John Warner
| John Warner | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Former U.S. Senator from Virginia From: January 2, 1979 – January 3, 2009 | |||
| Predecessor | William L. Scott | ||
| Successor | Mark Warner | ||
| Information | |||
| Party | Republican | ||
| Spouse(s) | Catherine Mellon (div.) Elizabeth Taylor (div.) Jeanne Vander Myde | ||
| Religion | Episcopalian | ||
- No relation to his Senate successor Mark Warner
John William Warner (born February 18, 1927) was the Senior United States Senator from Virginia, former Secretary of the Navy, and a World War II veteran. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Early life
Warner was born and grew up in Washington, D.C. He enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II in January 1945, shortly before his 18th birthday. He served until the following year, leaving as a Petty Officer 3rd Class. Warner joined the Marine Corps in October 1950, after the outbreak of the Korean War, and served in Korea as a ground officer with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Eventually he reached the rank of captain.
He later received a law degree, became a law clerk and then an assistant US attorney. In 1976 Warner married popular actress Elizabeth Taylor, though they divorced six years later. He has been married three times.
Political career
John Warner served as Secretary of the Navy under President Richard M. Nixon's administration and was elected to the United States Senate in 1978. He is the second-longest serving Republican Senator from Virginia.
His committee memberships have included the Environment and Public Works Committee, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Most importantly, as the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he has protected and enlarged the flow of billions of dollars into the Virginia economy each year via the state's naval installations and shipbuilding firms.
On August 31, 2007, Warner stated he will not seek another term in the Senate.[1]
Political views
Warner has been known to take more liberal positions than most Republicans. He has a mixed record on abortion.[2] He supports embryonic stem cell research and has even called himself "pro-choice." However, pro-life groups have given him satisfactory ratings because of his votes to restrict abortion. He supports a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage but has stated he does not think homosexuality is immoral.[3] Warner is also one of the few Virginia elected officials who support gun control. He voted for the Brady Bill and, in 1999, was one of only five Republicans to vote to close the so-called "gun show loophole." In 2004 Warner was one of three Republicans to sponsor an amendment by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) that sought to provide for a 10-year extension of the Assault Weapons Ban. He was among ten GOP Senators who voted against charge of perjury during Bill Clinton's impeachment.
In 2014[4] and 2020,[5] Warner crossed party lines in endorsing his Democrat successor Mark Warner for re-election. In the concurrent 2020 presidential race, he endorsed left-wing Democrat Joe Biden,[6] who has a lengthy, documented record of racism. Interestingly enough, Warner hired segregationist former U.S. representative Joel T. Broyhill to manage his campaign during the 1978 Virginia gubernatorial election.[7] Warner is also strongly anti-Trump.[8][9][10]
References
- ↑ Phillips, Kate (August 31, 2007). Senator Warner Announces Retirement. The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ↑ http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/John_Warner_Abortion.htm
- ↑ http://bbsnews.net/article.php/20070313153140644
- ↑ Hohmann, James (January 27, 2014). Warner endorses Warner. Politico. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ↑ Republican Former Senator John Warner Endorses Mark Warner’s Re-election Bid. markwarnerva.com. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ↑ Schapiro, Jeff E. (May 1, 2020). Former Sen. John Warner endorses Joe Biden. Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ↑ McCaffrey, Scott (September 27, 2006). Long-Time U.S. Rep. Joel Broyhill Dies at 86. Inside Nova. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ↑ Cain, Andrew (September 28, 2016). In endorsement, John Warner criticizes Trump, says Clinton prepared to be commander in chief. Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ↑ Klar, Rebecca (January 30, 2020). Former GOP senator urges Republicans to back impeachment witnesses. The Hill. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
- ↑ Warner slams Trump over mail-in voting worries. Associated Press via Yahoo. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
External links
- Profile at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
