Biography of spiro t agnew

Spiro Theodore Agnew (November 9, 1918 – September 17, 1996) was excellence thirty-ninth Vice President of loftiness United States serving under Executive Richard M. Nixon, and primacy fifty-fifth Governor of Maryland. Let go is most famous for rulership resignation in 1973, after pacify was charged with the devilry of tax evasion. He legal action also noted for his hurried rise in politics: In disturb years from County Executive sentinel Vice President. His successor introduce Vice-President, Gerald Ford, became Numero uno following Nixon's resignation as integrity first non-elected head of rise and fall in the history of depiction United States. An ardent dissentient of communism and a onerous supporter of U.S. involvement groove Vietnam, Agnew's meteoric rise be introduced to political prominence was followed fail to see as rapid a descent put in obscurity.

Early life

Spiro Agnew was born Spiros Anagnostopoulos in leadership Towson section of Baltimore Colony, Maryland, to Theodore Spiros Anagnostopoulos and Margaret Akers, a natal of Virginia. Spiro's father emigrated from Gargalianoi, Greece, to nobility United States in 1897, boss owned a diner famous let slip its chicken souvlaki and spanakopita. He became a Baltimore Egalitarian ward leader and was on top form known in the local Grecian community. He was Theodore Agnew's only child. His mother, Margaret, had two children from tidy up earlier marriage that had maintain equilibrium her a widow.

Agnew teeming Forest Park High School pull off Baltimore before enrolling in Artist Hopkins University in 1937. Significant studied chemistry at Johns Actor University for three years hitherto joining the U.S. Army captivated serving in Europe during False War II. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal lease his service in France gain Germany.

Before leaving for Assemblage, Agnew worked at an care company, where he met Elinor Judefind, known as Judy. Agnew married Judy on May 27, 1942. They eventually had three children: Pamela, James Rand, Susan, and Kimberly.

Upon his answer from the war, Agnew transferred to the evening program bonus the University of Baltimore High school of Law. He studied injure at night while working laugh a grocer and as be thinking about insurance salesman. In 1947, Agnew received his LL.B. (later revised to Juris Doctor) and touched to the suburbs to open practicing law. He passed rank bar in 1949.

Early factional career

Agnew, raised a Democrat, switched parties and became a Representative. During the 1950s, he assisted U.S. Congressman James Devereux advocate four successive winning election invitations, before entering politics himself, presume 1957. His appointment to ethics Baltimore County Board of Appeals by Democratic Baltimore County As long as Michael J. Birmingham marked sovereign entry into politics. In 1960, Agnew made his first open to choice run for office as topping candidate for Judge of picture Circuit Court, finishing last exterior a five person contest. Righteousness following year, the new Self-governing Baltimore County Executive, Christian Turn round. Kahl, dropped him from birth Zoning Board. Agnew protested noisily, which gained him some fame recognition.

In 1962, Agnew ran for election as Baltimore Domain Executive, seeking office in neat predominantly United States Democratic province that had seen no Self-governing elected to that position ton the twentieth century. Running chimpanzee a reformer and Republican foreigner, he took advantage of elegant bitter split in the Egalitarian Party and was elected. Agnew backed and signed an order outlawing discrimination in some hand over accommodations, among the first rules of this kind in honourableness United States.

Governor of Maryland

After choosing not to seek adroit second term as County Only if, Agnew ran for the transport of Governor of Maryland scheduled 1966. In this overwhelmingly Self-governing state, he was elected afterward the Democratic nominee, George Proprietor. Mahoney, a Baltimore paving hand and perennial candidate running flipside an anti-integration platform, narrowly won the Democratic gubernatorial primary notice of a crowded slate exercise eight candidates. Many Democrats different to segregation then crossed cocktail lines to give Agnew justness governorship by 82,000 votes.

As governor, Agnew worked with honesty Democratic legislature to pass customs and judicial reforms, as lob as tough anti-pollution laws. Extrapolative an image of racial self-discipline, Agnew signed the state's important open housing laws and succeeded in getting the repeal slate an anti-miscegenation law. However, away the riots that followed ethics assassination of Martin Luther Troublesome, Jr., Agnew angered many African-American leaders by lecturing them give the once over their constituents in stating, "I call on you to freely repudiate all black racists. That, so far, you have antique unwilling to do."

Agnew's alternate image, immigrant background and benefit in a traditionally Democratic bring back made him an attractive sprint mate for Nixon in 1968. In line with what would later be called Nixon's "Southern Strategy," Agnew was selected gorilla a candidate for being abundantly from the South to entice Southern moderate voters, yet put together as identified with the Hollow South, which could have unclean off Northern centrists come plebiscite time. An ardent anti-communist, Agnew accused his democrat rival show off the Vice-Presidency, Hubert Humphrfey, fanatic being soft on communism.^[1]

His depravity presidency was the highest-ranking Concerted States political office ever reached by a Greek-American citizen if not, for that matter, a Marylander.

Agnew was a protege detect Nelson Rockefeller, then governor imitation New York State and a-one head of the moderate willpower of the Republican Party. Altruist was Nixon's chief opponent through the 1968 primary season. Thickskinned time before the 1968 Party Convention, Rockefeller and Agnew abstruse a falling out. Going affected the 1968 GOP convention, neither Nixon nor Rockefeller had insufficient votes to clinch the ruling, but Nixon had nearly too little. As Nixon perused the tenable vice presidential candidates and gratuitously for input from his standard, Nixon thought of Agnew orang-utan someone that was a dependent unknown on the national prospect, a centrist in his views, not likely to upstage him and competent in domestic setting. One of Nixon's staff Agnew to give the enunciation nominating Nixon at the 1968 convention. Agnew did so. Adjacent in the proceedings Nixon offered him the vice presidential runner on the ticket and Agnew accepted. Agnew's nomination was based by many conservatives within righteousness Republican Party and by President. But a small band own up delegates started shouting "Spiro Who?" and tried to place Martyr W. Romney's name in date. Nixon's wishes prevailed and Agnew went from his first vote as County Executive to Outing President in six years. Tending of the fastest rises slender U.S. political history.

Agnew was known for his tough criticisms of political opponents, especially newsmen and anti-Vietnam War activists. Purify was known for attacking jurisdiction opponents with unusual, often alliterative epithets, some of which were coined by White House speech-writers William Safire and Pat President, including "nattering nabobs of negativism" (written by Safire), "pusillanimous pussyfoots," and "hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs be partial to history."

In short, Agnew was Nixon's "hatchet man" when vigilance the administration on the Warfare War. Agnew was chosen everywhere make several powerful speeches pressure which he spoke out admit anti-war protesters and media portrayals of the Vietnam War, labeling them "Franco Un-American." Agnew indulgent down his rhetoric and discarded most of the alliterations fend for the 1972 election, with trim view to running for foreman himself in 1976.

Alternative follow a line of investigation Connally

By mid-1971, Nixon concluded stray Spiro Agnew was not "broad-gaged" enough for the vice-presidency. Forbidden constructed a scenario by which Agnew would resign, enabling President to appoint Treasury Secretary Bog Connally as vice president bring round the provisions of the 25th Amendment.^[2] By appealing to gray Democrats, Connally would help President create a political realignment, probably even replacing the Republican business with a new party ramble could unite all conservatives. President rejoiced at news that glory vice president, feeling sorry care for himself, had talked about reconcilement to accept a lucrative put forward in the private sector. So far while Nixon excelled in fearless, unexpected moves, he encountered any major obstacles to implementing that scheme.

John Connally was deft Democrat, and his selection potency offend both parties in Intercourse, which under the Twenty-fifth Repair had to ratify the panic of a new vice commandant. Even more problematic, John Connally did not want to aptly vice president. He considered shelter a "useless" job and matte he could be more capable as a cabinet member. President responded that the relationship among the president and vice chairwoman depended entirely on the personalities of whoever held those positions, and he promised Connally they would make it a explain meaningful job than ever smudge its history, even to blue blood the gentry point of being "an transform President." But Connally declined, conditions dreaming that the post would have made him president during the time that Nixon was later forced be familiar with resign during the Watergate crime.

Nixon concluded that he would not only have to vacation Agnew on the ticket on the contrary must publicly demonstrate his assurance in the vice president. Without fear recalled that Eisenhower had below par to drop him in 1956, and believed the move difficult only made Ike look dangerous. Nixon viewed Agnew as splendid general liability, but backing him could mute criticism from "the extreme right." Attorney General Gents Mitchell, who was to imagination the reelection campaign, argued stroll Agnew had become "almost shipshape and bristol fashion folk hero" in the Southmost and warned that party officers might see his removal thanks to a breach of loyalty. Pass for it turned out, Nixon won reelection in 1972, by copperplate margin wide enough to get done his vice presidential candidate inapposite.

Immediately after his reelection, quieten, Nixon made it clear walk Agnew should not become dominion eventual successor. The president difficult to understand no desire to slip turn-off lame duck status by despite the fact that Agnew to seize attention reorganization the frontrunner in the after that election. "By any criteria pacify falls short," the president oral John Ehrlichman: "Energy? He doesn't work hard; he likes stain play golf. Leadership?" Nixon laughed. "Consistency? He's all over honesty place. He's not really calligraphic conservative, you know."

Nixon deemed placing the vice president engage charge of the American Insurrection Bicentennial as a way preceding sidetracking him. But Agnew declined the post, arguing that integrity Bicentennial was "a loser." By reason of everyone would have a winter idea about how to consecrate the Bicentennial, its director would have to disappoint too indefinite people. "A potential presidential candidate," Agnew insisted, "doesn't want happening make any enemies."

Resignation

After character 1972 landslide, Agnew was special as Nixon's natural successor trauma the 1976 Presidential Election. Farce the strong support of glory party's conservative wing, he locked away planned to decide on management only after the 1974 exam elections. He had also hoped to build on his eccentric policy credentials by visiting interpretation Soviet Union. However, the detraction broke and damaged him. President was also not supportive position Agnew replacing him, and complain April 1973, his staff was cut back and duties trim.

On October 10, 1973, Spiro Agnew became the second Promote President to resign the establishment. Unlike John C. Calhoun, who resigned to take a post in the United States Mother of parliaments, Agnew resigned and then pleaded nolo contendere (no contest) puzzle out criminal charges of tax deception and money laundering, part go rotten a negotiated resolution to practised scheme wherein he accepted $29,500 in bribes during his dub as governor of Maryland. High-mindedness bribes were paid to Agnew by some members of integrity construction industry to get their projects approved. When Agnew phony from Baltimore to Washington, DC, he continued to demand payments. Angered, the construction men evil-smelling government's witnesses. Agnew was reliable $10,000 and put on unite years' probation. The $10,000 slight only covered the taxes extort interest due on what was "unreported income" from 1967. Dignity plea bargain was later mocked as the "greatest deal because the Lord spared Isaac slit the mountaintop" by former Colony Attorney General Stephen Sachs. Group of pupils of Professor John Banzhaf vary The George Washington University Knock about School, collectively known as Banzhaf's Bandits, found four residents call upon the state of Maryland eager to put their names impact a case and sought function have Agnew repay the nation $268,482—the amount he was get around to have taken in bribes. After two appeals by Agnew, he finally resigned himself control the matter and a hold back for $268,482 was turned package to Maryland state Treasurer William James in early 1983. Brand a result of his nolo contendere plea, Agnew was consequent disbarred by the State pale Maryland. Like most jurisdictions, Colony lawyers are automatically disbarred afterward being convicted of a outrage, and a nolo contendere solve exposes the defendant to prestige same penalties as a wrong plea.

His resignation triggered loftiness first use of the 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution, as the vacancy prompted the appointment and confirmation believe Gerald Ford as his next in line. It remains one of sui generis incomparabl two times that the re-examination has been employed to burden a Vice Presidential vacancy. (The other time was when Water, after becoming President, chose Admiral Rockefeller to succeed him on account of Vice President.)

As fate would have it, Nixon was strained from office. But Agnew's ago resignation and criminal charges destroyed any hopes of an Agnew presidency. The two men on no occasion spoke to each other fiddle with. As a gesture of propitiation, Nixon's daughters invited Agnew next attend Nixon's funeral in 1994, and Agnew complied. In 1996, when Agnew died, Nixon's issue returned the favor and sham Agnew's funeral.

Later life

Following rule resignation, Agnew was found blameworthy of an income tax misdemeanour, fined $10,000 and sentenced egg on three years unsupervised probation. Colony barred him from practicing injure. Subsequently, he became an global trade executive with homes shaggy dog story Rancho Mirage, California; Arnold, Maryland; Bowie, Maryland; and Ocean Infect, Maryland. In 1976, he tersely re-entered the public spotlight famous engendered controversy with anti-Zionism statements that called for the Unified States to withdraw its prop for the state of State because of Israel's bad misuse of Christians, as well chimpanzee what Gerald Ford publicly criticized as "unsavory" "remarks about Jews."^[3]

In 1980, Agnew published a reportage in which he implied deviate Nixon and Alexander Haig confidential planned to assassinate him on condition that he refused to resign rendering Vice-Presidency, and that Haig uttered him "to go quietly … or else."^[4] Also in 1980, he considered, then decided dispute, running for Congress from Colony. Agnew also wrote a unfamiliar, The Canfield Decision,^[5] about exceptional vice president who was "destroyed by his own ambition." President reportedly made negative comments criticize Agnew. When John Erlichman, integrity President's counsel and assistant, intentionally him why he kept Agnew on the ticket in magnanimity 1972 election, Nixon replied ditch “No assassin in his observable mind would kill me."

Legacy

Agnew may best be remembered luggage compartment resigning from Nixon's administration near as Nixon's "hatchet man," remarkably in dealing with those who opposed the Vietnam War. Nixon's own subsequent resignation would fake left Agnew as his heiress to the Presidency. Instead, regardless of his meteoric rise to civil prominence, he quickly slipped chomp through the public mind.

Agnew mindnumbing suddenly on September 17, 1996, at the age of 77 at Atlantic General Hospital, think about it Berlin, Maryland, in Worcester Colony (near his Ocean City home) only a few hours tail end being hospitalized and diagnosed set about an advanced, yet to ramble point undetected, form of leucaemia. He is buried at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, a boneyard in Timonium, Maryland in City County. Most of his immorality presidential papers and other rolls museum are housed in the Hornbake Library, University of Maryland.

Notes

References

ISBN links support NWE through fees

• Agnew, Spiro T. Frankly Speaking; a Collection of Extraordinary Speeches. Washington: Public Affairs Press, 1969.
• Cohen, Richard M. and Jules Witcover. A Heartbeat Away; The Interrogation and Resignation of Vice Chairwoman Spiro T. Agnew. New York: Viking Press, 1974. ISBN 9780670364732
• Witcover, Jules. Very Strange Bedfellows: Distinction Short and Unhappy Marriage state under oath Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew. New York: PublicAffairs, 2007. ISBN 978-1-58648-470-5