Gale W. McGee

Gale W. McGee
United States Senator from Wyoming
In office January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1977
Preceded by	Frank A. Barrett
Succeeded by	Malcolm Wallop
9th United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States
In office March 30, 1977 – July 1, 1981
President	Jimmy Carter Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	William S. Mailliard
Succeeded by	J. William Middendorf
Personal details
Born	Gale William McGee (1915-03-17)March 17, 1915 Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
Died	April 9, 1992(1992-04-09) (aged 77) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Oak Hill Cemetery Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Loraine Baker McGee ​ (m. 1939)​
Children	4
Education	State Teachers College (BA) University of Colorado (MA) University of Chicago (PhD)

Gale William McGee (March 17, 1915 – April 9, 1992) was a United States senator of the Democratic Party, and United States ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS). He represented Wyoming in the United States Senate from 1959 until 1977. To date, he remains the last Democrat to have represented Wyoming in the U.S. Senate.

Early life

McGee was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on March 17, 1915. He attended public schools, and had planned to study law in college, but was forced by the Great Depression to attend the State Teachers College in Wayne, Nebraska, instead. He graduated from the Teachers College in 1936, and worked as a high school teacher while studying for a master's degree in history at the University of Colorado. He continued as a college instructor at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Iowa State College, and Notre Dame. In 1946, McGee received his Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago.

University of Wyoming

Shortly after he received his Ph.D., McGee accepted a position as a professor of American history at the University of Wyoming. Soon after, he founded and served as chair of the university's Institute of International Affairs, which brought national dignitaries every summer through a Carnegie Foundation grant. Twenty-one teachers from Wyoming high schools were selected each summer to participate. For the next 12 years, the Institute brought international foreign policy thinkers such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Hans Morgenthau, and Henry Kissinger.

In 1952, McGee's journey toward internationalism was profoundly shaped when he took a one-year leave of absence from the University of Wyoming to serve as a Carnegie Research Fellow in New York with the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). This period was particularly significant due to Stalin's death, prompting McGee to reassess strategies regarding Soviet intentions. During his fellowship, he interacted with influential figures such as Allen Dulles, John Foster Dulles, Dean Rusk, and John J. McCloy, which deepened his understanding of foreign policy. Additionally, his connections with prominent leaders like Richard Nixon, Adlai Stevenson II, Cyrus Vance and Henry Kissinger further shaped his views on international relations and domestic politics.

In 1955, McGee took a leave of absence to work as a legislative assistant for Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney in Washington, DC. This opportunity allowed him to conduct research on legislative issues and gauge his interest in a political career. O'Mahoney, who had connections to Senators Lyndon Johnson and John F. Kennedy, particularly in Wyoming's oil industry, recognized McGee's potential and brought him onto his staff. McGee also made connections with Sen. William Fulbright, Russell Long, and John Stennis. The relationship with Stennis helped McGee navigate his relationship with University President George Duke Humphrey, who knew Stennis when Humphrey lead the Mississippi State University.

In 1956, because of the connections he made during his CFR fellowship, McGee led a group of teachers on a trip to the Soviet Union; it was the first trip of its kind. It was a time when travel to the Soviet Union was not common, especially for non-diplomats. Notably, they gained access to a Stalingrad tractor factory, an area off-limits to American officials, including Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson who happened to be visiting the USSR at the same time. Upon his return, McGee and his wife shared their experiences through lectures and articles, generating significant interest among the Wyoming public. Despite initial concerns that the trip might negatively impact his political career, McGee found that the public's interest in the Soviet Union, heightened by the launch of Sputnik, made his experience a valuable asset.

United States Senate (1959-1977)

1958 election

Active in Democratic Party politics, McGee was asked to run for the United States Congress in 1950, but declined, saying he wanted to get more in touch with Wyoming and its people. In 1955–56 he took a leave of absence from the university to work as top aide to Wyoming Democratic Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney.

In 1958 McGee left the university to make his bid for the U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Frank A. Barrett. He ran on a program of youth and new ideas. The race between McGee and Barrett attracted the attention of national party leaders on both sides. Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson of Texas, Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts, Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon, Senator-elect Edmund Muskie of Maine, Congressman Joseph M. Montoya of New Mexico, and former President Harry S. Truman came to the state to support McGee, whose campaign slogan was "McGee for Me!". Lyndon Johnson pledged that, if Wyoming sent McGee to Washington, he would appoint him to the prestigious Appropriations Committee. Eleanor Roosevelt even conducted a national fund-raising drive for him. Barrett received assistance from national leaders as well, including Vice President Richard Nixon. McGee ultimately defeated Barrett by a margin of 1,913 votes out of a total of 116,230 votes cast in the election.

He won the majority of the votes in seven of the 23 counties. These were the southern "Union Pacific" counties (Albany, Carbon, Laramie, Sweetwater, Uinta) Platte, just north of Cheyenne, and Sheridan in the north. McGee won the endorsement of the Wyoming AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education (COPE) and the labor vote played an important part in the election.

He became a member of the Democratic class of 1958, which was elected in the middle of President Eisenhower's second term.

Vice President Richard Nixon administers the oath of office to Senator Gale McGee, 1959.

First Senate term (1959-1965)

First term committee assignments

Source:

Appropriations Committee - Senate Majority Leader Johnson kept his promise and appointed McGee to the prestigious committee. He and his fellow Senate freshmen, Thomas J. Dodd and Robert C. Byrd, were the first freshmen ever to receive such an appointment.
Subcommittees:

• Agriculture - McGee served on the subcommittee during his entire tenure, becoming Chairman in the 92nd Congress
• Commerce, Justice, Science - 86th and 87th Congress
• District of Columbia - 86th and 87th Congress
• Interior - McGee served on this subcommittee during his entire tenure.
• Military Construction - 88th Congress only
• Public Works - Joined during the 88th Congress and would remain a member of this subcommittee for the rest of his tenure
• Treasury and Post Office - 86th & 87th Congress and rejoined in the 91st Congress as an ex-officio member for Postal Service items since he was Chairman of the Post Office and Civil Service Committee

Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee
Subcommittees:

• Surface Transportation
• Communications
• Freedom of Communications - 87th Congress
• Special Study of Federal Power Commission Procedures (chairman)

Post Office and Civil Service - Appointed in the 88th Congress, McGee would serve on the committee for the remainder of his Senate tenure, becoming chairman in the 91st Congress
Subcommittees:

• Postal Affairs
• Health Benefits
• Retirement (chairman)

Special/select committees

• Special Committee on Unemployment Problems (1959–1960)
• Senate Select Committee on Water Resources (1959–1961)

Key events

Maiden speech

On February 19, 1959, just six weeks after taking office, McGee confidently addressed the Senate. Introduced by John F. Kennedy, he acknowledged the extraordinary responsibilities of new members due to their important committee assignments. He expressed that, given the pressing issues facing the nation, particularly regarding the Soviet Union and fiscal challenges, it was crucial for them to voice their perspectives. McGee advocated for a "war budget" in light of Khrushchev’s threats and emphasized the U.S. should mobilize capitalism to address social issues and prove its superiority over Communism.

His speech was well received, marking McGee as a premier orator. Colleagues, including Edmund Muskie and John Kennedy, praised his ability to speak without a manuscript, a skill he would frequently demonstrate throughout his career. McGee’s oratory became legendary, with requests for copies of his speeches flooding his office, often resulting in replies noting his preference for speaking without notes. His talent earned him recognition, including a feature in Esquire Magazine, which referred to him as the Senate's most brilliant speaker, drawing parallels between McGee’s dramatic style and that of historical figures like Henry Clay.

Nomination of Lewis Strauss to be Commerce Secretary (1959)

In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower nominated Lewis Strauss to serve as Secretary of Commerce. Previously, Strauss had served in numerous government positions in the Truman and Eisenhower administrations. At the time, the 13 previous nominees for this Cabinet position won Senate confirmation in an average of eight days.

During the Senate Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee hearings on the nomination, McGee raised concerns about the transparency of Admiral Strauss's testimony and his willingness to be candid with the committee. He also questioned Strauss's role in the Dixon–Yates contract, his relationship with banker Adolphe Wenzell and his calls to the United States Atomic Energy Commission about Argonne National Laboratory physicist David R. Inglis. McGee raised similar concerns about Secretary Strauss's involvement in a case involving Philadelphia Electric Co. and General Dynamics, as well as the accuracy of a statement attributed to him in the committee hearing report. After 16 days of hearings the committee recommended Strauss' confirmation to the full Senate by a vote of 9-8 – McGee was one of the eight opposed to the nomination.

In the 2023 film Oppenheimer McGee was portrayed by Harry Groener during the committee hearing scenes.

When the nomination was brought to the Senate floor for debate, McGee, over several days, urged his colleagues to reject Strauss's nomination. He argued that Strauss was not trustworthy and that his confirmation would set a dangerous precedent. He accused Strauss of attempting to deceive the committee during the hearings and cited several examples of Strauss's misleading testimony. McGee argued that Strauss's pattern of deception made him unfit to hold such a high-ranking position in the government. McGee also raised concerns about Strauss's views on executive privilege and the separation of powers. He believed that Strauss's views were dangerous and that his confirmation would undermine the Senate's ability to check the executive branch.

On June 19, 1959, just after midnight, the Strauss nomination failed by a vote 46–49. At the time, It marked only the eighth time in U.S. history that a Cabinet appointee had failed to be confirmed.

Wyoming's and McGee's role in the 1960 presidential campaign

Despite his initial preference for Lyndon Johnson, McGee developed a close friendship with John F. Kennedy during their time together in the Senate. They shared similar political views, a mutual admiration for Senator George Norris, and a cautious approach to civil rights. Kennedy appreciated McGee's support and expected his help in securing the 1960 Democratic presidential nomination.

Despite their contrasting personalities and political styles, Johnson and McGee shared a deep mutual respect and understanding rooted in their common experiences representing rural constituents and their shared commitment to public service. Johnson's promise to put McGee on the powerful Appropriations Committee was not just a political maneuver but a genuine expression of his appreciation for McGee's loyalty and ability.

During the summer of 1959, Kennedy's campaign team actively sought support from Wyoming Democrats, including McGee. However, they encountered mixed signals from McGee, with some reports indicating his support for Kennedy and others suggesting his leanings towards Johnson. Governor J.J. Hickey's support was also uncertain due to concerns about the Catholic issue. Despite these challenges, the Kennedy campaign made significant progress in Wyoming, with Teno Roncalio, the state Democratic Party chairman, expressing confidence in securing the state's full 15 votes for Kennedy.

Johnson's campaign team faced resistance in securing Wyoming's endorsement. McGee's insistence on delegate independence thwarted Johnson's efforts to impose the unit rule and secure all of Wyoming's 15 votes. As a result, Johnson's strategy shifted to preventing the unit rule and securing at least four of Wyoming's delegates. However, McGee's neutrality and Governor Hickey's decision to second Johnson's nomination caused friction between the Texan and the Wyoming senator.

McGee played a pivotal role in securing the Democratic presidential nomination for Kennedy. With Kennedy needing four more votes to clinch the nomination on the first ballot, McGee, the chairman of the Wyoming delegation, persuaded his colleagues to cast all 15 of Wyoming's votes for Kennedy, ensuring his victory. This decision cemented Wyoming's place in history and marked the end of a long day for the delegates.

Wyoming politicians like McGee and Hickey understood the importance of unpredictability in the political process. Keeping their support uncertain ensured attention and visits from major presidential candidates like Kennedy, Johnson, and Symington. However, once Kennedy won the nomination, he initially planned to skip campaigning in Wyoming due to its low electoral vote. It took persuasion from Tracy McCraken and McGee to convince Kennedy to make one last stop in the state. This visit allowed Kennedy to learn about Wyoming's economy, needs, and people, establishing relationships with key state leaders that could prove valuable in the future.

On September 23, 1960, Kennedy visited Cheyenne, Wyoming, to thank the state for its support in securing the Democratic presidential nomination. He acknowledged Wyoming's small size but emphasized its crucial role in the convention. Kennedy also demonstrated his knowledge of key Wyoming issues, such as natural resource development, and appealed to the state's voters to help him win the presidency in November.

It was closer than that on November 8. John F. Kennedy was elected president but without Wyoming's three electoral votes. They went to Richard Nixon who won the state 55 percent-45 percent.

Relationship with John F. Kennedy

Senator Kennedy endorsed McGee in his 1958 campaign and even flew to Wyoming to give him $500, the largest campaign contribution McGee received from any individual that year.

At the 1960 Democratic National Convention, McGee was the chairman of the Wyoming delegation, and he was able to secure all 15 of Wyoming's votes for John F. Kennedy. This put Kennedy over the top and gave him the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States. Kennedy initially had no plans to return to Wyoming during the general election campaign, but he was persuaded by Tracy McCraken and Senator McGee to make one last stop in the state on September 23, 1960. He spoke to a large crowd in Cheyenne and acknowledged Wyoming's role in securing his nomination.

Kennedy visited Wyoming in the fall of 1963 accompanied by McGee. The President gave a speech to 12,000 at the University of Wyoming War Memorial Fieldhouse (including a young Richard Cheney, then a student at the university), in which he challenged the audience to take advantage of opportunities to serve their country. He also mentioned the need for Americans to make choices about the use of resources, fiscal policy, the space race, and the development of ocean resources.

McGee met with Kennedy in the Oval Office in November 1963 – one week before the tragedy in Dallas - to tape video and take photos for McGee's upcoming re-election campaign.

Rise of the John Birch Society

As Bircher influence grew in Wyoming in the 1960s, McGee emerged as a prominent national figure challenging the John Birch Society. The media, impressed by his speeches, began scrutinizing Founder Robert Welch and his tactics. McGee's appearance on a combative talk show, "Open End," further fueled the debate. He criticized the JBS founder on the Senate floor and warned about their infiltration into communities.

Bircher followers disrupted events, and the society advertised aggressively in Wyoming, dominating local radio. McGee actively engaged in debates with Birchers, intentionally putting himself in their crosshairs. Despite facing threats and violence, he continued his fight against right-wing extremism.

McGee cautioned President Kennedy not to deal with the extremists prematurely, believing it could be a winning issue for 1964. He warned about the appeal of the extreme right-wing ideology to the population in the West.

Food Marketing Study (1963)

McGee voiced concerns about falling cattle prices and record-high food prices driven by national grocers, believing they were monopolizing the market at the expense of western communities. In 1963, he proposed legislation authorizing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate large chain stores for antitrust violation. the Senate Commerce Committee held hearings where witnesses described intimidating tactics by the chains. President Johnson supported the idea but preferred a bipartisan commission to study the food industry. The final report in June 1966 didn't directly address antitrust violations but highlighted concerns about industry concentration and recommended increased scrutiny of mergers and acquisitions. It also suggested empowering farmers and ranchers through Agricultural Marketing Boards.

1963 railroad strike

In 1963, Congress acted for the first time in peacetime to impose compulsory arbitration in a major labor dispute. President Kennedy sent Congress a bill to submit a dispute over the railroads' attempts to eliminate "featherbedding" to the Interstate Commerce Commission, which was to impose an interim solution binding on the parties for two years.

During Congressional consideration of the President's legislation, McGee offered an amendment to remove these less controversial questions from arbitration and make the Senate bill conform with the House bill, thereby expediting passage to avoid the strike. Congress cleared the bill on August 28, 1963, that created a seven-member board to arbitrate the major issues in the dispute and prohibited the railroads from issuing "anti-featherbedding" rules. The arbitrated settlement was imposed for two years, and no strikes or lockouts were allowed during that time. The President signed the bill into law (PL 88-108) six hours before the strike was to begin on August 29, 1963.

Foreign Affairs

Senate meeting with Nikita Khrushchev (1959) - McGee, though not yet a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed a strong interest in Soviet affairs. Chairman William Fulbright recognized this and invited McGee to join the committee for a meeting with Nikita Khrushchev on September 17, 1959. During the meeting, Khrushchev joked about the difficulty of speaking while drinking tea, prompting Fulbright to suggest vodka instead. Khrushchev playfully countered this stereotype, stating that if Russians only drank vodka, they wouldn't have time for achievements like launching rockets to the moon. Despite differing views, Khrushchev expressed familiarity with the senators' speeches and statements, acknowledging their presence in flesh after reading about them.

1960 U-2 incident - On 1 May 1960, a United States U-2 spy plane was shot down by the Soviet Air Defence Forces while conducting photographic aerial reconnaissance deep inside Soviet territory. McGee supported Senator Mansfield’s call for an open examination of U.S. foreign policy following the U-2 spy plane incident. He urged Congress to discuss the issue frankly, cautioning against prioritizing military spending over nonmilitary programs. McGee suggested that recent press comments and Mansfield’s ideas could lead to a broad reappraisal of American foreign policy and questioned whether it was appropriate for Congress to leave Washington for political obligations during this urgent situation.

Berlin Crisis of 1961 - McGee emphasized the need for new solutions to the Berlin crisis, highlighting Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield's proposal for an international "free city" as a rational alternative. He also referenced editorials by Walter Lippmann, who argued for a strong U.S. government to counter communism, and Dr. Charles P. Beall, who stressed Berlin's symbolic importance. McGee cited columns by Lippmann and Robert Estabrook, discussing the division of Germany and the risks of Western policies alienating German public sentiment. McGee urged further examination of these ideas to secure peace and stability.

Overseas trips (1959-1964)

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and strong defender of US foreign aid programs, McGee embarked on several fact-finding trips to various regions around the world:

1959 - Traveled to the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia with Senator Albert Gore, Sr. (D-TN) to assess the effectiveness of US foreign aid programs and the growing Arab refugee crisis. McGee and Gore met with Egyptian Prime Minister Nasser, Jordanian Prime Minister Majali, Israeli Prime Minister Ben-Gurion, India Prime Minister Nehru, South Vietnam President Ngo Dinh Diem.

1960 - In May, McGee was part of a Congressional Delegation to the annual Bilderberg Conference in Switzerland. After the trip he reported to constituents that the focus of concern at the meeting was the strained relations between the East and West due to the U-2 incident, which caused the collapse of the summit between President Eisenhower and the Soviets. In November, McGee joined a delegation of senators and President-elect Kennedy's brother, Ted Kennedy, on a trip to Africa to witness the challenges of independence and the Cold War's influence on the continent. From a cafe in the Congo, McGee witnessed the arrest of Patrice Lumumba

1961 - McGee traveled to West Germany twice.

• In September, McGee and Sen. Ed Muskie traveled to Berlin to appear on the public affairs program All of America Wants to Know with West Germany Mayor Willie Brandt, Sir William Hayter, Deputy Under Secretary of State for Great Britain, and Eugene Lyons, Reader's Digest Moscow correspondent. The episode was filmed at the Brandenburg Gate.
• In October, as part of a CODEL with Commerce Secretary Luther Hodges for the German Industries Exhibition. McGee met with Mayor Willie Brandt and Allen Lightner. Lightner told McGee he had spent summers in Atlantic City, Wyoming. The CODEL also visited Spain

In November, McGee led a delegation to visit eight South American countries to evaluate the conditions for the Alliance for Progress, a US-led initiative to promote economic and social development in Latin America.

1962 - McGee received reports of Soviet military shipments to Cuba and in the run up to the Cuban Missile Crisis, he inspected US military facilities at Guantanamo Naval Base. At the end of 1962, McGee joined Senators Frank Church and Frank Moss on an inquiry into US spending in Southeast Asia. They found that the situation in Laos was concerning, while the situation in Vietnam showed signs of improvement.

1963 - In July, McGee traveled to the Dominican Republic to evaluate foreign aid programs.

First senate term legislation signed into law

PL 86-444 - (S. 2434) An Act to revise the boundaries and change the name of the Fort Laramie National Monument April 29, 1960

PL 86-448 - (S.J. Res. 150) a Joint resolution permitting the Secretary of the Interior to continue to deliver water to lands in the Third Division, Riverton Federal reclamation project. May 6, 1960

PL 86-450 - (S. 1751) An Act to place certain lands on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming in trust status. May 6, 1960

PL 87-151 - (S. 1085) An Act to provide for the disposal of certain Federal property on the Minidoka project, Idaho; Shoshone project, Wyoming; and Yakima project, Washington. August 17, 1961

PL 87-175 - (S. 702) An Act to exchange certain lands in Wyoming with the town of Afton. August 30, 1961

PL 87-422 - (S. 875) An Act to authorize and direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to the State of Wyoming for agricultural purposes certain real property in Sweetwater County, WY. March 20, 1962

PL 87-479 - (S.J. Res 151) An Act Authorizing continued delivery of water for the years 1962 and 1963 to land of the third division, Riverton Federal reclamation project, Wyoming June 8, 1962

PL 87-516 - (S. 536) An Act to adjust certain irrigation charges against non-Indian-owned lands within the Wind River irrigation project, Wyoming

PL 88-10 - (S. 982) An Act permitting the Secretary of the Interior to continue to deliver water to lands in the third division, Riverton Reclamation Project, Wyoming. April 18, 1963

PL 88-291 - (S. 1299) An Act to defer certain operation and maintenance charges of the Eden Valley Irrigation and Drainage District March 26, 1964

PL 88-354 - (S.J. Res 71) a Joint resolution to authorize and direct the conduct by the Federal Trade Commission of a comprehensive investigation of chainstore practices which may be in violation of the antitrust laws. July 2, 1964

PL 88-494 - (S. 51) An Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to relinquish to the State of Wyoming jurisdiction over those lands within the Medicine Bow National Forest known as the Pole Mountain District. August 26, 1964

PL 88-568 - (S. 770) An Act to provide for the construction, operation and maintenance of the Savery-Pot Hook, Bostwick Park, and Fruitland Mesa participating reclamation projects under the Colorado River Storage Project Act. September 2, 1964

1964 election

In the historically Republican state of Wyoming, the 1964 election proved exceptional as Democrats nearly matched Republicans in financing and ran a highly effective campaign. Despite being the only incumbent above the county level, McGee was re-elected, and Democrats also gained control of the state House of Representatives and secured the single seat in the United States House of Representatives.

The shift in Wyoming's political behavior was not solely due to President Johnson's landslide victory. Two years prior, Wyoming Republicans focused on defeating Senator McGee and overlooked other races. Their preoccupation with McGee's defeat weakened their overall campaign. In contrast, McGee's strategy concentrated on discrediting the Wyoming Republican party and its actions, such as the passage of a right-to-work law, supporting a Court of the Union, repealing the income tax law, and aligning with Barry Goldwater, which led to the party's defeat.

Organized labor played a significant role in the election, working closely with effective Democratic county organizations to help Senator McGee secure a significant plurality. Media, especially television, also played a major role in the campaign, with McGee using a documentary and effective advertising to his advantage.

The election also saw increasing political self-consciousness among minority ethnic groups, such as the Native American vote in Fremont County. City voting patterns showed increasing Democratic margins, hinting at a potential shift in traditional Republican control.

Second Senate term (1965-1976)

Second term committee assignments

Appropriations Committee
Subcommittees:

• Agriculture
• Commerce, Justice, Science - 89th Congress
• Interior
• Labor, Health, Education and Welfare
• Public Works

Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee until 1966
Subcommittees:

• Surface Transportation
• Communications
• Special Subcommittee on the Textile Industry
• Special Subcommittee on Freight Car Shortage
• Special Subcommittee on Federal Power Commission Procedures (chairman)

Foreign Relations Committee - In March 1966, McGee and Sen. Russell Long (D-LA) exchanged seats; Long took McGee's seat on the Commerce Committee. Due to GOP gains in the 1966 elections, McGee lost his seat for the 90th Congress, but returned in the 91st Congress after Sen. Eugene McCarthy quit the committee.

Post Office and Civil Service - McGee became chairman of the full committee in the 91st Congress
Subcommittees:

• Postal Affairs
• Health Benefits
• Retirement
• Special Subcommittee To Study Post Office Department Sectional Center Program

Banking Committee - 90th Congress Only
Subcommittees:

• Production and Stabilization
• Securities
• Small Business

Key events

He strongly supported President Lyndon B. Johnson's views on the Vietnam War. On March 6, 1965, CBS News aired an hour-long TV special titled "Vietnam: Hawks and the Doves" that featured a debate between McGee and Senator George McGovern for the full hour. It was moderated by Charles Collingwood. Hanson Baldwin of the New York Times and former Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (1963–64) Roger Hilsman also participated. During the debate, McGee called for "planned escalation;" Baldwin contemplated massive bombing campaign and a naval blockade of North Vietnam. It appeared that Hilsman agreed that troops should be sent, but didn't think it would make a difference. McGovern was all alone in arguing against military intervention. At the conclusion on the debate, Collingwood summarized that McGee was a "hawk" on Vietnam, McGovern a "dove" and Hilsman was a "chicken hawk."

Also that year, after over 10 years as a member of the Appropriations Committee, McGee was named chairman of the Foreign Operations Appropriations subcommittee.

In March 1966, McGee was appointed to the Foreign Relations Committee where he would serve until 1967 and then was reappointed in 1969 and served until he left the Senate. He believed in the policy of containing communism, and his pro-military views were accented by his firm support for foreign aid. Johnson strongly considered appointing Senator McGee to be Ambassador to the UN after the resignation of Arthur Goldberg.

In 1968, McGee wrote The Responsibilities of World Power, which warned against isolationism and urged the United States to accept its power and position imposed upon it in the aftermath of World War II. The book further argued that the U.S. had a responsibility to be a Pacific power, to act as a counterweight to China, and to support free nations in their efforts to remain nonaligned or western allies but not to fall into the Communist fold. The work was nominated for a Woodrow Wilson Foundation award.

Named chairman of Post Office and Civil Service Committee

United States Senate Committee on Civil Service (L-R): Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK), Ranking Member Hiram Fong (R-HI), Chairman Gale McGee (D-WY), Ralph Yarborough (D-TX), Jennings Randolph (D-WV), and Frank Moss (D-UT).

In 1969, McGee became chairman of the Post Office and Civil Service Committee. McGee introduced several Civil Service bills aimed at addressing various aspects of federal employee compensation and retirement benefits. He advocated for legislation to allow federal agencies to cover expenses related to recruiting prospective employees, extend pay rate preservation for certain postal workers, provide additional supergrades in the civil service, and revise the civil service retirement system. McGee also played a role in negotiating and advancing bills concerning salary increases for federal officials, including the Vice President and Speaker of the House. During Congressional consideration of the Economic Stabilization Act, Title II of Pub. L. 91–379, 84 Stat. 799 He emphasized the importance of fair and equitable treatment for federal workers, addressing issues such as inflation, pension benefits, and salary adjustments. McGee supported measures to establish a Federal employee pay comparability system, aiming to align salaries with private sector wages while retaining Congress's authority over adjustments.

He was also directly involved in the passage of the Postal Reorganization Act which was influenced by the U.S. postal strike of 1970, the largest wildcat strike in history. The Act abolished the then United States Post Office Department, which was a part of the cabinet, and created the United States Postal Service, a corporation-like independent agency with an official monopoly on the delivery of mail in the United States.

Second senate term legislation signed into law (1965-1970)

PL 89-760 - (S. 84) An Act to provide for reimbursement to the State of Wyoming for improvements made on certain lands in Sweetwater County, Wyo., if and when such lands revert to the United States. November 5, 1966

PL 89-364 - (S.J. Res. 9) A Joint resolution to cancel any unpaid reimbursable construction costs of the Wind River Indian irrigation project, Wyoming, chargeable against certain non Indian lands. March 8, 1966

PL 89-763 - (S. 476) An Act to amend the act approved March 18, 1950, providing for the construction of airports in or in close proximity to national parks, national monuments, and national recreation areas, and for other purposes. November 5, 1966

PL 89-664 - (S. 491) An Act to provide for the establishment of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, and for other purposes. October 15, 1966

PL XX-XXX - (S. 554/H.R. 441) An Act authorizing the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to convey certain property to the city of Cheyenne, Wyo. November 8, 1965

PL 89-387 - (S. 1404) Uniform Time Act of 1966, An Act to make uniform dates for daylight savings time. April 13, 1966

PL 89-70 - (S. 3046/H.R. 13161) Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendments, To strengthen and improve programs of assistance for our elementary and secondary schools. November 3, 1966

1970 election

McGee's bid for reelection in 1970 was targeted by Republicans as one of the top seven races in the country. Republican leaders recruited Congressman John Wold to again take on McGee, despite Wold being defeated by McGee in the 1964 election.

McGee faced a primary challenger for the Democratic nomination because of McGee's support for continued military action in Vietnam. McGee won nomination overwhelmingly by 24,508 votes.

McGee again promoted his seniority in the Senate and his committee assignments (Appropriations, Foreign Relations, and Post Office and Civil Service) that benefited the State. To charges that he was a big spender of federal monies, he pointed out that he helped bring over $349 million in federal aid to Wyoming in the previous year and that if that was big spending he was "for it."

President Nixon, during a September 1970 meeting with aides in the Oval Office, suggested that Vice President Spiro Agnew lump all of the Democratic candidates together, except for Gale McGee, who he said they could not "in good conscience" go after in the same way. Agnew supported Wold's campaign but never specifically mentioned McGee by name. The Denver Post chided the Vice President for speaking against McGee considering it was McGee who helped Nixon solve a major postal strike and continued to support military action in Vietnam. The same newspaper reported that in 1969, McGee voted with the Nixon Administration 69 percent of the time and 24 percent against, while Wold only supported the Administration on issues 49 percent of the time, and opposed 28 percent.

McGee won re-election receiving 67,207 votes to Wold's 53,279. McGee won eleven of the 23 counties he picked up in 1964 but added for others and increased his margin of victory in Natrona County, Wyoming – a moderately strong Republican county and Wold's home base. McGee continued to have strong support of organized labor, carrying big margins in the southern "Union Pacific" counties.

Third Senate term

In his third term he continued to be a leading member of the committees on which he served. He was Chairman of Western Hemisphere Affairs subcommittee of the Foreign Relations Committee.

McGee was a voice of moderation in the affairs of the Watergate scandal and the impeachment proceedings of President Richard Nixon. Against the wishes of many of his constituents, McGee stood on principle and fought hard for positions unpopular in Wyoming in support of gas rationing and the 55-mile per hour speed limit in the era of the first Arab oil embargoes.

U.S. Senator Gale McGee (D-WY), Chairman of the Agriculture, Environmental and Consumer Protection Appropriations Subcommittee, and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Clifford Hardin, 1971

"Champion" of Congressional recess

In 1965, Senator McGee began calling for a mandated August recess for Congress. It was not until 1969 that his idea gained enough support amongst his colleagues that they gave it a test run - the Senate recessed from August 13 to September 3. Finally, on August 6, 1971, as mandated by the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970, the Senate began its first official August recess.

Clear cutting of timber

During the 92nd Congress, McGee pushed vigorously for the implementation of his bill which would impose a two-year moratorium on clearcutting of timber on public lands until a study of the practice could be conducted by an independent commission. Clearcutting is a timber harvest method whereby all trees and the undergrowth in a given area are completely destroyed. Al- though McGee did not obtain passage of his bill, it was on the basis of his legislation that the Senate Interior Subcommittee on Public Lands demanded that the U.S. Forest Service stop permitting the timber industry to clear-cut at will in the National Forests. McGee has termed the recent action by the Senate Interior Subcommittee on Public Lands as "but one more step toward the establishment of a national policy setting down guidelines restricting the use of clearcutting as an acceptable timber harvest practice when such use would be detrimental to the environment, recreation, wildlife, and other concerns."

Protection of bald and golden eagles

In his third Senate term, McGee gave up the gavel of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee to become Chairman of Agriculture, Environmental and Consumer Protection Appropriations Subcommittee. He would remain chairman of that subcommittee until he left the Senate. At an August 1971 hearing held by McGee's subcommittee, a Wyoming helicopter pilot testified that sheep ranchers paid him to fly near eagles which they killed with shotguns. About 500 bald eagles were destroyed in this manner, the pilot said. The Wyoming Woolgrowers Association had claimed that 8,000 lambs were lost to eagles annually, and the group's president declared he had seen eagles kill grown sheep and antelope. Conservationists disputed the figures and said that eagles seldom touched lambs unless they were already dead. A University of Montana study of prey items collected from 40 golden eagle nests over a three-year period found evidence of only one dead lamb and one dead sheep, with no proof they had been killed by eagles. In October 1972, Congress approved legislation strengthening the penalties imposed for violations of Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940.

Voter registration by mail

In 1972, McGee introduced S. 352, which would allow eligible voters to register by mail in federal elections. The bill would establish a new Voter Registration Administration as part of the U.S. Census Bureau to administer the registration program. Under the procedure, postcard forms would be mailed to all postal addresses and residences, and the cards would have to be returned to local registration agents no later than 30 days before a federal election. Processing of the forms would be paid for by the Voter Registration Administration. McGee believed and argued that existing methods discouraged registration citing the fact that 62 million people did not vote in 1972 election, nearly half of all Americans eligible to vote.

Opponents believed that the proposal would destroy the two-party system, lead to increased fraud, and cost too much to implement. The Nixon administration formally opposed the bill citing the potential for fraud and cost but McGee's committee reported the bill with only Hiram Fong, the committee's ranking Republican member, opposing. During floor debate In spring 1973, the bill was filibustered for almost a month. The 13th successful cloture vote since in the Senate came after two earlier attempts to terminate a four-week filibuster on the voter registration bill (S 352) failed. Had the May 9 vote also fallen short, McGee had warned opponents of S. 352 during floor debate that there would have been another cloture vote, and "if necessary there'll be another and another and another."

The nearly 100 per cent attendance for the May 9 vote, plus three switches in favor of cloture on the third try, gave the cloture motion the necessary two-thirds vote. John C. Stennis (D Miss.) was the only senator to miss the vote. Earlier efforts to shut off the talkathon on the bill failed by two and three votes, respectively. The April 30 vote was 56–31; the May 3 vote was 60–34. On May 9, cloture succeeded by a one-vote margin, 67–32. Two Republicans and one Democrat switched from opposition to support for cloture on the May 9 67–32 vote. The Republicans were Robert T. Stafford (Vt.) and Milton R. Young (N.D.); both had voted against cloture on the two previous cloture motions. The Democrat was Russell B. Long (La.), who opposed cloture on the May 3 vote. In addition, supporters of cloture gained four of five new votes of members who did not vote May 3: Alan Bible (D Nev.), Mark O. Hatfield (R Ore.), Joseph M. Montoya (D N.M.) and William B. Saxbe (R Ohio). John Sparkman (D Ala.), one of the other two members (along with Stennis) who did not vote May 3, cast the only additional vote against cloture. Final passage of S. 352 was successful on May 9, 1973, by a vote of 57–32.

The legislation died after the House failed to take action on the bill.

27th U.N. General Assembly (1972)

A long-time supporter of the United Nations, McGee was appointed by President Richard Nixon to a four-member congressional delegation to represent the United States at the United Nations' 27th General Assembly in 1972. His chief assignment at the Assembly was to get the United Nations members to agree to lower the U.S.'s share annual dues from 31 percent to 25 percent - a difference of $13 million. Both the House and Senate had already passed measures to limit the United States' contribution to the U.N. But each country's share is ultimately decided by a majority of the 130 member nations. Through the efforts of McGee, along with U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. George Bush, the U.N. assembly approved the reduction, with 80 nations voting to support the resolution.

Candidate for director of CIA

A July 10, 1975 memo from then White House Chief of Staff Donald Rumsfeld to President Gerald Ford listed McGee as one of many potential candidates to be director of Central Intelligence. Rumsfeld listed "pros and cons" of each candidate (including George Bush, Lee Iacocca, and Byron White and others). The memo thought McGee was a strong defender of the intelligence community, respected within the foreign affairs community, and well-regarded for his independence. On November 4, 1975, William Colby was replaced as CIA Director by George Bush in a major shakeup of President Ford's administration termed the Halloween Massacre.

1976 election

In his 1976 bid for a fourth term, McGee was defeated by Republican challenger Malcolm Wallop, who ran an expensive television advertising campaign attacking McGee for, among other positions, his opposition to state right-to-work laws, and problems with the U.S. Postal Service, based on McGee's chairmanship of the U.S. Senate committee overseeing the Postal Service. The margin of defeat was almost ten percentage points.

United States ambassador to the Organization of American States

After his defeat by Malcolm Wallop, McGee was nominated by President Jimmy Carter as United States ambassador to the Organization of American States. After approval by the Senate, he was sworn in on March 30, 1977, at a ceremony in the Roosevelt Room in the White House by Judge John Sirica. His former colleague from the U.S. Senate, Vice President Walter Mondale, was in attendance as were former U.S. secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and William P. Rogers, former United States Ambassador to South Vietnam Ellsworth Bunker, Under Secretary of State Warren Christopher, National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, and senators John Sparkman and William Fulbright.

During his tenure, McGee headed the U.S. delegation to four OAS assemblies and lobbied for the successful approval of the 1978 Panama Canal Treaty.

Life after public service

- In 1981, McGee formed Gale W. McGee Associates, a consulting firm specializing in international and public affairs activities. The firm offered a broad range of political and economic services to both domestic and international companies with a special emphasis on developing new business opportunities with the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean. He was also president of the consulting firm of Moss, McGee, Bradley, Kelly & Foley, which was created with former U.S. Senator Frank Moss. McGee later served as president of the American League for Exports and Security Assistance, Inc. in 1986. He was a senior consultant at Hill & Knowlton, Inc. from 1987 to 1989.

- In 1985, Secretary of State George Shultz asked McGee to serve on a panel headed by Robert D. Ray to review U.S. policy towards Indochinese refugees. In the wake of the 1975 collapse of the South Vietnamese government, more than 1.6 million Indochinese people had become refugees. The panel issued recommendations in 1986.

The Papers of Gale McGee are housed at the University of Wyoming's American Heritage Center. Collection includes digital materials relating to McGee's career as a U.S. senator, his work at the University of Wyoming and the Organization of American States, and his post public service and personal life.

Personal life

McGee married Loraine Baker in 1939 and together they had four children: David, Robert, Mary Gale and Lori Ann. Senator McGee died on April 9, 1992, in Washington, D.C. He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Posthumous recognition

Congressional

In January 2007, the Wyoming congressional delegation introduced federal legislation (H.R. 335, S. 219) to rename the U.S. Post Office in Laramie, Wyoming as the "Gale W. McGee Post Office." The United States House of Representatives passed the legislation by voice vote on January 29, 2007. The United States Senate passed the legislation by Unanimous consent on February 7, 2007. The President signed the bill into law on March 7, 2007.

Biography

In 2018, Potomac Books/Nebraska press published McGee's biography, The Man in the Arena: The Life and Times of U.S. Senator Gale McGee written by Rodger McDaniel. The book won Best Nonfiction Book of the Year from the Wyoming State Historical Society

Movie portrayal

McGee was portrayed by Harry Groener in the 2023 film Oppenheimer.

External links

• United States Congress. "Gale W. McGee (id: M000445)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Gale W. McGee papers at the American Heritage Center