John Tunney, senator who worked for environmental protection and civil rights, dies at 83

[alp227]

Source: LA Times

Former U.S. Sen. John V. Tunney, who as a young lawyer and rising California political star toppled an entrenched Republican incumbent before facing his own defeat just six years later, has died. He was 83.

Tunney, who lived mainly in Sun Valley, Idaho, in recent years but also maintained homes in Los Angeles and New York, died of prostate cancer Friday at a home in Brentwood, his brother Jay Tunney said.

A son of former world heavyweight boxing champion Gene Tunney and his New York socialite wife, John Tunney grew up on the East Coast but moved his growing family to California as an Air Force lawyer in the 1960s. He soon began a career in public office that coincided with a tumultuous period of growth and an often-shifting political landscape in his adopted state.

As a congressman representing Riverside and Imperial counties, starting in 1965, and during his 1971-77 tenure in the Senate, the Democrat who had been raised in a privileged Republican family racked up a liberal voting record and worked passionately to advance environmental protection and civil rights causes.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-john-tunney-snap-20180112-story.html

[Raine]

1. He was my Senator

and a very nice guy, sad news ... R-I-P Senator Tunney

[NBachers]

2. Primaried by Tom Hayden of the Chicago 8, Tunney was defeated by Republican S.I. Hayakawa in 1976.

I liked Hayden, but I always felt that his primary of Tunney led to the odious S.I. Hayakawa getting elected.

Sometimes, attacking from the left has unfortunate consequences.

Excellent article, and well worth the read.

[NNadir]

3. I lived in California during his tenure. I thought highly of him, and couldn't believe a fool...

...like Hayakawa defeated him.

RIP Senator Tunney, a good man.

Of course, I lived in California when Ronald Reagan, the man who did the most to destroy America's future, was governor.

That, of course, was not pleasant.

[Turbineguy]

4. One of the best guys ever.

He was my Congressman for a while.