Wiley Mayne
Encyclopedia
Wiley Mayne was a four-term Republican United States Congressman
from Iowa's 6th congressional district
. He was one of several Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee who were defeated in the fall of 1974 after voting against resolutions to impeach President Richard M. Nixon in the summer of 1974.
in 1917. After attending public school in Iowa, Mayne studied at Harvard College
, where he received his B.S.
and then continued on to Harvard Law School
. In 1939, he received his J.D.
from the University of Iowa College of Law
. He joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation
in 1941, the same year that he was admitted to practice law. After a three-year tour of duty with the United States Naval Reserve as a Lieutenant Junior Grade from 1941–1943, Mayne returned to private practice, joining a Sioux City, Iowa
law firm. In 1963, he served a one-year term as president of the Iowa Bar Association. Afterwards, he chaired the Grievance Commission of the Iowa Supreme Court
until 1966.
On January 5, 1942, Mayne married Betty Dodson. The couple had three children; sons Wiley Mayne II and John Mayne, both of whom followed in their father's footsteps and became lawyers, and daughter Martha Mayne Smith.
in Northwest Iowa, and defeated Democratic freshman incumbent Stanley L. Greigg
. Mayne was elected four times to the House
, where he served on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. While serving on the House Agriculture Committee, a major issue of the era was a sudden and swift decline in the United States cattle
market. In 1973, he was made a delegate to the Food and Agricultural Organization in Rome.
As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, Mayne played an influential role in amendments to the Federal Rules of Evidence
, especially those involving the admissibility of opinion testimony. His political downfall, however, came in his fourth term during his service on the that Committee, when Mayne was one of ten Republican Committee members to vote against Articles of impeachment
of President Richard Nixon
arising from the Watergate scandal
. At the time of his Committee votes, Mayne believed that the proof was not sufficient to necessitate a call for impeachment
. In Nixon's final days in office, however, Mayne's opinion quickly changed, after evidence implicating Nixon in a subsequent cover-up was made public. The damage, however, had been done, and Mayne narrowly lost the 1974 election to his 1972 opponent, Democrat Berkley Bedell
.
One of Mayne's Congressional aides was future actor and congressman Fred Grandy
.
to resume his law practice.
His wife, Betty, died in 2001, and Mayne continued to practice law until 2005. Mayne died in May 2007, after suffering a cardiopulmonary incident.
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 Iowa's 6th congressional district
Iowa's 6th congressional district
Iowa's 6th congressional district is a former congressional district in Iowa. It existed from 1862 to 1992, when it was lost due to Iowa's declining population....
. He was one of several Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee who were defeated in the fall of 1974 after voting against resolutions to impeach President Richard M. Nixon in the summer of 1974.
Personal life
Mayne was born in Sanborn, IowaSanborn, Iowa
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,353 people, 558 households, and 372 families residing in the city. The population density was 747.1 people per square mile . There were 593 housing units at an average density of 327.5 per square mile...
in 1917. After attending public school in Iowa, Mayne studied at Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, where he received his B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
and then continued on to Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. In 1939, he received his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Iowa College of Law
University of Iowa College of Law
The University of Iowa College of Law is one of the eleven professional graduate schools at the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest law school in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. The law school was ranked as the 27th best law school...
. He joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
in 1941, the same year that he was admitted to practice law. After a three-year tour of duty with the United States Naval Reserve as a Lieutenant Junior Grade from 1941–1943, Mayne returned to private practice, joining a Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
law firm. In 1963, he served a one-year term as president of the Iowa Bar Association. Afterwards, he chaired the Grievance Commission of the Iowa Supreme Court
Iowa Supreme Court
The Iowa Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Iowa. As constitutional head of the Iowa Judicial Branch, the Court is composed of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices....
until 1966.
On January 5, 1942, Mayne married Betty Dodson. The couple had three children; sons Wiley Mayne II and John Mayne, both of whom followed in their father's footsteps and became lawyers, and daughter Martha Mayne Smith.
Congressional Terms
In 1966, Mayne ran for Congress in the now-obsolete Sixth Congressional DistrictIowa's 6th congressional district
Iowa's 6th congressional district is a former congressional district in Iowa. It existed from 1862 to 1992, when it was lost due to Iowa's declining population....
in Northwest Iowa, and defeated Democratic freshman incumbent Stanley L. Greigg
Stanley L. Greigg
Stanley Lloyd Greigg served one term as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from northwestern Iowa. He was elected to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Republican Charles B. Hoeven in 1964 but lost to Republican Wiley Mayne two years later in 1966...
. Mayne was elected four times to the House
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, where he served on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. While serving on the House Agriculture Committee, a major issue of the era was a sudden and swift decline in the United States cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
market. In 1973, he was made a delegate to the Food and Agricultural Organization in Rome.
As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, Mayne played an influential role in amendments to the Federal Rules of Evidence
Federal Rules of Evidence
The is a code of evidence law governing the admission of facts by which parties in the United States federal court system may prove their cases, both civil and criminal. The Rules were enacted in 1975, with subsequent amendments....
, especially those involving the admissibility of opinion testimony. His political downfall, however, came in his fourth term during his service on the that Committee, when Mayne was one of ten Republican Committee members to vote against Articles of impeachment
Articles of impeachment
The articles of impeachment are the set of charges drafted against a public official to initiate the impeachment process. The articles of impeachment do not result in the removal of the official, but instead require the enacting body to take further action, such as bringing the articles to a vote...
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...
arising from 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...
. At the time of his Committee votes, Mayne believed that the proof was not sufficient to necessitate a call for impeachment
Impeachment in the United States
Impeachment in the United States is an expressed power of the legislature that allows for formal charges against a civil officer of government for crimes committed in office...
. In Nixon's final days in office, however, Mayne's opinion quickly changed, after evidence implicating Nixon in a subsequent cover-up was made public. The damage, however, had been done, and Mayne narrowly lost the 1974 election to his 1972 opponent, Democrat Berkley Bedell
Berkley Bedell
Berkley Warren Bedell is a former U.S. Representative from Iowa. After starting a successful business in his youth, Berkley Fly Co., he ran for the United States Congress in 1972, but was defeated by incumbent Wiley Mayne...
.
One of Mayne's Congressional aides was future actor and congressman Fred Grandy
Fred Grandy
Fredrick Lawrence "Fred" Grandy is a former actor best known for his role as 'Gopher' on the sitcom The Love Boat and who later became a member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Iowa...
.
Later life
After leaving Congress, Mayne returned to Sioux City, IowaSioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
to resume his law practice.
His wife, Betty, died in 2001, and Mayne continued to practice law until 2005. Mayne died in May 2007, after suffering a cardiopulmonary incident.