US Senator. He served in the Navy from 1948 to 1949 and graduated from Amherst College in 1950. In 1953 he graduated from Harvard University Law School and became an attorney. He was elected St. Louis County Circuit Attorney in 1956 and Missouri Attorney General in 1960. In 1964 he was elected Lieutenant Governor, and in 1968 he won election to the US Senate. In 1972 he was selected as the Democratic nominee for Vice President, but resigned the nomination after revelations that he had been hospitalized for psychiatric treatment and had received electroshock therapy. Eagleton continued his Senate career, winning reelection in 1974 and 1980. During the 1980 election, Eagleton's niece and a co-conspirator were arrested for blackmail after they threatened to spread the false rumor that Eagleton was bisexual. After declining to seek reelection in 1986 he returned to St. Louis and was an attorney, political commentator, and professor at Washington University in St. Louis. He was a chief negotiator for the coalition of local businesses that brought the Los Angeles Rams football team to St. Louis. He was the author of three books on politics, and the federal courthouse in St. Louis is named for him.
US Senator. He served in the Navy from 1948 to 1949 and graduated from Amherst College in 1950. In 1953 he graduated from Harvard University Law School and became an attorney. He was elected St. Louis County Circuit Attorney in 1956 and Missouri Attorney General in 1960. In 1964 he was elected Lieutenant Governor, and in 1968 he won election to the US Senate. In 1972 he was selected as the Democratic nominee for Vice President, but resigned the nomination after revelations that he had been hospitalized for psychiatric treatment and had received electroshock therapy. Eagleton continued his Senate career, winning reelection in 1974 and 1980. During the 1980 election, Eagleton's niece and a co-conspirator were arrested for blackmail after they threatened to spread the false rumor that Eagleton was bisexual. After declining to seek reelection in 1986 he returned to St. Louis and was an attorney, political commentator, and professor at Washington University in St. Louis. He was a chief negotiator for the coalition of local businesses that brought the Los Angeles Rams football team to St. Louis. He was the author of three books on politics, and the federal courthouse in St. Louis is named for him.
Bio by: Bill McKern
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Eagleton memorials in:
Advertisement
