Thomas Joseph Downey
Encyclopedia
Thomas Joseph Downey was a U.S. Representative
from New York
.
Downey graduated from West Islip High School
, West Islip, New York
, 1966, and went on to earn a B.S. from Cornell University
, 1970. He attended St. John's University
Law School, Brooklyn
, N.Y. from 1972 to 1974, and earned a J.D. from American University
, 1980. He served as Suffolk County, New York
legislator from 1972 to 1974 and delegate to the Democratic National Convention
, 1972. In 1974, he was elected as Democrat to the 94th United States Congress
; at 25, he was the youngest member of that Congress. He was re-elected to the eight succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1975–January 3, 1993) and unsuccessfully ran for reelection to the One Hundred Third United States Congress in 1992. He is a resident of West Islip, N.Y.
As a member of the Armed Services Committee, Downey weighed in on arms control issues, serving as an adviser to the negotiation teams for the SALT and START talks. As a member of the Budget and Ways and Means Committees, he championed welfare reform and child care legislation.
A close confidante of Al Gore
since their days in the House of Representatives together, Downey played Jack Kemp
in Gore's 1996 Vice Presidential debate rehearsals. He was set to play George W. Bush
in Gore's rehearsals for the 2000 Presidential debates; however, after mysteriously receiving a package containing Bush's preparatory materials, he stepped aside to avoid the appearance of an improper advantage for his friend and candidate.
Downey is currently a lobbyist and chair of Downey McGrath Group, Inc., a lobbying firm he founded in 1993. The president is Ray McGrath, also a former US Representative from New York. Downey represented Dubai Ports World
and lobbied Congress to approve the controversial ports deal. Downey argues that "they would have made this country more secure" because "DP World is one of the few companies that could have worked with us to truly improve security, both at home and abroad."
He currently serves on the advisory board for Council for a Livable World
, a pioneering non-partisan advocacy organization dedicated to reducing the danger of nuclear weapons.
Downey married Carol Browner, the former head of the Environmental Protection Agency
, on June 21, 2007. This is Mr. Downey's second marriage and Browner's third.
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 New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Downey graduated from West Islip High School
West Islip High School
West Islip High School is the public high school in the town of West Islip, in Suffolk County, New York on the South Shore of Long Island. The principal of the school is Dr. Anthony Bridgeman. The associate principal is Ms. Ellen Quaglio and the administrative dean is Ms. Joann Hilbert...
, West Islip, New York
West Islip, New York
West Islip is a hamlet and CDP, located in Suffolk County, New York, USA. Situated on the south shore of Long Island, the population of the CDP was 29,907 at the time of the 2000 census.-Geography:West Islip is located at ....
, 1966, and went on to earn a B.S. from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, 1970. He attended St. John's University
St. John's University (New York City)
St. John's University is a private, Roman Catholic, coeducational university located in New York City, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1870, the school was originally located in the borough of Brooklyn in the neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant...
Law School, Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, N.Y. from 1972 to 1974, and earned a J.D. from American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
, 1980. He served as Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
legislator from 1972 to 1974 and delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
, 1972. In 1974, he was elected as Democrat to the 94th United States Congress
94th United States Congress
The Ninety-fourth 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, 1975 to January 3, 1977, during the administration...
; at 25, he was the youngest member of that Congress. He was re-elected to the eight succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1975–January 3, 1993) and unsuccessfully ran for reelection to the One Hundred Third United States Congress in 1992. He is a resident of West Islip, N.Y.
As a member of the Armed Services Committee, Downey weighed in on arms control issues, serving as an adviser to the negotiation teams for the SALT and START talks. As a member of the Budget and Ways and Means Committees, he championed welfare reform and child care legislation.
A close confidante of Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
since their days in the House of Representatives together, Downey played Jack Kemp
Jack Kemp
Jack French Kemp was an American politician and a collegiate and professional football player. A Republican, he served as Housing Secretary in the administration of President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993, having previously served nine terms as a congressman for Western New York's 31st...
in Gore's 1996 Vice Presidential debate rehearsals. He was set to play George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in Gore's rehearsals for the 2000 Presidential debates; however, after mysteriously receiving a package containing Bush's preparatory materials, he stepped aside to avoid the appearance of an improper advantage for his friend and candidate.
Downey is currently a lobbyist and chair of Downey McGrath Group, Inc., a lobbying firm he founded in 1993. The president is Ray McGrath, also a former US Representative from New York. Downey represented Dubai Ports World
Dubai Ports World
DP World is a major operator of marine ports with 49 terminals in operation and a further 9 under development across 31 countries. In 2010, DP World handled nearly 50 million TEU across its portfolio from the Americas to Asia...
and lobbied Congress to approve the controversial ports deal. Downey argues that "they would have made this country more secure" because "DP World is one of the few companies that could have worked with us to truly improve security, both at home and abroad."
He currently serves on the advisory board for Council for a Livable World
Council for a Livable World
Council for a Livable World is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit, advocacy organization dedicated to eliminating the U.S. arsenal of nuclear weapons...
, a pioneering non-partisan advocacy organization dedicated to reducing the danger of nuclear weapons.
Downey married Carol Browner, the former head of the Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
, on June 21, 2007. This is Mr. Downey's second marriage and Browner's third.