McDowell was born in Pitcairn, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Randolph-Macon Military Academy in Front Royal, Virginia, in 1923. He was employed as a reporter on the Pitcairn Express in 1923 and worked on various newspapers until 1929. He was magistrate of Pitcairn from 1925 to 1928. He became editor of the Wilkinsburg Gazette in 1929 and president of the Wilkinsburg Gazette Publishing Co. in 1933.
McDowell served on the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in 1947 and 1948 and was acting chairman when J. Parnell Thomas was not presiding.[2] He initially investigated suspected fascists on the committee.[3] In early 1948, he argued against granting a visa to boxer Max Schmeling who wanted to stage a comeback in the United States.[4] The State Department later denied Schmeling the visa in that he did not meet any of the categories for granting visas to German citizens.[5]
Later, he played a role in the Alger Hiss case. The key witness, Whittaker Chambers, was ask to provide details about Hiss that few people would know. He mentioned that Hiss was a birdwatcher and had bragged about seeing a prothonotary warbler. In the hearing Richard Nixon asked Hiss about his hobbies, to which he replied tennis and amateur ornithology. McDowell interjected with a question as to whether Hiss had ever seen a prothonotary warbler, to which Hiss gushed in the hearing that he had indeed, seen one, and described it to the committee. This helped persuade the committee that Chambers was being truthful.[6]
The President, in an election year, is pulling down an iron curtain between Congress and information on the Government ... There would be protection in two ways–against some official who might attempt to suppress for political or personal reasons information Congress should have, and against some weird committee chairman who might go haywire and demand and make public all kinds of secret documents.[8]
The day before, U.S. President Harry S. Truman issued an executive directive, which barred Congress from just that.[7] The Washington Post praised the President in an editorial, arguing "Every consideration of common sense backs it up as well, of course. The loyalty program would be meaningless if suspect employees were to be tried in newspapers and before congressional committees."[9]
In October 1948, after indictments against 12 suspected communists in what would become the Foley Square trials, US Attorney John F. X. McGohey called on McDowell to appear before a grand jury in the case after McDowell charged that prosecutors deliberately drew up the indictments in such a way that the charges would not result in a conviction.[2] McDowell later called McGohey and Attorney General Ramsey Clark "inept" in producing the indictments.[10]
In the 1948 election, Harry J. Davenport avenged his 1946 loss and defeated McDowell's bid for re-election.[11]
Personal lifeedit
He was married to Virginia McDowell and had one daughter, Patricia.[12]
After leaving Congress, McDowell continued to publish the Wilkinsburg Gazette. On December 11, 1957, he shot himself on his front porch with a .32 caliber revolver. Media reports suggested that McDowell had been diagnosed with cancer.[13]
^"McDowell of House Un-American Group Fought by Pittsburgh Citizens' Committee". New York Times. 1948-10-30.
^ ab"Thomas Aide Asked to Face U.S. Jury". New York Times. 1948-10-02.
^"Fascist Inquiry Ordered". New York Times. 1947-05-20.
^"Schmeling Faces Inquiry Over Visa". New York Times. 1948-03-24.
^"Schmeling Visa Denied". New York Times. 1948-04-06.
^Theo Lippman Jr. (1995-06-26). "I SAID HERE last Thursday, in a..." Baltimore Sun.
^ abLeviero, Anthony (16 March 1948). "President Orders Agencies to Bar Data on Loyalty: Issues Directive to Officials to Disregard Congressional and Court Subpoenas". New York Times. pp. 1, 30 (McDowell). Retrieved 31 December 2017.
^ abFriendly, Alfred (16 March 1948). "Truman Tells U.S. Officials To Withhold Loyalty Files: Orders Rejection of Congressional Court Subpenas for Security Reasons". Washington Post. pp. 1, 6.
^"Loyalty Reports". Washington Post. 16 March 1948. p. 10.
^"Clark Called 'Inept' in Red Indictments". New York Times. 1947-10-10.
^"McDowell Loses House Seat". New York Times. 1948-11-03.
^"Ex-Congressman Commits Suicide". New York Times. 1957-12-11.
^"Ex-GOP Solon Commits Suicide". The Bridgeport Post. 1957-12-11.
john, mcdowell, pennsylvania, politician, this, article, about, pennsylvania, congressman, other, uses, john, mcdowell, disambiguation, john, ralph, mcdowell, november, 1902, december, 1957, american, politician, member, republican, party, served, terms, house. This article is about a Pennsylvania congressman For other uses see John McDowell disambiguation John Ralph McDowell November 6 1902 December 11 1957 was an American politician He was a member of the Republican Party and served two terms in the U S House of Representatives in the 29th district and 31st district of Pennsylvania John McDowellMember of the U S House of Representatives from Pennsylvania s 29th districtIn office January 3 1939 January 3 1941Preceded byJames L QuinnSucceeded bySamuel A WeissIn office January 3 1947 January 3 1949Preceded byHoward E CampbellSucceeded byHarry J DavenportPersonal detailsBornJohn Ralph McDowell 1902 11 06 November 6 1902Pitcairn Pennsylvania U S DiedDecember 11 1957 1957 12 11 aged 55 Wilkinsburg Pennsylvania U S Political partyRepublicanSpouseVirginia McDowellChildren1 Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Political career 3 Personal life 4 See also 5 References 6 External sourcesEarly life and career editMcDowell was born in Pitcairn Pennsylvania He graduated from Randolph Macon Military Academy in Front Royal Virginia in 1923 He was employed as a reporter on the Pitcairn Express in 1923 and worked on various newspapers until 1929 He was magistrate of Pitcairn from 1925 to 1928 He became editor of the Wilkinsburg Gazette in 1929 and president of the Wilkinsburg Gazette Publishing Co in 1933 Political career editIn 1938 McDowell defeated incumbent James L Quinn for a seat in the Seventy sixth Congress but was defeated after a single term by Samuel A Weiss He lost to Weiss in a rematch in 1942 In 1946 McDowell defeated Harry J Davenport for a seat in the Eightieth Congress by just over 1 100 votes It was a relatively narrow victory for a reliably Republican district 1 McDowell served on the House Un American Activities Committee HUAC in 1947 and 1948 and was acting chairman when J Parnell Thomas was not presiding 2 He initially investigated suspected fascists on the committee 3 In early 1948 he argued against granting a visa to boxer Max Schmeling who wanted to stage a comeback in the United States 4 The State Department later denied Schmeling the visa in that he did not meet any of the categories for granting visas to German citizens 5 Later he played a role in the Alger Hiss case The key witness Whittaker Chambers was ask to provide details about Hiss that few people would know He mentioned that Hiss was a birdwatcher and had bragged about seeing a prothonotary warbler In the hearing Richard Nixon asked Hiss about his hobbies to which he replied tennis and amateur ornithology McDowell interjected with a question as to whether Hiss had ever seen a prothonotary warbler to which Hiss gushed in the hearing that he had indeed seen one and described it to the committee This helped persuade the committee that Chambers was being truthful 6 On March 16 1948 McDowell introduced a bill to grant the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives or the President of the United States Senate the power to obtain secret documents from any government agency 7 8 McDowell stated The President in an election year is pulling down an iron curtain between Congress and information on the Government There would be protection in two ways against some official who might attempt to suppress for political or personal reasons information Congress should have and against some weird committee chairman who might go haywire and demand and make public all kinds of secret documents 8 The day before U S President Harry S Truman issued an executive directive which barred Congress from just that 7 The Washington Post praised the President in an editorial arguing Every consideration of common sense backs it up as well of course The loyalty program would be meaningless if suspect employees were to be tried in newspapers and before congressional committees 9 In October 1948 after indictments against 12 suspected communists in what would become the Foley Square trials US Attorney John F X McGohey called on McDowell to appear before a grand jury in the case after McDowell charged that prosecutors deliberately drew up the indictments in such a way that the charges would not result in a conviction 2 McDowell later called McGohey and Attorney General Ramsey Clark inept in producing the indictments 10 In the 1948 election Harry J Davenport avenged his 1946 loss and defeated McDowell s bid for re election 11 Personal life editHe was married to Virginia McDowell and had one daughter Patricia 12 After leaving Congress McDowell continued to publish the Wilkinsburg Gazette On December 11 1957 he shot himself on his front porch with a 32 caliber revolver Media reports suggested that McDowell had been diagnosed with cancer 13 See also editUnited States House of Representatives House Un American Activities Committee List of members of the House Un American Activities CommitteeReferences edit McDowell of House Un American Group Fought by Pittsburgh Citizens Committee New York Times 1948 10 30 a b Thomas Aide Asked to Face U S Jury New York Times 1948 10 02 Fascist Inquiry Ordered New York Times 1947 05 20 Schmeling Faces Inquiry Over Visa New York Times 1948 03 24 Schmeling Visa Denied New York Times 1948 04 06 Theo Lippman Jr 1995 06 26 I SAID HERE last Thursday in a Baltimore Sun a b Leviero Anthony 16 March 1948 President Orders Agencies to Bar Data on Loyalty Issues Directive to Officials to Disregard Congressional and Court Subpoenas New York Times pp 1 30 McDowell Retrieved 31 December 2017 a b Friendly Alfred 16 March 1948 Truman Tells U S Officials To Withhold Loyalty Files Orders Rejection of Congressional Court Subpenas for Security Reasons Washington Post pp 1 6 Loyalty Reports Washington Post 16 March 1948 p 10 Clark Called Inept in Red Indictments New York Times 1947 10 10 McDowell Loses House Seat New York Times 1948 11 03 Ex Congressman Commits Suicide New York Times 1957 12 11 Ex GOP Solon Commits Suicide The Bridgeport Post 1957 12 11 External sources editUnited States Congress John McDowell id M000422 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress The Political GraveyardU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byJames L Quinn Member of the U S House of Representatives from Pennsylvania s 31st congressional district1939 1941 Succeeded bySamuel A WeissPreceded byHoward E Campbell Member of the U S House of Representatives from Pennsylvania s 29th congressional district1947 1949 Succeeded byHarry J Davenport Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John McDowell Pennsylvania politician amp oldid 1196058672, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
