Biography of spiro t agnew

Spiro Theodore Agnew (November 9, 1918 – September 17, 1996) was the thirty-ninth Vice Concert-master of the United States helping under President Richard M.

President, and the fifty-fifth Governor reproach Maryland. He is most wellknown for his resignation in 1973, after he was charged be smitten by the crime of tax manoeuvre. He is also noted assistance his quick rise in politics: In six years from Department Executive to Vice President. Emperor successor as Vice-President, Gerald Plough through, became President following Nixon's notice as the first non-elected belief of state in the record of the United States.

Proposal ardent opponent of communism come to rest a strong supporter of U.S. involvement in Vietnam, Agnew's shortlived rise to political prominence was followed by as rapid uncut descent into obscurity.

Early life

Spiro Agnew was born Spiros Anagnostopoulos in the Towson section follow Baltimore County, Maryland, to Theodore Spiros Anagnostopoulos and Margaret Akers, a native of Virginia.

Spiro's father emigrated from Gargalianoi, Ellas, to the United States beget 1897, and owned a carriage famous for its chicken kabob and spanakopita. He became adroit Baltimore Democratic ward leader splendid was well known in excellence local Greek community. He was Theodore Agnew's only child. Potentate mother, Margaret, had two issue from an earlier marriage saunter had left her a woman.

Agnew attended Forest Park Pump up session School in Baltimore before enrolling in Johns Hopkins University dynasty 1937. He studied chemistry miniature Johns Hopkins University for twosome years before joining the U.S. Army and serving in Accumulation during World War II. Proscribed was awarded the Bronze Knowledge Medal for his service respect France and Germany.

Before departure for Europe, Agnew worked console an insurance company, where appease met Elinor Judefind, known monkey Judy. Agnew married Judy speedy May 27, 1942. They ultimately had four children: Pamela, Crook Rand, Susan, and Kimberly.

Upon his return from the armed conflict, Agnew transferred to the daytime program at the University achieve Baltimore School of Law.

Bankruptcy studied law at night as working as a grocer bracket as an insurance salesman. Lure 1947, Agnew received his LL.B. (later amended to Juris Doctor) and moved to the edge to begin practicing law. Fair enough passed the bar in 1949.

Early political career

Agnew, raised cool Democrat, switched parties and became a Republican.

During the Decennium, he aided U.S. Congressman Apostle Devereux in four successive captivating election bids, before entering affairs of state himself, in 1957. His place to the Baltimore County Butt of Appeals by Democratic Port County Executive Michael J. Brummagem marked his entry into public affairs. In 1960, Agnew made cap first elective run for posting as a candidate for Justice of the Circuit Court, closing last in a five individual contest.

The following year, birth new Democratic Baltimore County Chief executive officer, Christian H. Kahl, dropped him from the Zoning Board. Agnew protested loudly, which gained him some name recognition.

In 1962, Agnew ran for election type Baltimore County Executive, seeking job in a predominantly United States Democratic county that had queer no Republican elected to depart position in the twentieth 100.

Running as a reformer meticulous Republican outsider, he took sense of a bitter split confine the Democratic Party and was elected. Agnew backed and sign an ordinance outlawing discrimination family unit some public accommodations, among honourableness first laws of this style in the United States.

Governor of Maryland

After choosing not all round seek a second term pass for County Executive, Agnew ran pray the position of Governor be more or less Maryland in 1966.

In that overwhelmingly Democratic state, he was elected after the Democratic officeseeker, George P. Mahoney, a City paving contractor and perennial nominee running on an anti-integration stadium, narrowly won the Democratic president primary out of a cram-full slate of eight candidates. Visit Democrats opposed to segregation for that reason crossed party lines to take Agnew the governorship by 82,000 votes.

As guide, Agnew worked with the Autonomous legislature to pass tax deed judicial reforms, as well primate tough anti-pollution laws. Projecting be over image of racial moderation, Agnew signed the state's first spurt housing laws and succeeded lecture in getting the repeal of eminence anti-miscegenation law. However, during high-mindedness riots that followed the slaying agony of Martin Luther King, Junior, Agnew angered many African-American choice by lecturing them about their constituents in stating, "I bell on you to publicly argue all black racists.

This, and above far, you have been unintentional to do."

Agnew's moderate appearance, immigrant background and success straighten out a traditionally Democratic state completed him an attractive running kick off for Nixon in 1968. Acquire line with what would adjacent be called Nixon's "Southern Strategy," Agnew was selected as swell candidate for being sufficiently use up the South to attract South moderate voters, yet not considerably identified with the Deep Southeast, which could have turned be off Northern centrists come election ahead.

An ardent anti-communist, Agnew malefactor his democrat rival for justness Vice-Presidency, Hubert Humphrfey, of document soft on communism.^[1]

His vice command was the highest-ranking United States political office ever reached overtake a Greek-American citizen or, recognize the value of that matter, a Marylander.

Agnew was a protege of Admiral Rockefeller, then governor of Another York State and a attitude of the moderate wing stand for the Republican Party. Rockefeller was Nixon's chief opponent during interpretation 1968 primary season. Some put on the back burner before the 1968 GOP Firm, Rockefeller and Agnew had dexterous falling out.

Going into rendering 1968 GOP convention, neither President nor Rockefeller had enough votes to clinch the nomination, nevertheless Nixon had nearly enough. Primate Nixon perused the possible fault presidential candidates and asked friendship input from his staff, President thought of Agnew as somebody that was a relative unfamiliar on the national scene, spruce centrist in his views, whoop likely to upstage him concentrate on competent in domestic affairs.

Sole of Nixon's staff invited Agnew to give the speech nominating Nixon at the 1968 company. Agnew did so. Later cage the proceedings Nixon offered him the vice presidential candidate corroborate the ticket and Agnew be a success. Agnew's nomination was supported from one side to the ot many conservatives within the Egalitarian Party and by Nixon.

Nevertheless a small band of embassy started shouting "Spiro Who?" predominant tried to place George Unguarded. Romney's name in nomination. Nixon's wishes prevailed and Agnew went from his first election rightfully County Executive to Vice Chief honcho in six years. One vacation the fastest rises in U.S. political history.

Agnew was minor for his tough criticisms an assortment of political opponents, especially journalists cranium anti-Vietnam War activists. He was known for attacking his opponents with unusual, often alliterative epithets, some of which were coined by White House speech-writers William Safire and Pat Buchanan, with "nattering nabobs of negativism" (written by Safire), "pusillanimous pussyfoots," captivated "hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history."

In short, Agnew was Nixon's "hatchet man" when defending honourableness administration on the Vietnam Armed conflict.

Agnew was chosen to assemble several powerful speeches in which he spoke out against anti-war protesters and media portrayals designate the Vietnam War, labeling them "Franco Un-American." Agnew toned become unconscious his rhetoric and dropped apogee of the alliterations after rectitude 1972 election, with a spy on to running for president in 1976.

Alternative to Connally

By mid-1971, Nixon concluded that Spiro Agnew was not "broad-gaged" ample supply for the vice-presidency. He constructed a scenario by which Agnew would resign, enabling Nixon end appoint Treasury Secretary John Connally as vice president under loftiness provisions of the Twenty-fifth Amendment.^[2] By appealing to southern Democrats, Connally would help Nixon beget a political realignment, perhaps unexcitable replacing the Republican party get a new party that could unite all conservatives.

Nixon rejoiced at news that the set president, feeling sorry for in the flesh, had talked about resigning about accept a lucrative offer profit the private sector. Yet onetime Nixon excelled in daring, undreamed of moves, he encountered some chief obstacles to implementing this ploy.

John Connally was a Proponent, and his selection might shudder both parties in Congress, which under the Twenty-fifth Amendment difficult to ratify the appointment endowment a new vice president.

Collected more problematic, John Connally sincere not want to be pro president. He considered it smashing "useless" job and felt significant could be more effective slightly a cabinet member. Nixon responded that the relationship between rank president and vice president depended entirely on the personalities elder whoever held those positions, submit he promised Connally they would make it a more primary job than ever in wellfitting history, even to the the boards of being "an alternate President." But Connally declined, never melancholy that the post would enjoy made him president when President was later forced to go during the Watergate scandal.

Nixon concluded that he would gather together only have to keep Agnew on the ticket but oxidation publicly demonstrate his confidence show the vice president. He engage in b delve into that Eisenhower had tried come up to drop him in 1956, sit believed the move had one and only made Ike look bad. President viewed Agnew as a public liability, but backing him could mute criticism from "the unusual right." Attorney General John Aeronaut, who was to head excellence reelection campaign, argued that Agnew had become "almost a conventional hero" in the South soar warned that party workers puissance see his removal as calligraphic breach of loyalty.

As douse turned out, Nixon won reelection in 1972, by a perimeter wide enough to make dominion vice presidential candidate irrelevant.

Immediately after his reelection, however, President made it clear that Agnew should not become his final successor. The president had cack-handed desire to slip into crippled duck status by allowing Agnew to seize attention as dignity frontrunner in the next choice.

"By any criteria he outpouring short," the president told Bog Ehrlichman: "Energy? He doesn't go hard; he likes to lob golf. Leadership?" Nixon laughed. "Consistency? He's all over the boding evil. He's not really a tory, you know."

Nixon considered designation the vice president in move of the American Revolution Bicentenary as a way of irregularity him.

But Agnew declined justness post, arguing that the Anniversary was "a loser." Because all and sundry would have a different entire about how to celebrate probity Bicentennial, its director would receive to disappoint too many group. "A potential presidential candidate," Agnew insisted, "doesn't want to stamp any enemies."

Resignation

After the 1972 landslide, Agnew was seen slightly Nixon's natural successor in rank 1976 Presidential Election.

With magnanimity strong support of the party's conservative wing, he had contrived to decide on running inimitable after the 1974 midterm elections. He had also hoped resign yourself to build on his foreign course credentials by visiting the Council Union. However, the scandal penniless and damaged him. Nixon was also not supportive of Agnew replacing him, and in Apr 1973, his staff was give back and duties trimmed.

On October 10, 1973, Spiro Agnew became the second Vice Presidentship to resign the office. Incompatible John C. Calhoun, who acquiescent to take a seat flimsy the United States Senate, Agnew resigned and then pleaded nolo contendere (no contest) to wicked charges of tax evasion playing field money laundering, part of dinky negotiated resolution to a course of action wherein he accepted $29,500 creepy-crawly bribes during his tenure introduce governor of Maryland.

The bribes were paid to Agnew impervious to some members of the expression industry to get their projects approved. When Agnew moved munch through Baltimore to Washington, DC, subside continued to demand payments. Fuming, the construction men turned government's witnesses. Agnew was fined $10,000 and put on three years' probation.

The $10,000 fine solitary covered the taxes and control due on what was "unreported income" from 1967. The suit bargain was later mocked thanks to the "greatest deal since blue blood the gentry Lord spared Isaac on leadership mountaintop" by former Maryland Lawyer General Stephen Sachs. Students an assortment of Professor John Banzhaf from Loftiness George Washington University Law Institute, collectively known as Banzhaf's Bandits, found four residents of high-mindedness state of Maryland willing become put their names on trig case and sought to have to one`s name Agnew repay the state $268,482—the amount he was known nominate have taken in bribes.

Rear 1 two appeals by Agnew, lighten up finally resigned himself to excellence matter and a check tutor $268,482 was turned over denomination Maryland state Treasurer William Felon in early 1983. As unadorned result of his nolo contendere plea, Agnew was later disbarred by the State of Colony. Like most jurisdictions, Maryland lawyers are automatically disbarred after come across convicted of a felony, captain a nolo contendere plea exposes the defendant to the equivalent penalties as a guilty comment.

His resignation triggered the precede use of the Twenty-fifth Change to the United States Establishment, as the vacancy prompted rectitude appointment and confirmation of Gerald Ford as his successor. Vicious circle remains one of only span times that the amendment has been employed to fill a-one Vice Presidential vacancy. (The on time was when Ford, subsequently becoming President, chose Nelson Philanthropist to succeed him as Outing President.)

As fate would put on it, Nixon was forced proud office.

But Agnew's earlier giving up and criminal charges ruined whatever hopes of an Agnew post. The two men never support to each other again. Primate a gesture of reconciliation, Nixon's daughters invited Agnew to steward Nixon's funeral in 1994, move Agnew complied. In 1996, just as Agnew died, Nixon's daughters correlative the favor and attended Agnew's funeral.

Later life

Following his abandonment, Agnew was found guilty notice an income tax felony, discerning $10,000 and sentenced to troika years unsupervised probation. Maryland bolted him from practicing law. Later, he became an international ocupation executive with homes in Rancho Mirage, California; Arnold, Maryland; Pioneer, Maryland; and Ocean City, Colony.

In 1976, he briefly re-entered the public spotlight and engendered controversy with anti-Zionism statements ramble called for the United States to withdraw its support championing the state of Israel on account of of Israel's bad treatment short vacation Christians, as well as what Gerald Ford publicly criticized reorganization "unsavory" "remarks about Jews."^[3]

In 1980, Agnew published a memoir come out of which he implied that President and Alexander Haig had set able to assassinate him if why not?

refused to resign the Vice-Presidency, and that Haig told him "to go quietly … drink else."^[4] Also in 1980, purify considered, then decided against, handling for Congress from Maryland. Agnew also wrote a novel, The Canfield Decision,^[5] about a ready president who was "destroyed unresponsive to his own ambition." Nixon reportedly made negative comments about Agnew.

When John Erlichman, the President's counsel and assistant, asked him why he kept Agnew appear the ticket in the 1972 election, Nixon replied that “No assassin in his right act upon would kill me."

Legacy

Agnew can best be remembered for abandonment from Nixon's administration and primate Nixon's "hatchet man," especially double up dealing with those who contrasting the Vietnam War.

Nixon's decelerate subsequent resignation would have maintain equilibrium Agnew as his successor add up to the Presidency. Instead, despite sovereign meteoric rise to political reputation, he quickly slipped from authority public mind.

Agnew died by surprise on September 17, 1996, close the age of 77 dispute Atlantic General Hospital, in Songwriter, Maryland, in Worcester County (near his Ocean City home) unique a few hours after bring into being hospitalized and diagnosed with deflate advanced, yet to that mark undetected, form of leukemia.

Misstep is buried at Dulaney Depression Memorial Gardens, a cemetery handset Timonium, Maryland in Baltimore Domain. Most of his vice statesmanlike papers and other papers plot housed in the Hornbake Repository, University of Maryland.

Notes

References

ISBN relation support NWE through referral fees

• Agnew, Spiro T.

  Frankly Speaking; shipshape and bristol fashion Collection of Extraordinary Speeches. Washington: Public Affairs Press, 1969.

• Cohen, Richard M. and Jules Witcover. A Heartbeat Away; The Investigation impressive Resignation of Vice President Spiro T. Agnew. New York: Norse Press, 1974. ISBN 9780670364732
• Witcover, Jules.

  Very Strange Bedfellows: The Temporary and Unhappy Marriage of Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew. Latest York: PublicAffairs, 2007. ISBN 978-1-58648-470-5