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{{short description|American politician}}
{{Short description|American politician and lawyer (1932–2020)}}
{{Infobox Congressman
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| honorific-prefix =
| honorific-suffix =
| honorific-suffix =
Line 10: Line 10:
| term_end1 = January 3, 1983
| term_end1 = January 3, 1983
| preceded1 = [[Gale Schisler]]
| preceded1 = [[Gale Schisler]]
| succeeded1 = [[Dan Crane]]
| succeeded1 = [[Lane Evans]]
| office2 = Member of the [[Illinois House of Representatives]]
| office2 = Member of the [[Illinois House of Representatives]]
| term_start2 = 1962
| term_start2 = 1962
| term_end2 = 1966
| term_end2 = 1966
|birth_name=Thomas Fisher Railsback
| birth_name=Thomas Fisher Railsback
| birth_date = {{birth date|1932|1|22}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1932|1|22}}
| birth_place = [[Moline, Illinois]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Moline, Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|1|20|1932|1|22}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|1|20|1932|1|22}}
| death_place = [[Mesa, Arizona]]
| death_place = [[Mesa, Arizona]], U.S.
| resting_place = [[Rock Island Memorial Park Cemetery]]<br>[[Rock Island, Illinois]]
| nationality = [[United States|American]]
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]}}
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
}}
⚫
'''Thomas Fisher Railsback''' (January 22, 1932 – January 20, 2020) was an American politician and lawyer who served eight terms in the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 1967 to 1983 for {{ushr|Illinois|19|}}. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], he sat on the [[House Judiciary Committee]], which in 1974, voted to refer [[Article of impeachment|articles]] of [[Federal impeachment in the United States|impeachment]] against President [[Richard Nixon]] to the full House.


==Early life==
⚫
'''Thomas Fisher Railsback''' (January 22, 1932 – January 20, 2020) was an American politician who served eight terms in the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 1967–1983 as the member of Congress for {{ushr|Illinois|19|}}, a district in the middle of the state.
⚫
Railsback was born on January 22, 1932, in [[Moline, Illinois]], to municipal lawyer Fred Railsback and Elizabeth (Johnson) Railsback.<ref name=NYTObit>{{cite news| first=Sam| last=Roberts| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/22/us/politics/tom-railsback-dead.html| title=Tom Railsback, Who Reconciled G.O.P. to Oust Nixon, Dies at 87| newspaper=The New York Times| date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> He attended public schools in Moline, received a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] from [[Grinnell College]] in 1954, and received a [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] from [[Northwestern University School of Law]] in [[Chicago]] in 1957.<ref name=Bioguide>{{cite web| title=Railsback, Thomas Fisher| url=https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/20089| website=history.house.gov| publisher=Office of the Historian, U.S. House of Representatives| location=Washington, D.C.| accessdate=February 9, 2020}}</ref> He served in the [[United States Army]] from 1957 to 1959.<ref name=NYTObit/><ref name=Bioguide/>

==Early life, education, and military service==
⚫
Railsback was born on January 22, 1932, in [[Moline, Illinois]], to municipal lawyer Fred Railsback and Elizabeth (Johnson) Railsback.<ref name=NYTObit>Sam Roberts, [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/22/us/politics/tom-railsback-dead.html Tom Railsback, Who Reconciled G.O.P. to Oust Nixon, Dies at 87], ''New York Times'' (January 22, 2020).</ref> He attended public schools in Moline,<ref name=Bioguide>{{cite dictionary|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=r000012|title=Profile: Thomas Fisher RAILSBACK|dictionary=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|accessdate=October 19, 2012}}</ref> received a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] from [[Grinnell College]] in 1954, and received a [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] from [[Northwestern University School of Law]] in [[Chicago]] in 1957.<ref name=NYTObit/><ref name=Bioguide/> He served in the [[United States Army]] from 1957 to 1959.<ref name=NYTObit/><ref name=Bioguide/>


==Political career==
==Political career==
Railsback served as a member of the [[Illinois State House of Representatives]] from 1962 to 1966 before being elected as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] to [[U.S. Congress|Congress]] in 1966, defeating [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Gale Schisler]], who was seeking a second term.<ref name=NYTObit/>
In November 1962 Railsback was elected as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] to the [[Illinois House of Representatives]]. Four years later, in the [[1966 United States House of Representatives elections|1966 election]], he was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]], defeating the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[incumbent]] [[Gale Schisler]].<ref name=NYTObit/>


Although inspired to enter politics by [[Barry Goldwater]],<ref name=Kabaservice>Geoffrey Kabaservice, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/the-old-tea-party-may-be-over-but-the-new-one-is-at-peak-power/2018/03/16/9588cb7c-2873-11e8-bc72-077aa4dab9ef_story.html The old tea party may be over, but the new one is at peak power], ''Washington Post'' (March 16, 2018).</ref> Railsback became a [[moderate Republican]] while in the House.<ref name=NYTObit/><ref name=Kabaservice/> Railsback served on the House Judiciary Committee.<ref name=NYTObit/><ref name=Luo>Michael Luo, [https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/what-house-republicans-can-learn-from-the-bipartisan-effort-to-impeach-nixon What House Republicans Can Learn from the Bipartisan Effort to Impeach Nixon], ''New Yorker'' (November 9, 2019).</ref> Railsback and his [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] colleague [[Walter Flowers]] are credited as being the key figures who built what Railsback called a "fragile bipartisan coalition" to adopt [[articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon|articles of impeachment against President Richard Nixon]] in the House Judiciary Committee.<ref name=NYTObit/> Railsback helped craft a compromise article charging the president with [[abuse of power]] by [[Obstruction of Congress|obstructing]] the [[Watergate investigation]].<ref name=NYTObit/><ref name=Simon>Scott Simon, [https://www.npr.org/2020/01/25/799428031/remembering-a-congressman-who-bucked-his-party-on-an-impeachment Remembering A Congressman Who Bucked His Party On An Impeachment], ''Weekend Edition Saturday'', NPR (January 25, 2020).</ref> In July 1974, the Judiciary Committee voted 27&ndash;11 to adopt the articles of impeachment; Railsback was one of six Republicans (out of the 17 Republicans on the committee) to join all 21 Democrats in advancing articles of impeachment to the House floor.<ref name=NYTObit/> In an emotional speech on the House floor, Railsback said that his obligations to uphold the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] superseded his personal loyalties to Nixon, a friend who Railsback praised as having many significant achievements.<ref name=NYTObit/> Support for Nixon's impeachment among congressional Republicans was the key factor leading to Nixon's decision to [[Resignation of Richard Nixon|resign his office]] the next month.<ref name=Luo/><ref name=Simon/> Although Railsback's decision prompted vitriol from pro-Nixon commentators and constituents, Railsback went on to be re-elected four more times.<ref name=Popkey>Dan Popkey, [https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/politics-blog/article40748625.html Retired in Idaho, former congressman still in limelight for Watergate role], ''Idaho Statesman'' (July 25, 2014).</ref>
Although inspired to enter politics by the staunchly [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] [[Barry Goldwater]], Railsback was a [[Rockefeller Republican|moderate Republican]] while in the House.<ref>{{cite news| first=Geoffrey| last=Kabaservice| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/the-old-tea-party-may-be-over-but-the-new-one-is-at-peak-power/2018/03/16/9588cb7c-2873-11e8-bc72-077aa4dab9ef_story.html| title=The old tea party may be over, but the new one is at peak power| newspaper=The Washington Post| date=March 16, 2018}}</ref> A longtime member of the [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|House Committee on the Judiciary]], he participated in the [[Impeachment process against Richard Nixon|1973–74 impeachment process]] against [[President of the United States|President]] [[Richard Nixon]].<ref name="Luo">{{Cite magazine |last=Luo |first=Michael |date=November 7, 2019 |title=What House Republicans Can Learn from the Bipartisan Effort to Impeach Nixon |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/what-house-republicans-can-learn-from-the-bipartisan-effort-to-impeach-nixon/amp |magazine=[[The New Yorker]]}}</ref> Railsback and his Democratic colleague [[Walter Flowers]] led what Railsback called a "fragile bipartisan coalition" which crafted two [[Article of impeachment|articles]] of [[Federal impeachment in the United States|impeachment]] against Nixon, charging him with: [[obstruction of justice]] in attempting to impede the investigation of the [[Watergate scandal|Watergate break-in]] and [[abuse 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.<ref name=Fragile08051974NYT>{{Cite news| title=How a Fragile Centrist Bloc Emerged As House Panel Weighed Impeachment| last=Naughton| first=James M.| others=Based on reporting by the author, R. W. Apple. Jr., Diane Henry, Marjorie Hunter and David E. Rosenbaum| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/08/05/archives/how-a-fragile-centrist-bloc-emerged-as-house-panel-weighed.html| date=August 5, 1974| page=49| newspaper=The New York Times| accessdate=December 18, 2019}}</ref> In an emotional July 24, 1974 speech on the House floor, he said that his obligations to uphold the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] superseded his personal loyalties to Nixon, a friend who Railsback praised as having many significant achievements.<ref name=NYTObit/>


Support for Nixon's impeachment among congressional Republicans was the key factor leading to Nixon's decision to [[Resignation of Richard Nixon|resign his office]] the next month.<ref name=Luo/><ref>{{cite episode| title=Remembering A Congressman Who Bucked His Party On An Impeachment| access-date=February 9, 2019 |series=Weekend Edition Saturday| last=Simon| first=Scott| network=NPR| date=January 25, 2020| url=https://www.npr.org/2020/01/25/799428031/remembering-a-congressman-who-bucked-his-party-on-an-impeachment}}</ref> Despite the vitriol voiced against him by pro-Nixon commentators and constituents, he went on to be re-elected four more times.<ref name=Popkey>{{cite news| first=Dan| last=Popkey| url=https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/politics-blog/article40748625.html| title=Retired in Idaho, former congressman still in limelight for Watergate role| newspaper=Idaho Statesman| location=Boise, Idaho| date=July 25, 2014}}</ref>
⚫
While in the House, Railsback had a key role in the passage of the [[Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974]].<ref name=NYTObit/><ref>Thomas F. Railsback, [https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu/cklawreview/vol52/iss1/2/ Juvenile Justice], 52 Chi.-Kent L. Rev. 1 (1975).</ref> In 1979, Railsback and Wisconsin Democrat [[David Obey]] co-sponsored legislation to reduce the influence of [[political action committee]]s in election spending.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1979/09/25/archives/the-bodysnatchers-on-capitol-hill.html The Body‐Snatchers on Capitol Hill], ''New York Times'' (September 25, 1979).</ref> He opposed [[Ronald Reagan]]'s effort to abolish and eliminate funding for the [[Legal Services Corporation]], which provided [[legal aid]] to poor Americans.<ref>David S. Broder, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1981/06/24/doing-justice-to-the-poor/2495b9f8-d2b7-4f62-9fa6-a6b50055cac4/ Doing Justice to the Poor], ''Washington Post'' (June 24, 1981).</ref>


⚫
While in the House, Railsback had a key role in the passage of the [[Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974]].<ref name=NYTObit/><ref>Thomas F. Railsback, [https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu/cklawreview/vol52/iss1/2/ Juvenile Justice], 52 Chi.-Kent L. Rev. 1 (1975).</ref> In 1979, he and Wisconsin Democrat [[David Obey]] co-sponsored legislation to reduce the influence of [[political action committee]]s in election spending.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1979/09/25/archives/the-bodysnatchers-on-capitol-hill.html The Body‐Snatchers on Capitol Hill], ''New York Times'' (September 25, 1979).</ref> He opposed [[Ronald Reagan]]'s effort to abolish and eliminate funding for the [[Legal Services Corporation]], which provided [[legal aid]] to poor Americans.<ref>David S. Broder, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1981/06/24/doing-justice-to-the-poor/2495b9f8-d2b7-4f62-9fa6-a6b50055cac4/ Doing Justice to the Poor], ''Washington Post'' (June 24, 1981).</ref>
⚫
In 1980, Railsback was one of three U.S. House members, along with future Vice President [[Dan Quayle]] of Indiana and [[Thomas B. Evans Jr.|Tom Evans]] of Delaware, involved in the controversial [[Florida]] golfing trip with lobbyist Paula Parkinson.<ref>{{cite news|title=Baby Boomer With Right Credentials: James Danforth Quayle|first=Susan F.|last=Rasky|newspaper=[[New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/17/us/republicans-new-orleans-man-baby-boomer-with-right-credentials-james-danforth.html?pagewanted=all|date=August 17, 1988}}</ref>


⚫
In 1980, Railsback was one of three U.S. House members, along with future Vice President [[Dan Quayle]] of Indiana and [[Thomas B. Evans Jr.|Tom Evans]] of Delaware, involved in the controversial [[Florida]] golfing trip with lobbyist Paula Parkinson.<ref>{{cite news|title=Baby Boomer With Right Credentials: James Danforth Quayle|first=Susan F.|last=Rasky|newspaper=[[New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/17/us/republicans-new-orleans-man-baby-boomer-with-right-credentials-james-danforth.html?pagewanted=all|date=August 17, 1988}}</ref> Parkinson told Larry King in 1988 that she had a "brief" and "fun" affair with Railsback.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parkinson says she slept with six congressmen - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/12/10/Parkinson-says-she-slept-with-six-congressmen/9235597733200/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=UPI |language=en}} </ref>
⚫
Over eight terms in office,<ref name=NYTObit/> Railsback had established strong political support in his district; the ''Washington Post'' noted that "He took what might have been a marginal district&mdash;a mixture of rural Republican counties and a labor stronghold in Moline-[[Rock Island, Illinois|Rock Island]]&mdash;and built a secure political base by salting his GOP voting record with support for civil rights and some labor positions."<ref name=RestrictingOrdeal>David S. Broder, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1982/03/14/illinois-congressmen-to-be-the-first-to-face-redistricting-ordeal/05c14bad-e55a-40a1-91a5-5bbef3407713/ Illinois Congressmen to Be the First to Face Redistricting Ordeal], ''Washington Post'' (March 14, 1982).</ref> In 1982, however, Illinois had lost two districts in [[reapportionment]] after the [[1980 United States Census|1980 census]], and through [[redistricting]], Railsback's district (now renumbered as the 17th District) changed in composition to become significantly more conservative.<ref name=RestrictingOrdeal/><ref name=RailsbackFall>{{cite news|title=U.S. Rep. Railsback, 2 Illinois Colleagues Fall in Primaries|newspaper=[[Toledo Blade]]|date=March 17, 1982|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fngUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rQIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5448,6741217}}</ref> He was defeated for renomination in the 1982 Republican [[primary election|primary]] by a considerably more conservative Republican, [[Illinois Senate|State Senator]] [[Kenneth G. McMillan]].<ref name=RailsbackFall>{{cite news|title=U.S. Rep. Railsback, 2 Illinois Colleagues Fall in Primaries|newspaper=[[Toledo Blade]]|date=March 17, 1982|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fngUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rQIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5448,6741217}}</ref> McMillan was defeated by Democrat [[Lane Evans]] in November.<ref>Steven V. Roberts, [https://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/09/weekinreview/illinois-race-illustrates-gop-hopes.html Illinois Race Illustrates G.O.P. Hopes], ''New York Times'' (September 9, 1984).</ref>


⚫
Over eight terms in office,<ref name=NYTObit/> Railsback had established strong political support in his district; the ''Washington Post'' noted that "He took what might have been a marginal district&mdash;a mixture of rural Republican counties and a labor stronghold in Moline-[[Rock Island, Illinois|Rock Island]]&mdash;and built a secure political base by salting his GOP voting record with support for civil rights and some labor positions."<ref name=RestrictingOrdeal>David S. Broder, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1982/03/14/illinois-congressmen-to-be-the-first-to-face-redistricting-ordeal/05c14bad-e55a-40a1-91a5-5bbef3407713/ Illinois Congressmen to Be the First to Face Redistricting Ordeal], ''Washington Post'' (March 14, 1982).</ref> In 1982, however, Illinois had lost two districts in [[reapportionment]] after the [[1980 United States Census|1980 census]], and through [[redistricting]], Railsback's district (now renumbered as the 17th District) changed in composition to become significantly more conservative.<ref name=RestrictingOrdeal/><ref name=RailsbackFall>{{cite news|title=U.S. Rep. Railsback, 2 Illinois Colleagues Fall in Primaries|newspaper=[[Toledo Blade]]|date=March 17, 1982|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fngUAAAAIBAJ&pg=5448,6741217}}</ref> He was defeated for renomination in the 1982 Republican [[Partisan primary|primary]] by a considerably more conservative Republican, [[Illinois Senate|State Senator]] [[Kenneth G. McMillan]].<ref name=RailsbackFall/> McMillan was defeated by Democrat [[Lane Evans]] in November.<ref>Steven V. Roberts, [https://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/09/weekinreview/illinois-race-illustrates-gop-hopes.html Illinois Race Illustrates G.O.P. Hopes], ''New York Times'' (September 9, 1984).</ref>
⚫
Railsback was a mentor to [[Raymond H. LaHood]],<ref name=NYTObit/> who worked for Railsback from 1977 to 1982<ref name=McCann> {{cite news| last1=McCann | first1=Herbert G. | title=GOP congressman who backed Nixon impeachment dead at 87 | url=https://apnews.com/1d58c85bccda9a23ed5c0254f4f6edf3 | date=January 21, 2020 |agency=[[Associated Press]] | accessdate=January 21, 2020}}</ref> before becoming a U.S. Representative himself, and later [[U.S. Secretary of Transportation]] in the [[Obama administration]].<ref name=NYTObit/><ref name=McCann/>


⚫
Railsback was a mentor to [[Raymond H. LaHood]],<ref name=NYTObit/> who worked for Railsback from 1977 to 1982<ref name=McCann>{{cite news| last1=McCann | first1=Herbert G. | title=GOP congressman who backed Nixon impeachment dead at 87 | url=https://apnews.com/1d58c85bccda9a23ed5c0254f4f6edf3 | date=January 21, 2020 |work=[[Associated Press]] | accessdate=January 21, 2020}}</ref> before becoming a U.S. Representative himself, and later [[U.S. Secretary of Transportation]] in the [[Obama administration]].<ref name=McCann/>
⚫
==Later life and death==
⚫
After leaving Congress, Railsback worked as a [[lobbying|lobbyist]]. He was executive vice president of the [[Motion Picture Association of America]] and also worked for the Federal Judges Association as its Washington coordinator.<ref name=NYTObit/>


⚫
== Later life ==
⚫
Railsback retired to [[Idaho]], where and his wife lived in [[McCall, Idaho|McCall]] and [[Meridian, Idaho|Meridian]].<ref name=Popkey/> He died on January 20, 2020, in [[Mesa, Arizona]], after a period of declining health.<ref name=NYTObit/><ref name=McCann/>
⚫
After leaving Congress, Railsback worked as a [[lobbying|lobbyist]]. He was executive vice president of the [[Motion Picture Association of America]] and also worked for the Federal Judges Association as its Washington coordinator.<ref name=NYTObit/>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Railsback married Patricia Sloan in 1955, and they had four daughters. The marriage ended in divorce.<ref name=NYTObit/> Railsback later married Joyelyn (Silver) Railsback,<ref name=NYTObit/> known as Joye.<ref name=Popkey/> He had 19 grandchildren.<ref name=NYTObit/>
Railsback married Patricia Sloan in 1955, and they had four daughters. The marriage ended in divorce.<ref name=NYTObit/> Railsback later married Joyelyn (Silver) Railsback,<ref name=NYTObit/> known as Joye.<ref name=Popkey/> He had 19 grandchildren.<ref name=NYTObit/>

⚫
Railsback retired to [[Idaho]], where he and his wife lived in [[McCall, Idaho|McCall]] and [[Meridian, Idaho|Meridian]].<ref name="Popkey" />

He died on January 20, 2020, in [[Mesa, Arizona]], after a period of declining health.<ref name="McCann" />


== References==
== References==
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* [https://www.congress.gov/member/tom-railsback/R000012?searchResultViewType=expanded&KWICView=false Member profile], including legislation sponsored or cosponsored, from [[Congress.gov]]
* [https://www.congress.gov/member/tom-railsback/R000012?searchResultViewType=expanded&KWICView=false Member profile], including legislation sponsored or cosponsored, from [[Congress.gov]]
* [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=r000012 Biography], from the ''[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]]''
* [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=r000012 Biography], from the ''[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]]''
*{{C-SPAN|Tomrailsback}}
*{{C-SPAN|7133}}
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{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 90th–97th [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[Illinois]]}}

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[[Category:People from Moline, Illinois]]
[[Category:People from Moline, Illinois]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Illinois]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Illinois]]
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[[Category:Grinnell College people]]
[[Category:Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:Illinois Republicans]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives]]
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[[Category:Members of the Illinois House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois]]
[[Category:American Congregationalists]]
[[Category:American Congregationalists]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois]]
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[[Category:Grinnell College alumni]]
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[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Illinois General Assembly]]

Latest revision as of 21:46, 16 December 2024

Tom Railsback
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 19th district
In office
January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1983
Preceded byGale Schisler
Succeeded byLane Evans
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
In office
1962–1966
Personal details
Born
Thomas Fisher Railsback

(1932-01-22)January 22, 1932
Moline, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJanuary 20, 2020(2020-01-20) (aged 87)
Mesa, Arizona, U.S.
Resting placeRock Island Memorial Park Cemetery
Rock Island, Illinois
Political partyRepublican

Thomas Fisher Railsback (January 22, 1932 – January 20, 2020) was an American politician and lawyer who served eight terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1967 to 1983 for Illinois's 19th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, he sat on the House Judiciary Committee, which in 1974, voted to refer articles of impeachment against President Richard Nixon to the full House.

Early life

[edit]

Railsback was born on January 22, 1932, in Moline, Illinois, to municipal lawyer Fred Railsback and Elizabeth (Johnson) Railsback.[1] He attended public schools in Moline, received a B.A. from Grinnell College in 1954, and received a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago in 1957.[2] He served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1959.[1][2]

Political career

[edit]

In November 1962 Railsback was elected as a Republican to the Illinois House of Representatives. Four years later, in the 1966 election, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating the Democratic incumbent Gale Schisler.[1]

Although inspired to enter politics by the staunchly conservative Barry Goldwater, Railsback was a moderate Republican while in the House.[3] A longtime member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, he participated in the 1973–74 impeachment process against President Richard Nixon.[4] Railsback and his Democratic colleague Walter Flowers led what Railsback called a "fragile bipartisan coalition" which crafted two articles of impeachment against Nixon, charging him with: obstruction of justice in attempting to impede the investigation of the Watergate break-in and abuse 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 the Constitution 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 to resign 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 the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974.[1][8] In 1979, he and Wisconsin Democrat David Obey co-sponsored legislation to reduce the influence of political action committees in election spending.[9] He opposed Ronald Reagan's effort to abolish and eliminate funding for the Legal Services Corporation, which provided legal aid to poor Americans.[10]

In 1980, Railsback was one of three U.S. House members, along with future Vice President Dan Quayle of Indiana and Tom Evans of Delaware, involved in the controversial Florida 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; the Washington 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 in reapportionment after the 1980 census, and through redistricting, 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 Republican primary by a considerably more conservative Republican, State Senator Kenneth G. McMillan.[14] McMillan was defeated by Democrat Lane Evans in November.[15]

Railsback was a mentor to Raymond H. LaHood,[1] who worked for Railsback from 1977 to 1982[16] before becoming a U.S. Representative himself, and later U.S. Secretary of Transportation in the Obama administration.[16]

Later life

[edit]

After leaving Congress, Railsback worked as a lobbyist. He was executive vice president of the Motion Picture Association of America and also worked for the Federal Judges Association as its Washington coordinator.[1]

Personal life

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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 to Idaho, where he and his wife lived in McCall and Meridian.[7]

He died on January 20, 2020, in Mesa, Arizona, after a period of declining health.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Roberts, Sam (January 22, 2020). "Tom Railsback, Who Reconciled G.O.P. to Oust Nixon, Dies at 87". The New York Times.
  2. ^ a b "Railsback, Thomas Fisher". history.house.gov. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Historian, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  3. ^ Kabaservice, Geoffrey (March 16, 2018). "The old tea party may be over, but the new one is at peak power". The Washington Post.
  4. ^ a b Luo, Michael (November 7, 2019). "What House Republicans Can Learn from the Bipartisan Effort to Impeach Nixon". The New Yorker.
  5. ^ Naughton, James M. (August 5, 1974). "How a Fragile Centrist Bloc Emerged As House Panel Weighed Impeachment". The New York Times. Based on reporting by the author, R. W. Apple. Jr., Diane Henry, Marjorie Hunter and David E. Rosenbaum. p. 49. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  6. ^ Simon, Scott (January 25, 2020). "Remembering A Congressman Who Bucked His Party On An Impeachment". Weekend Edition Saturday. NPR. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c Popkey, Dan (July 25, 2014). "Retired in Idaho, former congressman still in limelight for Watergate role". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho.
  8. ^ Thomas F. Railsback, Juvenile Justice, 52 Chi.-Kent L. Rev. 1 (1975).
  9. ^ The Body‐Snatchers on Capitol Hill, New York Times (September 25, 1979).
  10. ^ David S. Broder, Doing Justice to the Poor, Washington Post (June 24, 1981).
  11. ^ Rasky, Susan F. (August 17, 1988). "Baby Boomer With Right Credentials: James Danforth Quayle". New York Times.
  12. ^ "Parkinson says she slept with six congressmen - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  13. ^ a b David S. Broder, Illinois Congressmen to Be the First to Face Redistricting Ordeal, Washington Post (March 14, 1982).
  14. ^ a b "U.S. Rep. Railsback, 2 Illinois Colleagues Fall in Primaries". Toledo Blade. March 17, 1982.
  15. ^ Steven V. Roberts, Illinois Race Illustrates G.O.P. Hopes, New York Times (September 9, 1984).
  16. ^ a b c McCann, Herbert G. (January 21, 2020). "GOP congressman who backed Nixon impeachment dead at 87". Associated Press. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
[edit]
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 19th congressional district
1967–1983 		Succeeded by
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