Jerry J. O'Connell
Encyclopedia
Jerry Joseph O'Connell (June 14, 1909 - January 16, 1956) was a U.S. Representative
from Montana
.
, O'Connell attended the parochial schools and Butte Central High School. He graduated from Carroll College
(formerly Mount St. Charles College), Helena, Montana
, in 1931, and from Georgetown University
, Washington, D.C.
, in 1934. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
in 1934.
Washington, DC: O'Connell was elected as a Democrat
to the Seventy-fifth
Congress (January 3, 1937-January 3, 1939).
He ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 1938 to the Seventy-sixth
Congress and again in 1940 to the Seventy-seventh
Congress.
Montana: O'Connell worked as a newspaper editor and publisher in Hamilton, Montana
from 1939 to 1941. He commenced a law practice of law in Butte, Montana
in 1940. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1944.
Washington State: O'Connell moved to Seattle, Washington
, in June 1944. He served as executive secretary of the Washington State Democratic Central Committee from December 1944 to January 1947, for the Roosevelt Democrats in 1947, and for the Washington State Progressive Party in 1948 and 1949.
Montana: He returned to Montana in 1950 and practiced law in Great Falls until his death there January 16, 1956. He was interred in Great Falls Mausoleum.
. The Committee questioned him widely, including Henry Wallace
bid for President in 1948. The Committee gained no new evidence, which lessened its reputation. After the hearings, O'Connell had a heart attack and died.
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 Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
.
Background
Born in Butte, MontanaButte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
, O'Connell attended the parochial schools and Butte Central High School. He graduated from Carroll College
Carroll College (Montana)
Carroll College is a private Catholic liberal arts college in Helena, Montana, USA. Carroll College has earned national and regional awards for its academic programs. Carroll's colors are purple and gold...
(formerly Mount St. Charles College), Helena, Montana
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
, in 1931, and from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, in 1934. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1934.
Career
Montana: O'Connell served in the State house of representatives 1931-1934. He served as member of the Montana Public Service Commission 1934-1936. He served as delegate to the Democratic State conventions 1930-1940.Washington, DC: O'Connell was elected as a Democrat
Democratic 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...
to the Seventy-fifth
75th United States Congress
The Seventy-fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1937 to January 3, 1939, during the first two years...
Congress (January 3, 1937-January 3, 1939).
He ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 1938 to the Seventy-sixth
76th United States Congress
The Seventy-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1939 to January 3, 1941, during the seventh and...
Congress and again in 1940 to the Seventy-seventh
77th United States Congress
-Major events:* December 7, 1941: Attack on Pearl Harbor* December 8, 1941: Joint Session of Congress met to hear President Roosevelt deliver his "Day of Infamy" speech...
Congress.
Montana: O'Connell worked as a newspaper editor and publisher in Hamilton, Montana
Hamilton, Montana
Hamilton is a city in and the county seat of Ravalli County, Montana, United States. The population was 3,705 at the 2000 census. Significant outlying population growth is shown in the area; the ZIP Code Tabulation Area for Hamilton's ZIP Code, 59840, had a population of 12,327at the 2000 census.-...
from 1939 to 1941. He commenced a law practice of law in Butte, Montana
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
in 1940. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1944.
Washington State: O'Connell moved to Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, in June 1944. He served as executive secretary of the Washington State Democratic Central Committee from December 1944 to January 1947, for the Roosevelt Democrats in 1947, and for the Washington State Progressive Party in 1948 and 1949.
Montana: He returned to Montana in 1950 and practiced law in Great Falls until his death there January 16, 1956. He was interred in Great Falls Mausoleum.
HUAC Testimony
O'Connell was openly a long-time progressive socialist and communist fellow traveler. In 1955, he appeared before the House Un-American Activities CommitteeHouse Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
. The Committee questioned him widely, including Henry Wallace
Henry Wallace
Henry or Harry Wallace may refer to:*Henry A. Wallace , U.S. Vice President 1941-1945, presidential candidate for the Progressive Party 1948**Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center...
bid for President in 1948. The Committee gained no new evidence, which lessened its reputation. After the hearings, O'Connell had a heart attack and died.