Robert A. Roe
Encyclopedia
Robert A. Roe is an American
Democratic Party
politician who represented New Jersey
in the United States House of Representatives
for over twenty-three years, serving from November 4, 1969 to January 3, 1993.
in Corvallis
and Washington State University
in Pullman
.
During World War II
, Roe served in the Army
. Roe served as a committeeman of Wayne Township 1955–1956. In 1956, He became the Mayor of Wayne, New Jersey, serving in that capacity until 1961. He also served on the Passaic County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
from 1959–1963, and as Freeholder Director in 1962 and 1963.
In 1963, he was appointed as the Commissioner of the New Jersey Conservation and Economic Development Department and served until his 1969 resignation.
In 1969, Congressman Charles S. Joelson resigned from Congress. On November 4, Roe was elected as Democrat
to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election. Roe had a mostly liberal voting record, but he was pro-life on abortion. During the 1980s, conservative radio talk show host Bob Grant
often bitterly attacked Roe on his program.
In 1977, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor
.
Roe served as Chairman of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (1987–1991) and the Committee on Public Works and Transportation 1991–1993.
Roe retired after the 1992 election
and later worked as a consultant
.
The former lawmaker was convicted of driving drunk when he crashed into a minivan in Rockaway Township, New Jersey
in 1993, seriously injuring a woman and her 15-year-old daughter. In January 2008 a bill was passed to name Route 23 after the former Congressman. Mothers Against Drunk Driving
is protesting against the plan to name the highway after a man who seriously injured two people while driving drunk. A spokesman stated that Governor Jon Corzine
did not know about the accident when he signed the bill and that a second bill would have to be passed by the New Jersey Legislature
to overturn the naming.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
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...
politician who represented New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in the United States House of Representatives
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...
for over twenty-three years, serving from November 4, 1969 to January 3, 1993.
Biography
Roe attended college at Oregon State UniversityOregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
in Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
and Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
in Pullman
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
.
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...
, Roe served 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...
. Roe served as a committeeman of Wayne Township 1955–1956. In 1956, He became the Mayor of Wayne, New Jersey, serving in that capacity until 1961. He also served on the Passaic County
Passaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
from 1959–1963, and as Freeholder Director in 1962 and 1963.
In 1963, he was appointed as the Commissioner of the New Jersey Conservation and Economic Development Department and served until his 1969 resignation.
In 1969, Congressman Charles S. Joelson resigned from Congress. On November 4, Roe was elected as 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 U.S. House of Representatives in a special election. Roe had a mostly liberal voting record, but he was pro-life on abortion. During the 1980s, conservative radio talk show host Bob Grant
Bob Grant (radio)
Bob Grant , is an American radio host whose real name is Robert Ciro Gigante. A veteran of broadcasting in New York City, Grant is considered a pioneer of the "conservative" and "confrontational" talk radio format.-Early work:...
often bitterly attacked Roe on his program.
In 1977, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor
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...
.
Roe served as Chairman of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (1987–1991) and the Committee on Public Works and Transportation 1991–1993.
Roe retired after the 1992 election
United States House elections, 1992
The United States House of Representatives elections in 1992 coincided with the 1992 presidential election, in which Democrats Bill Clinton and Al Gore were elected as President and Vice President, respectively, defeating Republican incumbent President George H. W...
and later worked as a consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
.
The former lawmaker was convicted of driving drunk when he crashed into a minivan in Rockaway Township, New Jersey
Rockaway Township, New Jersey
Rockaway Township is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 24,156....
in 1993, seriously injuring a woman and her 15-year-old daughter. In January 2008 a bill was passed to name Route 23 after the former Congressman. Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a non-profit organization in the United States that seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and overall push for stricter alcohol policy...
is protesting against the plan to name the highway after a man who seriously injured two people while driving drunk. A spokesman stated that Governor Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
did not know about the accident when he signed the bill and that a second bill would have to be passed by 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...
to overturn the naming.