Joseph Leo McGahn(March 29, 1917 – December 24, 1999) was an American obstetrician andDemocratic Partypolitician fromNew Jerseywho served in theNew Jersey Senatefrom 1972 to 1978, where he was a key figure in bringing casino gambling toAtlantic City.
Joseph McGahn | |
|---|---|
| Member of theNew Jersey Senate from the2nddistrict | |
| In office January 11, 1972 – January 10, 1978 | |
| Preceded by | Frank S. Farley |
| Succeeded by | Steven P. Perskie |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Leo McGahn March 29, 1917 Atlantic City, New Jersey |
| Died | December 24, 1999(aged 82) Northfield, New Jersey |
| Political party | Democratic(1971–77) Independent (1977) Republican(1981)[1] |
Education and medical career
editMcGahn was born in Atlantic City. He graduated fromHoly Spirit High SchoolinAbsecon,attendedSt. Mary's College of Maryland,graduating summa cum laude in 1939 and was awarded hisDoctor of Medicinedegree in 1943 from theUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.[2]After graduating from medical school, he served as a general surgeon in theUnited States Army Medical CorpsduringWorld War II.[3]
After returning from military service, he practicedinternal medicineand surgery in Atlantic City. Starting in 1951, he began a specialty inobstetricsandgynecology.[3]
Legislative career
editMcGahn served on theAbsecon, New JerseyCity Council and as its mayor. He won the Democratic primary for State Senate in 1971 in the district, in which registeredRepublican Partyheavily outnumbered Democrats, and ran for office without the support of the local Democratic Party leadership.[3]On Election Day, November 3, 1971, McGahn defeated incumbentFrank S. Farley,who had served a total of 34 years in theNew Jersey Legislature,to win a seat in the New Jersey Senate, in a race in which McGahn focused on corruption, in the wake of federal investigation of the Republican Party machine in Atlantic City.[4]
Shortly after taking office, McGahn was the cosponsor of a bill to bring casino gambling to New Jersey.[5]He was described byThe New York Timesas the "principal architect" of legislation that brought casino gambling to Atlantic City.[3]He also pushed for the creation of theNew Jersey Casino Control Commission,considered the most rigorous casino enforcement agency at the time.[3]He ran for office again in 1973, again winning without support of the Democratic establishment.[6]While in the Senate, he served as chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Energy and the Environment.[3]In 1974, McGahn pushed for legislation granting exemptions to healthcare institutions from a requirement to provide abortions or sterilizations if they objected on religious or moral grounds. The bill passed the legislature and was signed into law by GovernorBrendan Byrnedespite his feelings that the legislation "may have gone too far".[7]
Party leadership at the Democratic convention in 1977 roundly supportedSteven P. Perskie,a Democratic member of theNew Jersey General Assembly,by a margin of 266 to 77.[8][9]McGahn ran in the general election as an independent, with Perskie beating both McGahn and Republican candidate Frederick Perone.[10]Both McGahn and Perskie had won election to the Legislature in 1971, despite the Republicans 4-1 edge in registration.[9]In 1981, McGahn ran for and won the Republican primary, and again challenged Perskie in the general election.[9]Perskie won reelection with 29,151 votes, defeating McGahn, who received 28,149.[11]
After the legislature
editBoth before and after his service in the legislature, he worked at the Atlantic City Medical Center, specializing inemergency medicine.From 1984 to 1989, he became medical director atResorts International.[3]
On September 27, 1995, theSouth Jersey Transportation Authoritynamed the bridge connecting theAtlantic City Expresswaywith local Atlantic City streets in honor of McGahn.[12]
McGahn had been a longtime resident ofAbsecon, New Jersey.He died on December 24, 1999, at Meadowview Nursing Home inNorthfield, New Jersey.[3]
References
edit- ^Sullivan, Joseph S. (September 27, 1981)."2 Longtime Allies Squaring Off".The New York Times.RetrievedJune 8,2019.
- ^Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, Volume 197, Part 1,p. 214. J.A. Fitzgerald, 1976. Accessed December 20, 2022. "Joseph L. McGahn, M.D. (Dem., Absecon)... He graduated from Holy Spirit High School, Mt. St. Mary's College, summa cum laude; University of Pennsylvania Medical School, and served his Internship and residency in Atlantic City Hospital."
- ^abcdefghSaxon, Wolfgang."Joseph McGahn, 82, Pioneer Of Casinos in Atlantic City",The New York Times,December 28, 1999. Accessed December 20, 2022. "Joseph Leo McGahn, a New Jersey obstetrician who, as a Democratic state senator, paved the way for Atlantic City's gambling industry in the 1970's, died Friday at Meadowview Nursing Home in Northfield, N.J. A longtime resident of Absecon, N.J., he was 82."
- ^Carroll, Maurice."Democratic Gains Posted In Jersey; G.O.P. Control of Assembly Imperiled and Senate Edge Is Cut -- Farley Beaten Jersey Democrats Score Gains in the Legislature",The New York Times,November 3, 1971. Accessed August 18, 2008.
- ^Braun, Martin Z."Joseph McGahn, 82, Ex-Senator Who Was A Proponent Of Casinos",The Philadelphia Inquirer,December 25, 1999. Accessed August 18, 2008.
- ^"How the Vote Went in New Jersey and Suburban Counties; Many Incumbents Win; Results of Voting in Races Here on Tuesday and Statewide Selection of Chief Judge Vote for Mayor Council President Vote Balloting for Controller City Council Districts City Council Results N.Y. Assembly The Courts Results in Vote for Chief Judge of Court of Appeals Indicators New Jersey Vote State Senate Voting Results in Suffolk Election Results in Westchester Balloting in Rockland N.Y. Constitutional Amendments Transportation Bond Vote Vote Results in Nassau New Jersey Public Questions",The New York Times,November 8, 1973.
- ^Appel, Jacob M."'Conscience' Vs. Care: How Refusal Clauses Are Reshaping The Rights Revolution"[permanent dead link],Medicine and Health Rhode Island,August 2005. Accessed August 18, 2008.
- ^Waldron, Martin."Income Tax Fails as Issue in Legislative Primaries; Dugan and Mrs. Ammond Defeated in Senate Races",The New York Times,June 9, 1977. Accessed August 18, 2008.
- ^abcSullivan, Joseph L."Politics; 2 Longtime Allies Squaring Off",The New York Times,September 27, 1981. Accessed August 18, 2008.
- ^Narvaez, Alfonso."Easy Triumph by Governor Helps Democrats Keep Trenton Control",The New York Times,November 9, 1977. Accessed August 18, 2008.
- ^"Totals For Vote In Elections In City, Suburbs And Nearby States; Key To Symbols",The New York Times,November 5, 1981. Accessed December 20, 2022.
- ^History & Milestones,South Jersey Transportation Authority.Accessed August 18, 2008.