Harry L. Sears
Encyclopedia
Harry Lloyd Sears Jr. was an American
lawyer and Republican Party
politician who served for 10 years in the New Jersey Legislature
. He was the New Jersey chairman for the 1972 re-election campaign
of President Richard Nixon
and was later indicted on charges stemming from the secret delivery of $200,000 from financier Robert Vesco
to Nixon's campaign.
. He graduated in 1942 with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in economics from Tusculum College
in Greeneville, Tennessee
. During World War II
he served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy
. He received his law degree from Rutgers School of Law—Newark
.
from Morris County
in 1961 and was re-elected in 1963 and 1965. He was elected to the New Jersey Senate
in 1967. In 1969, he unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Governor of New Jersey
. He lost the Republican primary to William T. Cahill
, also finishing behind U.S. Rep. Charles W. Sandman, Jr.
, and ahead of State Sen. Frank X. McDermott
and Board of Public Utilities
Commissioner William E. Ozzard
.
From 1970 to 1971, Sears served as the majority leader in the Senate. He was instrumental in passing legislation that created the New Jersey Lottery
and the Meadowlands Sports Complex
, signed into law by Governor Cahill. In March 1971, he announced that he would resign from office and return to his legal practice.
After leaving office, Sears was named chairman of the New Jersey campaign to re-elect Richard Nixon
in the 1972 presidential election
. He also served as counsel for the International Controls Corporation
, a company run by financier Robert Vesco
. Vesco's company was under investigation by the SEC for its takeover of the Investors Overseas Service
.
at the age of 82.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician who served for 10 years in the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
. He was the New Jersey chairman for the 1972 re-election campaign
United States presidential election, 1972
The United States presidential election of 1972 was the 47th quadrennial United States presidential election. It was held on November 7, 1972. The Democratic Party's nomination was eventually won by Senator George McGovern, who ran an anti-war campaign against incumbent Republican President Richard...
of President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
and was later indicted on charges stemming from the secret delivery of $200,000 from financier Robert Vesco
Robert Vesco
Robert Lee Vesco was a fugitive United States financier. After several years of high stakes investments and seedy credit dealings, Vesco was alleged guilty of securities fraud. He immediately fled the ensuing U.S...
to Nixon's campaign.
Early life
Sears was born in 1920 in Butler, New JerseyButler, New Jersey
Butler is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,539.Butler was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 13, 1901, from portions of Pequannock Township.-Geography:Butler is located at...
. He graduated in 1942 with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in economics from Tusculum College
Tusculum College
Tusculum College is a coeducational private college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church , with its main campus in Tusculum, Tennessee, United States, a suburb of Greeneville...
in Greeneville, Tennessee
Greeneville, Tennessee
Greeneville is a town in Greene County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 15,198 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Greene County. The town was named in honor of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene. It is the only town with this spelling in the United States, although there...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. He received his law degree from Rutgers School of Law—Newark
Rutgers School of Law—Newark
Rutgers School of Law–Newark is the oldest of three law schools in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located at the S.I. Newhouse Center for Law and Justice, at 123 Washington Street, in downtown Newark...
.
Legislative career
Sears was elected to the New Jersey General AssemblyNew Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
from Morris County
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
in 1961 and was re-elected in 1963 and 1965. He was elected to the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
in 1967. In 1969, he unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
. He lost the Republican primary to William T. Cahill
William T. Cahill
William Thomas Cahill was an American Republican Party politician who served as the 46th Governor of New Jersey, from 1970 to 1974, and who represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in the U.S...
, also finishing behind U.S. Rep. Charles W. Sandman, Jr.
Charles W. Sandman, Jr.
Charles William Sandman, Jr. was an American Republican Party politician who represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives and was the party's candidate for Governor of New Jersey in 1973.-Biography:Sandman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, and ahead of State Sen. Frank X. McDermott
Frank X. McDermott
Francis "Frank" X. McDermott is a former American Republican Party politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature.-Biography:McDermott was born in New York City in 1924...
and Board of Public Utilities
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is a regulatory authority in New Jersey charged with the responsibility of seeing that "safe, adequate, and proper utility services are provided at reasonable rates for customers in New Jersey." The NJBPU regulates natural gas, electricity, water,...
Commissioner William E. Ozzard
William E. Ozzard
William E. Ozzard was an American Republican Party politician who served for 13 years in the New Jersey Legislature, serving as New Jersey Senate President in 1963. He was President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities from 1970 to 1973.-Biography:Ozzard was born in 1915 in Weehawken, New...
.
From 1970 to 1971, Sears served as the majority leader in the Senate. He was instrumental in passing legislation that created the New Jersey Lottery
New Jersey Lottery
The New Jersey Lottery is run by the government of New Jersey. Its games consist of Powerball, Mega Millions, Pick-6, Jersey Cash 5, Pick-4, Pick-3, and scratch tickets. The Lottery is headquartered in the One Lawrence Park Complex in Lawrence Township, Mercer County.New Jersey Lottery players must...
and the Meadowlands Sports Complex
Meadowlands Sports Complex
The MetLife Sports Complex is a sports and entertainment facility located in East Rutherford, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, owned and operated by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority...
, signed into law by Governor Cahill. In March 1971, he announced that he would resign from office and return to his legal practice.
After leaving office, Sears was named chairman of the New Jersey campaign to re-elect Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
in the 1972 presidential election
United States presidential election, 1972
The United States presidential election of 1972 was the 47th quadrennial United States presidential election. It was held on November 7, 1972. The Democratic Party's nomination was eventually won by Senator George McGovern, who ran an anti-war campaign against incumbent Republican President Richard...
. He also served as counsel for the International Controls Corporation
International Controls Corporation
International Controls Corporation was an American holding company incorporated in 1965. Before being taken private in 1997, its subsidiaries included Checker Motors Corporation and Great Dane Trailers...
, a company run by financier Robert Vesco
Robert Vesco
Robert Lee Vesco was a fugitive United States financier. After several years of high stakes investments and seedy credit dealings, Vesco was alleged guilty of securities fraud. He immediately fled the ensuing U.S...
. Vesco's company was under investigation by the SEC for its takeover of the Investors Overseas Service
Investors Overseas Service
Investors Overseas Services, Ltd. was founded in 1955 by financier Bernard Cornfeld. The company was incorporated outside the United States with funds in Canada and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. In the 1960s, the company employed 25,000 people who sold 18 different mutual funds...
.
Later life
Sears later returned to private practice, specializing in land use and real estate law, until retiring in 1992. After a short illness, he died in 2002 in DenvilleDenville, New Jersey
Denville is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 16,635. Denville is known as the "Hub of Morris County" for its location along major transportation routes at the center of the county...
at the age of 82.
External links
- Harry L. Sears at The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...