Jump to content

John J. Gilligan: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Legacy: unsourced
 
(38 intermediate revisions by 29 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Short description|American politician, governor of Ohio (1921–2013)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = John J. Gilligan
| name = John J. Gilligan
|image = John Gilligan (1973).png
| image = John Gilligan (1973).png
|order = 62nd [[List of Governors of Ohio|Governor of Ohio]]
| order = 62nd [[List of Governors of Ohio|Governor of Ohio]]
|lieutenant = [[John William Brown|John Brown]]
| lieutenant = [[John William Brown|John Brown]]
|term_start = January 11, 1971
| term_start = January 11, 1971
|term_end = January 13, 1975
| term_end = January 13, 1975
|predecessor = Jim Rhodes
| predecessor = Jim Rhodes
|successor = [[Jim Rhodes]]
| successor = [[Jim Rhodes]]
|state1 = [[Ohio]]
| state1 = [[Ohio]]
|district1 = {{ushr|Ohio|1|1st}}
| district1 = {{ushr|Ohio|1|1st}}
|term_start1 = January 3, 1965
| term_start1 = January 3, 1965
|term_end1 = January 3, 1967
| term_end1 = January 3, 1967
|predecessor1 = [[Carl West Rich|Carl Rich]]
| predecessor1 = [[Carl West Rich|Carl Rich]]
|successor1 = [[Robert Taft Jr.]]
| successor1 = [[Robert Taft Jr.]]
|birthname = John Joyce Gilligan
| birthname = John Joyce Gilligan
|birth_date = {{birth date|1921|3|22}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1921|3|22}}
|birth_place = [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| birth_place = [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]], U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|2013|8|26|1921|3|22}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|8|26|1921|3|22}}
|death_place = Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
| death_place = Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse = {{plainlist|
|spouse = Mary Kathryn Dixon<br />(1945–1996; her death)<br>Dr. Susan Fremont<br />(2000–2013; his death)
* {{marriage|Mary Kathryn Dixon|1945|1996|end=her death}}
|children = 4 (including [[Kathleen Sebelius|Kathleen]])
* {{marriage|Susan Fremont|2000|<!-- Omission per Template:Marriage instructions -->}}
|relations = [[K. Gary Sebelius]] (son-in-law)
}}
|alma_mater = [[University of Notre Dame]]<br>[[University of Cincinnati College of Law|University of Cincinnati]]
| children = 4; including [[Kathleen Sebelius|Kathleen]]
|allegiance = {{flagu|United States|1912}}
| relations = [[K. Gary Sebelius]]<br>(son-in-law)
|branch ={{flag|United States Navy}}
| alma_mater = [[University of Notre Dame]]<br>[[University of Cincinnati College of Law|University of Cincinnati]]
|serviceyears =1942–1945
|rank =[[Lieutenant]]
| allegiance = [[United States]]
|battles =[[World War II]]
| branch = [[United States Navy]]
| serviceyears = 1942–1945
| rank = [[Lieutenant]]
| battles = [[World War II]]
| office2 = 6th [[Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development]]
| termstart2 = March 30, 1977
| termend2 = March 31, 1979
| preceded2 = Daniel Parker
| succeeded2 = [[Douglas Bennet]]
}}
}}


'''John Joyce Gilligan''' (March 22, 1921 – August 26, 2013) was an American [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] politician from the state of [[Ohio]] who served as a [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] and as the [[List of Governors of Ohio|62nd Governor of Ohio]] from 1971 to 1975.<ref name="OhioHistoryCentral">{{Ohio History Central|1774}}</ref> He was the father of [[Kathleen Sebelius]], who later served as [[Governor of Kansas]] and [[United States Secretary of Health and Human Services]]. Gilligan and Sebelius are the only father and daughter ever to have both been elected state governors.<ref name="OhioHistoryCentral" />
'''John Joyce “Jack” Gilligan''' (March 22, 1921 – August 26, 2013) was an American [[World War II]] veteran, educator and [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] politician from the state of [[Ohio]] who served as a [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] and as the 62nd [[governor of Ohio]] from 1971 to 1975.<ref name="OhioHistoryCentral">{{Ohio History Central|1774}}</ref> He was the father of [[Kathleen Sebelius]], who later served as [[governor of Kansas]] and [[United States Secretary of Health and Human Services]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
Gilligan was born in [[Cincinnati]], Ohio, the son of Harry Gilligan, a funeral home operator, and his wife, Blanche. His twin sister was Jeanne Joyce Gilligan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ohiodems.org/obituary-for-governor-john-j-gilligan/ |title=Archived copy|accessdate=2014-03-26|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413131740/https://ohiodems.org/obituary-for-governor-john-j-gilligan|archivedate=April 13, 2014}}</ref> His family was [[Irish Catholic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40B1EF73E5E1A7493C6AB1782D85F408785F9|title=Democratic Field Opened; Early Hopefuls See Gains; Mondale Sees Legacy Some Old Names Revived|first=Christopher|last=Lydon|date=September 24, 1974|publisher=|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> He graduated from [[St. Xavier High School (Cincinnati)|St. Xavier High School]] in 1939, the [[University of Notre Dame]] in 1943 and the [[University of Cincinnati College of Law]] in 1947, serving in between in the [[United States Navy]] during World War II in the [[Atlantic (ocean)|Atlantic]], Pacific and [[Mediterranean]] as a [[destroyer]] gunnery officer.
Gilligan was born in [[Cincinnati]], Ohio, the son of Harry Gilligan, a funeral home operator, and his wife, Blanche. His twin sister was Jeanne Joyce Gilligan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ohiodems.org/obituary-for-governor-john-j-gilligan/ |title=Obituary for Governor John J. Gilligan|access-date=2014-03-26|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413131740/https://ohiodems.org/obituary-for-governor-john-j-gilligan|archive-date=April 13, 2014}}</ref> His family was [[Irish Catholic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40B1EF73E5E1A7493C6AB1782D85F408785F9|title=Democratic Field Opened; Early Hopefuls See Gains; Mondale Sees Legacy Some Old Names Revived|first=Christopher|last=Lydon|date=September 24, 1974|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> He graduated from [[St. Xavier High School (Cincinnati)|St. Xavier High School]] in 1939, the [[University of Notre Dame]] in 1943 and the [[University of Cincinnati College of Law]] in 1947, serving in between in the [[United States Navy]] during World War II in the [[Atlantic (ocean)|Atlantic]], Pacific and [[Mediterranean]] as a [[destroyer]] gunnery officer.

==Career==
==Career==
{{refimprove section|date=June 2017}}
{{more citations needed section|date=June 2017}}
After the war, Gilligan returned to Cincinnati to teach literature at [[Xavier University (Cincinnati)|Xavier University]] from 1948 to 1953.
After the war, Gilligan returned to Cincinnati to teach literature at [[Xavier University (Cincinnati)|Xavier University]] from 1948 to 1953. He also served as member of the Cincinnati city council from 1953 to 1963, and was a candidate for Ohio Congressman-at-Large in 1962. In 1964 he was elected to the [[89th United States Congress|Eighty-ninth Congress]] as a [[United States House of Representatives|representative]] for Ohio's [[United States House of Representatives, Ohio District 1|1st district]], serving from January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967. Gilligan narrowly lost his re-election bid to the [[90th United States Congress|Ninetieth Congress]] in 1966 to Republican [[Robert Taft, Jr.|Robert Taft Jr.]] after the Republican-controlled [[Ohio General Assembly]] redrew his district to favor the Republican Party.<ref name="OhioHistoryCentral" /> In 1968, Gilligan defeated sitting [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] [[Frank Lausche|Frank J. Lausche]] in the Democratic primary; however, he narrowly lost in the general election to Republican [[William B. Saxbe]] after Lausche refused to support him in the general election.


He also served as member of the Cincinnati city council from 1953 to 1963, and was a candidate for Ohio Congressman-at-Large in 1962.
Gilligan won the election for the [[List of Governors of Ohio|Governorship of Ohio]] in 1970, defeating Republican state Auditor [[Roger Cloud]], and serving from 1971 to 1975. His signature achievement in office was the creation of Ohio's state income tax.<ref name="Toledo Blade">{{cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/State/2013/08/26/Former-Ohio-Gov-and-U-S-Rep-John-J-Gilligan-Democrat-who-created-state-income-tax-dies.html/|title=Former Ohio Gov and U.S. Rep. John J. Gilligan, Democrat who created state income tax, dies.|date=August 26, 2013|publisher=}}</ref> Gilligan lost reelection in the strongly Democratic Watergate year of 1974 to former Republican governor [[Jim Rhodes|James A. Rhodes]] (who had been barred from running in 1970 due to term limits) by only 11,488 votes out of 3,072,010 cast. The backlash of big business against Gilligan and in favor of Rhodes was seen by many as the reason for his defeat.<ref name="OhioSOS">{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/|title=Home|website=www.sos.state.oh.us}}</ref>


=== Congress ===
Gilligan subsequently served as the [[administrator of the United States Agency for International Development]] (USAID) from 1977 to 1979. In 1980, he was elected to the [[Common Cause]] National Governing Board. He served as director of the Institute for Public Policy from 1979 to 1986, and taught at the [[University of Notre Dame]] from 1986 to 1992. He also served as director of the civic issues forum at the [[University of Cincinnati]] School of Law.<ref name="OhioHistoryCentral"/> In 1999, Gilligan was elected to the Board of Education of the [[Cincinnati Public Schools]]. He chose not to stand for re-election when his term expired in 2007.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
In 1964, he was elected to the [[89th United States Congress|Eighty-ninth Congress]] as a [[United States House of Representatives|representative]] for Ohio's [[United States House of Representatives, Ohio District 1|1st district]], serving from January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967. Gilligan narrowly lost his re-election bid to the [[90th United States Congress|Ninetieth Congress]] in 1966 to Republican [[Robert Taft, Jr.|Robert Taft Jr.]] after the Republican-controlled [[Ohio General Assembly]] redrew his district to favor the Republican Party.<ref name="OhioHistoryCentral" /> In 1968, Gilligan defeated sitting [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] [[Frank Lausche|Frank J. Lausche]] in the Democratic primary; however, he narrowly lost in the general election to Republican [[William B. Saxbe]] after Lausche declined to support him in the general election.


==Family==
=== Governor ===
Gilligan won election for governor of Ohio in 1970, defeating Republican state Auditor [[Roger Cloud]], and serving from 1971 to 1975. His signature achievement in office was the creation of Ohio's state income tax.<ref name="Toledo Blade">{{cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/State/2013/08/26/Former-Ohio-Gov-and-U-S-Rep-John-J-Gilligan-Democrat-who-created-state-income-tax-dies.html/|title=Former Ohio Gov and U.S. Rep. John J. Gilligan, Democrat who created state income tax, dies.|date=August 26, 2013}}</ref> Gilligan was seen as a favorite to win a second term but lost re-election in an upset in the strongly Democratic Watergate year of 1974 to former Republican governor [[Jim Rhodes|James A. Rhodes]] (who had been barred from running in 1970 due to term limits) by only 11,488 votes.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Curtin |first=Michael F. |title=The Ohio Politics Almanac |publisher=Kent State University Press |year=2006 |isbn=9780873388894 |edition=2nd |location=Kent, OH |pages=60 |language=EN}}</ref> The backlash of big business against Gilligan and in favor of Rhodes was seen by many as the reason for his defeat.<ref name="OhioSOS">{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/|title=Home|website=www.sos.state.oh.us}}</ref>
Gilligan was the father of four children, including [[Kathleen Sebelius]], who served as [[Governor of Kansas]] and [[United States Secretary of Health and Human Services]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wargs.com/political/sebelius.html|title=Ancestry of Kathleen Sebelius|work=wargs.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AK&s_site=ohio&p_multi=AK&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB6BF2E2C7309DE&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | title=Beacon Journal: Search Results | date=October 12, 1996}}</ref> They became the first father/daughter governor duo in the United States after her election.<ref>{{cite web|title=Meet Kathleen|url=http://www.ksgovernor.com/ShowPage.asp?page=bio.asp|accessdate=June 1, 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927190652/https://www.ksgovernor.com/ShowPage.asp?page=bio.asp|archivedate=September 27, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref>


=== Later career ===
==Death==
Gilligan subsequently served as the [[administrator of the United States Agency for International Development]] (USAID) from 1977 to 1979. In 1980, he was elected to the [[Common Cause]] National Governing Board. He served as director of the Institute for Public Policy from 1979 to 1986, and taught at the [[University of Notre Dame]] from 1986 to 1992. He also served as director of the civic issues forum at the [[University of Cincinnati]] School of Law.<ref name="OhioHistoryCentral"/> In 1999, Gilligan was elected to the Board of Education of the [[Cincinnati Public Schools]]. He chose not to stand for re-election when his term expired in 2007.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
Gilligan died at home in Cincinnati on August 26, 2013 at the age of 92. His son said he died of congestive heart failure.<ref>[http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130826/NEWS/308260115/Former-Gov-John-Gilligan-Cincinnati-dies-92 Former Gov. John Gilligan dies at 92], cincinnati.com; accessed June 19, 2017.</ref>


==UFO sighting==
==UFO sighting==
On October 17, 1973, Gilligan, while governor, claimed to have seen a [[UFO]] while driving near [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]]. During a press conference he stated: "I saw one (UFO) the other night, so help me. I'm absolutely serious. I saw this."<ref>[http://citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-24843-space_invaders_.html/ Space Invaders] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502012301/http://citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-24843-space_invaders_.html |date=May 2, 2014 }}, citybeat.com; accessed June 19, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8lziw_ufo-reported-by-ohio-governor-john_tech/ UFO reported by Ohio Governor John Gilligan], dailymotion.com; accessed June 19, 2017.</ref>
On October 17, 1973, Gilligan, while governor, claimed to have seen a [[UFO]] while driving near [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]]. During a press conference he stated: "I saw one (UFO) the other night, so help me. I'm absolutely serious. I saw this."<ref>[http://citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-24843-space_invaders_.html/ Space Invaders] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502012301/http://citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-24843-space_invaders_.html |date=May 2, 2014 }}, citybeat.com; accessed June 19, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8lziw_ufo-reported-by-ohio-governor-john_tech/ UFO reported by Ohio Governor John Gilligan], dailymotion.com; accessed June 19, 2017.</ref>


==Legacy==
==Family==
Gilligan is the father of four children, including [[Kathleen Sebelius]], who served as [[Governor of Kansas]] and [[United States Secretary of Health and Human Services]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wargs.com/political/sebelius.html|title=Ancestry of Kathleen Sebelius|work=wargs.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AK&s_site=ohio&p_multi=AK&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB6BF2E2C7309DE&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | title=Beacon Journal: Search Results | date=October 12, 1996}}</ref> They became the first father/daughter governor duo in the United States after her election.<ref>{{cite web|title=Meet Kathleen|url=http://www.ksgovernor.com/ShowPage.asp?page=bio.asp|access-date=June 1, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927190652/https://www.ksgovernor.com/ShowPage.asp?page=bio.asp|archive-date=September 27, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
The Gilligan Complex at the Ohio Expo Center and [[Ohio State Fair|State Fair]] in Columbus, Ohio, is named in honor of Gilligan.

==Death==
Gilligan died at home in Cincinnati on August 26, 2013, at the age of 92. His son said he died of congestive heart failure.<ref>[http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130826/NEWS/308260115/Former-Gov-John-Gilligan-Cincinnati-dies-92 Former Gov. John Gilligan dies at 92], cincinnati.com; accessed June 19, 2017.</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, 1st District]]
*[[List of United States representatives from Ohio]]
*[[List of governors of Ohio]]
*[[Election Results, Ohio Governor]]
*[[Election Results, Ohio Governor (Democratic Primaries)]]
*[[Election Results, U.S. Senator from Ohio]]
*[[List of United States Representatives from Ohio]]
*[[List of Governors of Ohio]]


==References==
==References==

{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Commons category}}

==External links==
{{CongBio|G000208}}
{{CongBio|G000208}}


Line 78: Line 85:
*{{Bioguide}}
*{{Bioguide}}


{| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="width: 100%; margin: auto;"
|-
! style="background: #ccf;" | <span style="font-size: 110%; margin-left: 6em;">Offices and distinctions</span>
|-
|
{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
Line 88: Line 90:
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States Representatives from Ohio|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Ohio's 1st congressional district]]|years=1965–1969}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States Representatives from Ohio|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Ohio's 1st congressional district]]|years=1965–1969}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Robert Taft, Jr.|Robert Taft]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Robert Taft, Jr.|Robert Taft]]}}
{{s-break}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Frank Lausche]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Frank Lausche]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[List of United States Senators from Ohio|Senator]] from [[Ohio]]<br>([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 3]])|years=[[1968 United States Senate election in Ohio|1968]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[List of United States Senators from Ohio|Senator]] from [[Ohio]]<br>([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 3]])|years=[[1968 United States Senate election in Ohio|1968]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Glenn]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Glenn]]}}
{{s-break}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Frazier Reams Jr.|Frazier Reams]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Frazier Reams Jr.|Frazier Reams]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[List of Governors of Ohio|Governor of Ohio]]|years=[[1970 Ohio gubernatorial election|1970]], [[1974 Ohio gubernatorial election|1974]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[List of Governors of Ohio|Governor of Ohio]]|years=[[1970 Ohio gubernatorial election|1970]], [[1974 Ohio gubernatorial election|1974]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Dick Celeste]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Dick Celeste]]}}
{{s-break}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jim Rhodes]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jim Rhodes]]}}
Line 103: Line 105:
{{s-aft|after=[[Jim Rhodes]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jim Rhodes]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}

|}
{{Navboxes
| title = Articles and topics
| list1 =
{{Governors of Ohio}}
{{Governors of Ohio}}
{{OhioRepresentatives01}}
{{OhioRepresentatives01}}
{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 89th [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[United States congressional delegations from Ohio|Ohio]]}}
}}
{{USCongRep/OH/89}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


Line 115: Line 116:
[[Category:1921 births]]
[[Category:1921 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:Administrators of the United States Agency for International Development]]
[[Category:Administrators of the United States Agency for International Development]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II]]
Line 122: Line 122:
[[Category:Charter Party politicians]]
[[Category:Charter Party politicians]]
[[Category:Cincinnati City Council members]]
[[Category:Cincinnati City Council members]]
[[Category:Governors of Ohio]]
[[Category:Democratic Party governors of Ohio]]
[[Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Cincinnati]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Cincinnati]]
[[Category:Ohio Democrats]]
[[Category:Politicians from Cincinnati]]
[[Category:Politicians from Cincinnati]]
[[Category:School board members in Ohio]]
[[Category:School board members in Ohio]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio]]
[[Category:St. Xavier High School (Cincinnati) alumni]]
[[Category:St. Xavier High School (Ohio) alumni]]
[[Category:University of Cincinnati College of Law alumni]]
[[Category:University of Cincinnati College of Law alumni]]
[[Category:University of Cincinnati College of Law faculty]]
[[Category:University of Cincinnati College of Law faculty]]
[[Category:University of Notre Dame alumni]]
[[Category:University of Notre Dame alumni]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Democratic Party state governors of the United States]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]

Latest revision as of 17:09, 9 December 2024

John J. Gilligan
62nd Governor of Ohio
In office
January 11, 1971 – January 13, 1975
LieutenantJohn Brown
Preceded byJim Rhodes
Succeeded byJim Rhodes
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 1st district
In office
January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967
Preceded byCarl Rich
Succeeded byRobert Taft Jr.
6th Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development
In office
March 30, 1977 – March 31, 1979
Preceded byDaniel Parker
Succeeded byDouglas Bennet
Personal details
Born
John Joyce Gilligan

(1921-03-22)March 22, 1921
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
DiedAugust 26, 2013(2013-08-26) (aged 92)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
Mary Kathryn Dixon
(m. 1945; died 1996)
Susan Fremont
(m. 2000)
RelationsK. Gary Sebelius
(son-in-law)
Children4; including Kathleen
Alma materUniversity of Notre Dame
University of Cincinnati
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1942–1945
RankLieutenant
Battles/warsWorld War II

John Joyce “Jack” Gilligan (March 22, 1921 – August 26, 2013) was an American World War II veteran, educator and Democratic politician from the state of Ohio who served as a U.S. Representative and as the 62nd governor of Ohio from 1971 to 1975.[1] He was the father of Kathleen Sebelius, who later served as governor of Kansas and United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Early life

[edit]

Gilligan was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Harry Gilligan, a funeral home operator, and his wife, Blanche. His twin sister was Jeanne Joyce Gilligan.[2] His family was Irish Catholic.[3] He graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1939, the University of Notre Dame in 1943 and the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1947, serving in between in the United States Navy during World War II in the Atlantic, Pacific and Mediterranean as a destroyer gunnery officer.

Career

[edit]

After the war, Gilligan returned to Cincinnati to teach literature at Xavier University from 1948 to 1953.

He also served as member of the Cincinnati city council from 1953 to 1963, and was a candidate for Ohio Congressman-at-Large in 1962.

Congress

[edit]

In 1964, he was elected to the Eighty-ninth Congress as a representative for Ohio's 1st district, serving from January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967. Gilligan narrowly lost his re-election bid to the Ninetieth Congress in 1966 to Republican Robert Taft Jr. after the Republican-controlled Ohio General Assembly redrew his district to favor the Republican Party.[1] In 1968, Gilligan defeated sitting U.S. Senator Frank J. Lausche in the Democratic primary; however, he narrowly lost in the general election to Republican William B. Saxbe after Lausche declined to support him in the general election.

Governor

[edit]

Gilligan won election for governor of Ohio in 1970, defeating Republican state Auditor Roger Cloud, and serving from 1971 to 1975. His signature achievement in office was the creation of Ohio's state income tax.[4] Gilligan was seen as a favorite to win a second term but lost re-election in an upset in the strongly Democratic Watergate year of 1974 to former Republican governor James A. Rhodes (who had been barred from running in 1970 due to term limits) by only 11,488 votes.[5] The backlash of big business against Gilligan and in favor of Rhodes was seen by many as the reason for his defeat.[6]

Later career

[edit]

Gilligan subsequently served as the administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from 1977 to 1979. In 1980, he was elected to the Common Cause National Governing Board. He served as director of the Institute for Public Policy from 1979 to 1986, and taught at the University of Notre Dame from 1986 to 1992. He also served as director of the civic issues forum at the University of Cincinnati School of Law.[1] In 1999, Gilligan was elected to the Board of Education of the Cincinnati Public Schools. He chose not to stand for re-election when his term expired in 2007.[citation needed]

UFO sighting

[edit]

On October 17, 1973, Gilligan, while governor, claimed to have seen a UFO while driving near Ann Arbor, Michigan. During a press conference he stated: "I saw one (UFO) the other night, so help me. I'm absolutely serious. I saw this."[7][8]

Family

[edit]

Gilligan is the father of four children, including Kathleen Sebelius, who served as Governor of Kansas and United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.[9][10] They became the first father/daughter governor duo in the United States after her election.[11]

Death

[edit]

Gilligan died at home in Cincinnati on August 26, 2013, at the age of 92. His son said he died of congestive heart failure.[12]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c John J. Gilligan at Ohio History Central
  2. ^ "Obituary for Governor John J. Gilligan". Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  3. ^ Lydon, Christopher (September 24, 1974). "Democratic Field Opened; Early Hopefuls See Gains; Mondale Sees Legacy Some Old Names Revived" – via NYTimes.com.
  4. ^ "Former Ohio Gov and U.S. Rep. John J. Gilligan, Democrat who created state income tax, dies". August 26, 2013.
  5. ^ Curtin, Michael F. (2006). The Ohio Politics Almanac (2nd ed.). Kent, OH: Kent State University Press. p. 60. ISBN 9780873388894.
  6. ^ "Home". www.sos.state.oh.us.
  7. ^ Space Invaders Archived May 2, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, citybeat.com; accessed June 19, 2017.
  8. ^ UFO reported by Ohio Governor John Gilligan, dailymotion.com; accessed June 19, 2017.
  9. ^ "Ancestry of Kathleen Sebelius". wargs.com.
  10. ^ "Beacon Journal: Search Results". October 12, 1996.
  11. ^ "Meet Kathleen". Archived from the original on September 27, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  12. ^ Former Gov. John Gilligan dies at 92, cincinnati.com; accessed June 19, 2017.
[edit]
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 1st congressional district

1965–1969
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Senator from Ohio
(Class 3)

1968
Succeeded by
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Ohio
1970, 1974
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Ohio
1971–1975
Succeeded by