Pete McCloskey was born on Thursday, Sept. 29, 1927, in Loma Linda, Calif. He attended public schools in South Pasadena and San Marino. Pete was inducted into South Pasadena High School Hall of Fame for the sport of baseball. Pete graduated from South Pasadena High School in 1945.
Pete voluntarily served in the Navy from 1945–1947 and in the United States Marine Corp from 1950–1952. He served in the United States Marine Corp Reserves from 1952–1960, and in the Ready Reserves from 1960–1967. Pete was awarded the Navy Cross and Silver Star decorations for heroism in combat and two Purple Hearts as a Marine during the Korean War. Pete then volunteered for the Vietnam War before eventually turning against it. In 1992, Pete wrote his fourth book, The Taking of Hill 610, describing some of his exploits in Korea. Pete retired from the Marine Corps Reserve in 1974, having attained the rank of colonel.
Pete attended Occidental College and California Institute of Technology under the U.S. Navy’s V-5 Pilot Program. He graduated from Stanford University in 1950 and Stanford University Law School in 1953.
From 1953–1954, Pete was a deputy district attorney in Alameda County. Pete was also a lawyer in private practice, lecturer on legal ethics at Stanford Law Schools from 1964–1967. Pete also practiced law in Redwood City.
Pete was elected as a Republican to the 90th Congress and was reelected to the seven succeeding Congresses, serving from Dec 12, 1967 to Jan. 3, 1983. But in the spring of 2007, Pete changed his party affiliation to the Democratic Party. He was the first member of Congress to publicly call for the impeachment of President Richard Nixon after the Watergate scandal.
With a political career dating back to the late 1960s, Pete, has left his mark on American life in many ways— perhaps most notably as an architect of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and other seminal environmental laws. Pete even helped to organize the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. But also notable was Pete’s disregard for party lines. Pete always spoke his truth and pursued what he believed was right, regardless of the fallout.
Pete authored many books and has stayed active in politics and written several accounts about politics and the US Constitution. As a Marine rifle platoon leader in Korea, Pete has also written several books about his experiences in combat.
Nowadays, Pete and his wife Helen, and their charming litter of talkative pooches enjoy a bountiful life in the City of Winters.
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