Thomas Downey

Thomas Joseph Downey (born January 28, 1949) is an American attorney, lobbyist and former politician who served as a U.S. Representative for New York's 2nd congressional district from 1975 to 1993.

Thomas Downey
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 2nd district
In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	James R. Grover, Jr.
Succeeded by	Rick Lazio
Member of the Suffolk County Legislature from the 11th district
In office January 1972 – January 10, 1975[1]
Preceded by	Patrick F. Adams[2]
Succeeded by	Richard G. Lambert[3]
Personal details
Born	Thomas Joseph Downey January 28, 1949 Ozone Park, Queens, New York City
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Carol Browner
Education	Cornell University (BS) American University (JD)
Profession	Attorney, Lobbyist

Early life and education

Downey was born in Queens, New York City to Norma (née Morgillo) and Thomas A. Downey Jr.[4] He graduated from West Islip High School in West Islip, New York, in 1966, and went on to earn a B.S. from Cornell University in 1970. He attended St. John's University School of Law from 1972 to 1974, and earned a Juris Doctor from the Washington College of Law of American University in 1980.

Career

He served as Suffolk County, New York legislator from 1972 to 1975, and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1972.

U.S. House of Representatives

In 1974, he was elected as Democrat to the 94th 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 the 103rd 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 the United States House Committee on Armed Services, Downey specialized in arms control issues, serving as an adviser to the negotiation teams for the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks and START 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 brief physical scuffle in the House chamber with Republican Congressman Bob Dornan. Downey had earlier been described in a public speech as "a draft dodging wimp" by Dornan, following a series of personal and political differences between the two congressmen. Downey had received a medical deferral for a pierced eardrum at the time of the Vietnam War, while Dornan was a former Air Force jet pilot.[7]

Later career

A close confidante of Al Gore since their days in the House of Representatives, Downey played Jack Kemp in Gore's 1996 Vice Presidential debate rehearsals. He was set to play George W. Bush in Gore's rehearsals for the 2000 Presidential debates; however, after mysteriously receiving a package containing Bush's preparatory materials, he stepped aside to avoid the appearance of an improper advantage for his friend and candidate.[8]

Since leaving politics, Downey has worked as a lobbyist and chair of Downey McGrath Group, Inc., a lobbying firm he founded in 1993. The president is Ray McGrath, also a former U.S. Representative from New York. Downey represented Dubai 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."[9] Other past clients included energy companies like Chevron and the Standard Renewable Energy Group, several foreign countries, and the Albright Group.[10] He retired from lobbying in 2015.[11]

He has served on the advisory board for Council for a Livable World, a non-partisan advocacy organization dedicated to reducing the danger of nuclear weapons.[12][13] He is also a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One.[14]

Personal life

Downey married Carol Browner, the former head of the Environmental Protection Agency, on June 21, 2007.[15]

References

1. "Present & Former Legislator List | Suffolk County Legislature, NY". www.scnylegislature.us. Retrieved Nov 27, 2020.
2. "Klein Elected Suffolk Executive - The New York Times". Feb 11, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-02-11. Retrieved Nov 27, 2020.
3. United States Congress House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Cemeteries and BurialBenefits (Nov 27, 1977). "Hearings on the Establishment of a National Cemetery at Calverton, New York: Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Cemeteries and Burial Benefits of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives, Ninety-fifth Congress, First Session, July 15 and 16, 1977". U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved Nov 27, 2020 – via Google Books.
4. Obituary: Thomas A. Downey, Jr. Published in Newsday from July 9–10, 2004. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
5. Savage, Charlie; Kirkpatrick, David D. (2008-12-15). "Spousal Ties to Lobbying Test a Vow From Obama (Published 2008)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
6. Downey McGrath Group, Inc. | Thomas Downey
7. page 32, Time Magazine March 18, 1985
8. Seelye, Katharine Q. (Sep 14, 2000). "THE 2000 CAMPAIGN: THE DEBATE; Gore Aide Receives, Then Lets Go Of Hot Potato (Published 2000)". Retrieved Nov 27, 2020 – via NYTimes.com.
9. Downey, Thomas, "Ports would have been more secure — Editorial", March 19, 2006. accessed April 17, 2006
10. Savage, Charlie; Kirkpatrick, David D. (Dec 15, 2008). "Spousal Ties to Lobbying Test a Vow From Obama (Published 2008)". Retrieved Nov 27, 2020 – via NYTimes.com.
11. "Tom Downey, former LI congressman, to retire from lobbying | Newsday". Nov 2, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-11-02. Retrieved Nov 27, 2020.
12. "Council Celebrates Fourth Annual Drinan Peace and Human Rights Award". Council for a Livable World. Jun 3, 2009. Retrieved Nov 27, 2020.
13. "Board". Council for a Livable World. Retrieved Nov 27, 2020.
14. "Issue One – ReFormers Caucus". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
15. "Carol Browner and Thomas Downey (Published 2007)". Jun 24, 2007. Retrieved Nov 27, 2020 – via NYTimes.com.

External links

• United States Congress. "Thomas Downey (id: D000471)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Appearances on C-SPAN