16]
After leaving Congress, Railsback worked as alobbyist. He was executive vice president of theMotion Picture Association of America and also worked for the Federal Judges Association as its Washington coordinator.[1]
Railsback married Patricia Sloan in 1955, and they had four daughters. The marriage ended in divorce.[1] Railsback later married Joyelyn (Silver) Railsback,[1] known as Joye.[7] He had 19 grandchildren.[1]
Railsback retired toIdaho, where he and his wife lived inMcCall andMeridian.[7]
He died on January 20, 2020, inMesa, Arizona, after a period of declining health.[16]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromIllinois's 19th congressional district 1967–1983 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
