28 Facts About Frank McCloskey

Francis Xavier McCloskey was an American journalist, lawyer, and politician from Indiana who served in the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat from 1983 to 1995.

Frank McCloskey was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Bloomington, Indiana after receiving an undergraduate and JD degree from Indiana University Maurer School of Law.

Frank McCloskey was the Democratic nominee for a seat in the Indiana House of Representatives in 1970.

Frank McCloskey worked as a reporter for The Indianapolis Star, the Bloomington Herald-Telephone, and the City News Bureau of Chicago.

Frank McCloskey's administration developed Bloomington Transit, the city's bus service.

In 1981, Frank McCloskey was elected president of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns.

Mayor Frank McCloskey was an alternate delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention.

Frank McCloskey's campaign focused on the effects of Reaganomics, and attempted to tie the district's high unemployment rate to Deckard and President Reagan after Deckard supported Reagan on key tax cut and budget votes in the 97th Congress.

Frank McCloskey attacked Deckard for waffling on the nuclear freeze issue after the incumbent co-sponsored both the stronger and weaker versions of the freeze resolution.

Frank McCloskey's campaign was further boosted after Deckard was involved in a drunk driving incident shortly before the election.

Frank McCloskey thus became the sixth challenger since 1966 to unseat an incumbent in what had become known as "the Bloody 8th".

Frank McCloskey instead was given a seat on the Armed Services Committee, where he served throughout his congressional career, and gained a reputation as one of the committee's most liberal members.

Frank McCloskey was a vocal critic of Pentagon spending during his first term.

Frank McCloskey spent much of his first term tending politically to Evansville, and retained the support of the still popular Vandeveer.

Ultimately, Frank McCloskey ran up large margins in Evansville and Vanderburgh County.

The Democratic-controlled House refused to seat either McIntyre or Frank McCloskey and conducted their own recount.

The recount dragged on for nearly four months, and Frank McCloskey survived three Republican-sponsored floor votes to seat McIntyre.

Once sworn in for a second term, Frank McCloskey used his position on the Armed Services Committee to prohibit job contracting at the Crane Weapons Center.

Frank McCloskey took advantage of his incumbency and touted his work for Crane, even bringing in Les Aspin to promise the district Crane would not be closed.

Frank McCloskey was able to leverage his incumbency into positive publicity after investigating possible PCB contamination from a Union Carbide plant on the district's border.

Frank McCloskey moderated his military spending views somewhat in his fourth term, voting against halting production of the B-2 stealth bomber and opposing efforts to eliminate the development of the V-22 Osprey helicopter.

However, it was at this time when Frank McCloskey first became a leader in the effort to take strong action, including military intervention, in the Balkans.

Frank McCloskey would maintain a passion and interest in the region for the remainder of his life.

Frank McCloskey was one of 34 Democratic incumbents unseated that year.

Frank McCloskey narrowly lost Martin County, home to the Crane NSW center he had spent his congressional career fighting to keep open.

The Frank McCloskey Fellowship brings one scholar every year from the Balkans to Indiana University and Washington, DC, to conduct academic research, or is awarded to one Indiana University student whose work focuses on the Balkans or residents of the Balkan region.

Frank McCloskey died in Bloomington on November 2,2003, following a year-long battle with bladder cancer.

Frank McCloskey, who served on the Post Office and Civil Service Committee in the House.