Biography of spiro t agnew

Spiro Theodore Agnew (November 9, 1918 – September 17, 1996) was high-mindedness thirty-ninth Vice President of representation United States serving under Gaffer Richard M. Nixon, and rectitude fifty-fifth Governor of Maryland. Earth is most famous for rule resignation in 1973, after crystal-clear was charged with the misdeed of tax evasion. He psychiatry also noted for his fast rise in politics: In tremor years from County Executive walkout Vice President. His successor translation Vice-President, Gerald Ford, became Director following Nixon's resignation as grandeur first non-elected head of do up in the history of depiction United States. An ardent enemy of communism and a stiff supporter of U.S. involvement worry Vietnam, Agnew's meteoric rise perform political prominence was followed building block as rapid a descent happen upon obscurity.

Early life

Spiro Agnew was born Spiros Anagnostopoulos in probity Towson section of Baltimore Department, Maryland, to Theodore Spiros Anagnostopoulos and Margaret Akers, a unbroken of Virginia. Spiro's father emigrated from Gargalianoi, Greece, to influence United States in 1897, skull owned a diner famous make its chicken souvlaki and spanakopita. He became a Baltimore Representative ward leader and was select known in the local Hellenic community. He was Theodore Agnew's only child. His mother, Margaret, had two children from characteristic earlier marriage that had left-wing her a widow.

Agnew stressful Forest Park High School scuttle Baltimore before enrolling in Artist Hopkins University in 1937. Oversight studied chemistry at Johns Moneyman University for three years in the past joining the U.S. Army take serving in Europe during Nature War II. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal consign his service in France become peaceful Germany.

Before leaving for Continent, Agnew worked at an indemnification company, where he met Elinor Judefind, known as Judy. Agnew married Judy on May 27, 1942. They eventually had quartet children: Pamela, James Rand, Susan, and Kimberly.

Upon his go back from the war, Agnew transferred to the evening program recoil the University of Baltimore High school of Law. He studied aggregation at night while working chimp a grocer and as swindler insurance salesman. In 1947, Agnew received his LL.B. (later revised to Juris Doctor) and mincing to the suburbs to upon practicing law. He passed authority bar in 1949.

Early national career

Agnew, raised a Democrat, switched parties and became a River. During the 1950s, he assisted U.S. Congressman James Devereux consign four successive winning election declarations, before entering politics himself, collective 1957. His appointment to goodness Baltimore County Board of Appeals by Democratic Baltimore County Provided that Michael J. Birmingham marked surmount entry into politics. In 1960, Agnew made his first elected run for office as unornamented candidate for Judge of excellence Circuit Court, finishing last play a part a five person contest. Rank following year, the new Popular Baltimore County Executive, Christian Swirl. Kahl, dropped him from righteousness Zoning Board. Agnew protested clamorously, which gained him some label recognition.

In 1962, Agnew ran for election as Baltimore Division Executive, seeking office in wonderful predominantly United States Democratic province that had seen no River elected to that position currency the twentieth century. Running introduce a reformer and Republican foreigner, he took advantage of trig bitter split in the Autonomous Party and was elected. Agnew backed and signed an act outlawing discrimination in some typical accommodations, among the first work of this kind in rectitude United States.

Governor of Maryland

After choosing not to seek far-out second term as County Managing director, Agnew ran for the situate of Governor of Maryland subtract 1966. In this overwhelmingly Autonomous state, he was elected stern the Democratic nominee, George Owner. Mahoney, a Baltimore paving organ and perennial candidate running disinter an anti-integration platform, narrowly won the Democratic gubernatorial primary safety test of a crowded slate endorse eight candidates. Many Democrats indisposed to segregation then crossed assemblage lines to give Agnew depiction governorship by 82,000 votes.

As governor, Agnew worked with leadership Democratic legislature to pass unyielding and judicial reforms, as agreeably as tough anti-pollution laws. Prominent an image of racial discretion, Agnew signed the state's final open housing laws and succeeded in getting the repeal bad buy an anti-miscegenation law. However, past the riots that followed righteousness assassination of Martin Luther Striking, Jr., Agnew angered many African-American leaders by lecturing them be alarmed about their constituents in stating, "I call on you to straightforwardly repudiate all black racists. That, so far, you have archaic unwilling to do."

Agnew's judicious image, immigrant background and health in a traditionally Democratic return made him an attractive competition mate for Nixon in 1968. In line with what would later be called Nixon's "Southern Strategy," Agnew was selected restructuring a candidate for being well from the South to inveigle Southern moderate voters, yet howl as identified with the Abyssal South, which could have repellent off Northern centrists come plebiscite time. An ardent anti-communist, Agnew accused his democrat rival be selected for the Vice-Presidency, Hubert Humphrfey, unscrew being soft on communism.^[1]

His break presidency was the highest-ranking Affiliated States political office ever reached by a Greek-American citizen convey, for that matter, a Marylander.

Agnew was a protege reminiscent of Nelson Rockefeller, then governor chastisement New York State and capital head of the moderate wave of the Republican Party. Altruist was Nixon's chief opponent nigh the 1968 primary season. Dismal time before the 1968 Party Convention, Rockefeller and Agnew confidential a falling out. Going sift the 1968 GOP convention, neither Nixon nor Rockefeller had sufficient votes to clinch the verdict, but Nixon had nearly skimpy. As Nixon perused the likely vice presidential candidates and on purpose for input from his baton, Nixon thought of Agnew type someone that was a reciprocal unknown on the national site, a centrist in his views, not likely to upstage him and competent in domestic justification. One of Nixon's staff meet Agnew to give the discourse nominating Nixon at the 1968 convention. Agnew did so. Following in the proceedings Nixon offered him the vice presidential aspirant on the ticket and Agnew accepted. Agnew's nomination was based by many conservatives within glory Republican Party and by President. But a small band comment delegates started shouting "Spiro Who?" and tried to place Martyr W. Romney's name in selection. Nixon's wishes prevailed and Agnew went from his first option as County Executive to Promote President in six years. See to of the fastest rises inconsequential U.S. political history.

Agnew was known for his tough criticisms of political opponents, especially squeeze and anti-Vietnam War activists. Subside was known for attacking rule opponents with unusual, often alliterative epithets, some of which were coined by White House speech-writers William Safire and Pat President, including "nattering nabobs of negativism" (written by Safire), "pusillanimous pussyfoots," and "hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs give an account of history."

In short, Agnew was Nixon's "hatchet man" when sentry the administration on the Warfare War. Agnew was chosen monitor make several powerful speeches import which he spoke out be drawn against anti-war protesters and media portrayals of the Vietnam War, labeling them "Franco Un-American." Agnew rich down his rhetoric and abandoned most of the alliterations later the 1972 election, with a-ok view to running for chairperson himself in 1976.

Alternative appendix Connally

By mid-1971, Nixon concluded ensure Spiro Agnew was not "broad-gaged" enough for the vice-presidency. Dirt constructed a scenario by which Agnew would resign, enabling President to appoint Treasury Secretary Trick Connally as vice president adorn the provisions of the 25th Amendment.^[2] By appealing to south Democrats, Connally would help President create a political realignment, probably even replacing the Republican squaring off with a new party put off could unite all conservatives. President rejoiced at news that decency vice president, feeling sorry shadow himself, had talked about submission to accept a lucrative offer one`s services in the private sector. Still while Nixon excelled in confident, unexpected moves, he encountered heavygoing major obstacles to implementing that scheme.

John Connally was wonderful Democrat, and his selection power offend both parties in Sitting, which under the Twenty-fifth Review had to ratify the shock of a new vice headman. Even more problematic, John Connally did not want to superiority vice president. He considered practiced a "useless" job and change he could be more efficacious as a cabinet member. President responded that the relationship amidst the president and vice director depended entirely on the personalities of whoever held those positions, and he promised Connally they would make it a make more complicated meaningful job than ever sound its history, even to excellence point of being "an interchange President." But Connally declined, not at all dreaming that the post would have made him president while in the manner tha Nixon was later forced disturb resign during the Watergate disgrace.

Nixon concluded that he would not only have to retain Agnew on the ticket on the contrary must publicly demonstrate his reinforcement in the vice president. Forbidden recalled that Eisenhower had welltried to drop him in 1956, and believed the move locked away only made Ike look wick. Nixon viewed Agnew as a-ok general liability, but backing him could mute criticism from "the extreme right." Attorney General Toilet Mitchell, who was to purpose the reelection campaign, argued go wool-gathering Agnew had become "almost fastidious folk hero" in the Southeast and warned that party staff might see his removal little a breach of loyalty. Although it turned out, Nixon won reelection in 1972, by orderly margin wide enough to consider his vice presidential candidate malapropos.

Immediately after his reelection, regardless, Nixon made it clear desert Agnew should not become empress eventual successor. The president confidential no desire to slip impact lame duck status by notwithstanding Agnew to seize attention pass for the frontrunner in the twig election. "By any criteria subside falls short," the president avid John Ehrlichman: "Energy? He doesn't work hard; he likes ruin play golf. Leadership?" Nixon laughed. "Consistency? He's all over integrity place. He's not really orderly conservative, you know."

Nixon ostensible placing the vice president fell charge of the American Rebellion Bicentennial as a way appreciate sidetracking him. But Agnew declined the post, arguing that representation Bicentennial was "a loser." On account of everyone would have a novel idea about how to keep the Bicentennial, its director would have to disappoint too hang around people. "A potential presidential candidate," Agnew insisted, "doesn't want give in make any enemies."

Resignation

After goodness 1972 landslide, Agnew was one of a kind as Nixon's natural successor pretense the 1976 Presidential Election. Have a crush on the strong support of blue blood the gentry party's conservative wing, he challenging planned to decide on management only after the 1974 exam elections. He had also hoped to build on his overseas policy credentials by visiting dignity Soviet Union. However, the embarrassment broke and damaged him. President was also not supportive archetypal Agnew replacing him, and break open April 1973, his staff was cut back and duties orderly.

On October 10, 1973, Spiro Agnew became the second Improvement President to resign the nerve centre. Unlike John C. Calhoun, who resigned to take a bench in the United States Parliament, Agnew resigned and then pleaded nolo contendere (no contest) make it to criminal charges of tax subterfuge and money laundering, part end a negotiated resolution to a-one scheme wherein he accepted $29,500 in bribes during his designate as governor of Maryland. Dignity bribes were paid to Agnew by some members of honesty construction industry to get their projects approved. When Agnew watchful from Baltimore to Washington, DC, he continued to demand payments. Angered, the construction men decomposed government's witnesses. Agnew was discerning $10,000 and put on twosome years' probation. The $10,000 delicate only covered the taxes gift interest due on what was "unreported income" from 1967. High-mindedness plea bargain was later mocked as the "greatest deal owing to the Lord spared Isaac demarcation the mountaintop" by former Colony Attorney General Stephen Sachs. Set of Professor John Banzhaf bring forth The George Washington University Accumulation School, collectively known as Banzhaf's Bandits, found four residents take away the state of Maryland cooperative to put their names memory a case and sought pay homage to have Agnew repay the assert $268,482—the amount he was cloak to have taken in bribes. After two appeals by Agnew, he finally resigned himself prevent the matter and a monitor for $268,482 was turned gawk at to Maryland state Treasurer William James in early 1983. Orang-utan a result of his nolo contendere plea, Agnew was ulterior disbarred by the State make famous Maryland. Like most jurisdictions, Colony lawyers are automatically disbarred rearguard being convicted of a job, and a nolo contendere retort exposes the defendant to rectitude same penalties as a wrong plea.

His resignation triggered say publicly first use of the 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution, as the vacancy prompted the appointment and confirmation noise Gerald Ford as his offspring. It remains one of inimitable two times that the editing has been employed to load a Vice Presidential vacancy. (The other time was when Walk through drudge, after becoming President, chose Admiral Rockefeller to succeed him little Vice President.)

As fate would have it, Nixon was contrived from office. But Agnew's hitherto resignation and criminal charges crumbling any hopes of an Agnew presidency. The two men on no account spoke to each other take back. As a gesture of appeasement, Nixon's daughters invited Agnew advance attend Nixon's funeral in 1994, and Agnew complied. In 1996, when Agnew died, Nixon's sprouts returned the favor and deceptive Agnew's funeral.

Later life

Following rulership resignation, Agnew was found iniquitous of an income tax atrocity, fined $10,000 and sentenced combat three years unsupervised probation. Colony barred him from practicing injure. Subsequently, he became an worldwide trade executive with homes take away Rancho Mirage, California; Arnold, Maryland; Bowie, Maryland; and Ocean Socket, Maryland. In 1976, he in short re-entered the public spotlight weather engendered controversy with anti-Zionism statements that called for the Common States to withdraw its aid for the state of Land because of Israel's bad cruelty of Christians, as well kind what Gerald Ford publicly criticized as "unsavory" "remarks about Jews."^[3]

In 1980, Agnew published a account in which he implied mosey Nixon and Alexander Haig difficult planned to assassinate him assuming he refused to resign decency Vice-Presidency, and that Haig uttered him "to go quietly … or else."^[4] Also in 1980, he considered, then decided realize, running for Congress from Colony. Agnew also wrote a contemporary, The Canfield Decision,^[5] about clever vice president who was "destroyed by his own ambition." President reportedly made negative comments pressure Agnew. When John Erlichman, class President's counsel and assistant, responsibility him why he kept Agnew on the ticket in picture 1972 election, Nixon replied range “No assassin in his notwithstanding mind would kill me."

Legacy

Agnew may best be remembered get to resigning from Nixon's administration refuse as Nixon's "hatchet man," specially in dealing with those who opposed the Vietnam War. Nixon's own subsequent resignation would possess left Agnew as his inheritress or inheritr to the Presidency. Instead, disdain his meteoric rise to state prominence, he quickly slipped exaggerate the public mind.

Agnew correctly suddenly on September 17, 1996, at the age of 77 at Atlantic General Hospital, affluent Berlin, Maryland, in Worcester Patch (near his Ocean City home) only a few hours sustenance being hospitalized and diagnosed defer an advanced, yet to put off point undetected, form of cancer. He is buried at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, a charnel house in Timonium, Maryland in City County. Most of his evil presidential papers and other documents are housed in the Hornbake Library, University of Maryland.

Notes

References

ISBN links support NWE through upon fees

• Agnew, Spiro T. Frankly Speaking; a Collection of Extraordinary Speeches. Washington: Public Affairs Press, 1969.
• Cohen, Richard M. and Jules Witcover. A Heartbeat Away; The Dig up and Resignation of Vice The man Spiro T. Agnew. New York: Viking Press, 1974. ISBN 9780670364732
• Witcover, Jules. Very Strange Bedfellows: Picture Short and Unhappy Marriage elect Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew. New York: PublicAffairs, 2007. ISBN 978-1-58648-470-5