Jerome R. Waldie
Encyclopedia
Jerome Russell "Jerry" Waldie (February 15, 1925 – April 3, 2009) was a United States Representative
from California
.
, Waldie attended Antioch public schools. After three years in the Army
during World War II
, he graduated from the University of California, Berkeley
in 1950 with a degree in political science, and earned a law degree from the university's Boalt Hall School of Law in 1953. He served in the United States Army
from 1943 to 1946.
member of the California State Assembly
from 1959 to 1966, becoming Majority Leader in 1961. One of his last accomplishments in Sacramento was to carry the constitutional amendment pushed by Speaker of the Assembly Jesse Unruh to create a full-time Legislature.
Waldie was then elected to the Eighty-ninth
Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative John F. Baldwin. He was reelected four times, serving from June 7, 1966 to January 3, 1975.
As Congressman, he was an early critic of U.S. involvement in Vietnam and an advocate of health care reforms.
During the Watergate scandal
, Waldie was a vocal critic of President Richard Nixon
. Three days after Nixon fired Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox
(in what became known as the "Saturday Night Massacre
") Waldie introduced a resolution calling for the impeachment
of the President, one of the first members of the House Judiciary Committee to do so. He later voted to impeach Nixon in July 1974.
Waldie did not run for reelection to the Congress that year. Instead, he campaigned for the Democratic nomination for Governor of California
in the June Primary election, but was defeated by then-Secretary of State Jerry Brown
, who went on to win in November.
from 1978 to 1979 and the executive director of the White House Conference on Aging
(1980). He also served as member of the California Agricultural Relations Board from 1981 to 1985. He eventually retired to Placerville
, California where he resided until his death in April 2009.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Early life
Born in Antioch, CaliforniaAntioch, California
Antioch is a city in Contra Costa County, California. Located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area along the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta, it is a suburb of San Francisco and Oakland. The city's population was 102,372 at the U.S...
, Waldie attended Antioch public schools. After three years in the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
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 graduated from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1950 with a degree in political science, and earned a law degree from the university's Boalt Hall School of Law in 1953. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1943 to 1946.
Political career
Waldie served as a DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
from 1959 to 1966, becoming Majority Leader in 1961. One of his last accomplishments in Sacramento was to carry the constitutional amendment pushed by Speaker of the Assembly Jesse Unruh to create a full-time Legislature.
Waldie was then elected to the Eighty-ninth
89th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President of the Senate: Hubert Humphrey , starting January 20, 1965* President pro tempore: Carl Hayden - Majority leadership :* Majority Leader and Democratic Conference Chairman: Mike Mansfield...
Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative John F. Baldwin. He was reelected four times, serving from June 7, 1966 to January 3, 1975.
As Congressman, he was an early critic of U.S. involvement in Vietnam and an advocate of health care reforms.
During the Watergate scandal
Watergate scandal
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement...
, Waldie was a vocal critic 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...
. Three days after Nixon fired Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox
Archibald Cox
Archibald Cox, Jr., was an American lawyer and law professor who served as U.S. Solicitor General under President John F. Kennedy. He became known as the first special prosecutor for the Watergate scandal. During his career, he was a pioneering expert on labor law and also an authority on...
(in what became known as the "Saturday Night Massacre
Saturday night massacre
The "Saturday Night Massacre" was the term given by political commentators to U.S. President Richard Nixon's executive dismissal of independent special prosecutor Archibald Cox, and the resignations of Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus on October 20,...
") Waldie introduced a resolution calling for the impeachment
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
of the President, one of the first members of the House Judiciary Committee to do so. He later voted to impeach Nixon in July 1974.
Waldie did not run for reelection to the Congress that year. Instead, he campaigned for the Democratic nomination for Governor of California
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
in the June Primary election, but was defeated by then-Secretary of State Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
, who went on to win in November.
Post-Congressional life
As an ex-Congressman, Waldie served as a public advocate. He was chairman of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review CommissionFederal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission
The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission is an independent adjudicative agency of the United States government that provides administrative trial and appellate review of legal disputes arising under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Amendments Act, or Mine Act, of 1977.Under the Mine...
from 1978 to 1979 and the executive director of the White House Conference on Aging
White House Conference on Aging
The White House Conference on Aging is a once-a-decade conference sponsored by the Executive Office of the President of the United States which makes policy recommendations to the president and Congress regarding the aged. The first of its kind,the goals of the conference are to promote the...
(1980). He also served as member of the California Agricultural Relations Board from 1981 to 1985. He eventually retired to Placerville
Placerville, California
Placerville is the county seat of El Dorado County, California. The population was 10,389 at the 2010 census, up from 9,610 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, California where he resided until his death in April 2009.