A Democraticredistricting plan after the 1980 Census carved up the 4th District, with only about 15% of its territory being retained and added to various territory from other districts; Derwinski and fellow Republican congressman George M. O'Brien were placed in the same district, and O'Brien won the 1982 primary on the strength of having more of his previous district included in the new configuration. After Derwinski's loss, President Ronald Reagan appointed him Counselor to the State Department. In 1987, Reagan appointed him Under Secretary of State for Security Assistance, Science and Technology, where he served until the end of Reagan's term, shortly after which he was appointed Administrator of Veterans Affairs, in charge of the Veterans Administration, which was elevated to cabinet-level status as the Department of Veterans Affairs in 1989, making Derwinski the first Secretary of Veterans Affairs.[1]
AdvocacyEdit
A Polish American, Derwinski was noted for his efforts on behalf of Eastern Europe throughout his career. Notably, he aided in the rehabilitation of the Serbian Royalist general Draža Mihailović. Mihailović had received the Legion of Merit for his resistance efforts against the Axis—but this information was marked "secret" at the behest of the State Department so as not to harm relations with Marshal Tito, the current ruler of Yugoslavia in 1967. Tito was Mihailović's rival in World War II, and after Tito's forces emerged triumphant, Mihailović was accused of collaboration with the Nazis and executed. At the urging of airmen involved in Operation Halyard who had been saved by Mihailović's forces and had heard rumors of the award to him, Derwinski insisted that the State Department make the text of President Truman's citation public, confirming that Mihailović had not collaborated.[2] Derwinski served as head of "Ethnic Americans for Dole/Kemp" during the 1996 presidential election.
Post-politicsEdit
Derwinski resided in Glen Ellyn, Illinois with his wife, the former Bonita Hickey, known as Bonnie. He had two adult children, Maureen and Michael, from his first marriage to Patricia Derwinski.
On learning of his death, former United States Senator Peter Fitzgerald (R-IL) described Derwinski as "a giant in Illinois politics ... [H]e had incredible connections in all the different ethnic neighborhoods in Chicago, he was really loved by everybody on both sides".
ReferencesEdit
^"Edward J. Derwinski, first secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, dies". The Washington Post. January 18, 2012.
^Freeman, Gregory A. (September 2007). The Forgotten 500. London: Penguin Books. p. 271. ISBN978-0-451-22212-1.
^"Edward J. Derwinski, first secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, dies". The Washington Post. January 18, 2012.
External linksEdit
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derwinski, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, october, 2023, l. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Ed Derwinski news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Edward Joseph Derwinski September 15 1926 January 15 2012 was an American politician who served as the first Cabinet level United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs serving under President George H W Bush from March 15 1989 to September 26 1992 He previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1959 to 1983 representing south and southwest suburbs of Chicago Ed Derwinski1st United States Secretary of Veterans AffairsIn office March 15 1989 September 26 1992PresidentGeorge H W BushPreceded byPosition establishedSucceeded byJesse BrownAdministrator of Veterans AffairsIn office January 21 1989 March 15 1989PresidentGeorge H W BushPreceded byThomas TurnageSucceeded byPosition abolishedUndersecretary of State for International Security AffairsIn office March 24 1987 January 21 1989PresidentRonald ReaganPreceded byWilliam SchneiderSucceeded byReginald BartholomewCounselor of the United States Department of StateIn office March 23 1983 March 24 1987PresidentRonald ReaganPreceded byJames BuckleySucceeded byMax KampelmanMember of the U S House of Representatives from Illinois s 4th districtIn office January 3 1959 January 3 1983Preceded byWilliam McVeySucceeded byGeorge O BrienPersonal detailsBornEdward Joseph Derwinski 1926 09 15 September 15 1926Chicago Illinois U S DiedJanuary 15 2012 2012 01 15 aged 85 Oak Brook Illinois U S Resting placeArlington National CemeteryPolitical partyRepublicanSpouse s Patricia van der GiessenBonnie HickeyChildren2EducationLoyola University Chicago BS Military serviceAllegiance United StatesBranch service United States ArmyYears of service1944 1946UnitInfantryBattles warsWorld War II Contents 1 Early life 2 Legislative career 3 Executive career 4 Advocacy 5 Post politics 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditHe was born in Chicago Illinois on September 15 1926 to Sophia Zmijewski and Casimir Ignatius Derwinski who died in 1947 Derwinski attended Loyola University of Chicago Derwinski served in the United States Army in the Pacific Theater during World War II and in the postwar U S occupation of Japan He graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 1951 He was a celebrated member of Alpha Delta Gamma National Fraternity Legislative career EditIn 1957 he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives where he served one term before winning election to the U S House of Representatives in 1958 He served 12 terms as a Republican representative from the 4th District of Illinois a suburban region south and west of Chicago eventually becoming ranking member of the House Foreign Relations Committee He also served as a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly 1971 1972 and as chairman of the U S delegation to the Interparliamentary Union from 1970 1972 and 1978 1980 Executive career EditA Democratic redistricting plan after the 1980 Census carved up the 4th District with only about 15 of its territory being retained and added to various territory from other districts Derwinski and fellow Republican congressman George M O Brien were placed in the same district and O Brien won the 1982 primary on the strength of having more of his previous district included in the new configuration After Derwinski s loss President Ronald Reagan appointed him Counselor to the State Department In 1987 Reagan appointed him Under Secretary of State for Security Assistance Science and Technology where he served until the end of Reagan s term shortly after which he was appointed Administrator of Veterans Affairs in charge of the Veterans Administration which was elevated to cabinet level status as the Department of Veterans Affairs in 1989 making Derwinski the first Secretary of Veterans Affairs 1 Advocacy EditA Polish American Derwinski was noted for his efforts on behalf of Eastern Europe throughout his career Notably he aided in the rehabilitation of the Serbian Royalist general Draza Mihailovic Mihailovic had received the Legion of Merit for his resistance efforts against the Axis but this information was marked secret at the behest of the State Department so as not to harm relations with Marshal Tito the current ruler of Yugoslavia in 1967 Tito was Mihailovic s rival in World War II and after Tito s forces emerged triumphant Mihailovic was accused of collaboration with the Nazis and executed At the urging of airmen involved in Operation Halyard who had been saved by Mihailovic s forces and had heard rumors of the award to him Derwinski insisted that the State Department make the text of President Truman s citation public confirming that Mihailovic had not collaborated 2 Derwinski served as head of Ethnic Americans for Dole Kemp during the 1996 presidential election Post politics EditDerwinski resided in Glen Ellyn Illinois with his wife the former Bonita Hickey known as Bonnie He had two adult children Maureen and Michael from his first marriage to Patricia Derwinski On January 15 2012 Derwinski died at a nursing home from Merkel cell carcinoma a rare form of skin cancer He was 85 years old 3 Derwinski was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington Virginia On learning of his death former United States Senator Peter Fitzgerald R IL described Derwinski as a giant in Illinois politics H e had incredible connections in all the different ethnic neighborhoods in Chicago he was really loved by everybody on both sides References Edit Edward J Derwinski first secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs dies The Washington Post January 18 2012 Freeman Gregory A September 2007 The Forgotten 500 London Penguin Books p 271 ISBN 978 0 451 22212 1 Edward J Derwinski first secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs dies The Washington Post January 18 2012 External links Edit nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about Ed Derwinski United States Congress Ed Derwinski id D000269 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Congressional Record Tribute to Ed Derwinski by Dan Rostenkowski permanent dead link May 17 1990 Appearances on C SPANU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byWilliam McVey Member of the U S House of Representativesfrom Illinois s 4th congressional district1959 1983 Succeeded byGeorge O BrienPolitical officesPreceded byJames Buckley Counselor of the United States Department of State1983 1987 Succeeded byMax KampelmanPreceded byWilliam Schneider Undersecretary of State for International Security Affairs1987 1989 Succeeded byReginald BartholomewPreceded byThomas Turnage Administrator of Veterans Affairs1989 Position abolishedNew office United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs1989 1992 Succeeded byJesse Brown Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ed Derwinski amp oldid 1179130595, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
