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He was a conservative Democrat in his early years supporting [[Harry Truman]] and [[Dwight Eisenhower]]. However, as the Democrats became more liberal, Lassiter joined the Republican party in 1961 and was elected to Congress in 1964. After serving two terms in the U.S. House he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1968, and re-elected in 1974. In Congress, Lassiter became a ally of Barry Goldwater and was considerd a rising star in the GOP. In 1978, Lassiter was elected Governor of [[California]], he was a popular governor and won re-election in 1980 and 1984 retiring in 1989.
  
He was a conservative Democrat in his early years supporting [[Harry Truman]] and [[Dwight Eisenhower]]. However, as the Democrats became more liberal, Lassiter joined the Republican party in 1961 and was elected to Congress in 1964. After serving two terms in the U.S. House he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1968, and re-elected in 1974. In Congress, Lassiter became a ally of Barry Goldwater and was considerd a rising star in the GOP. In 1978, Lassiter was elected Governor of [[California]], he was a popular governor and won re-election in 1980 and 1984 retiring in 1989.
   
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After failing to win the Republican presidential nomination in 1986, Lassiter won both his party's nomation and the presidency in 1990.
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After failing to win the Republican presidential nomination in 1986, Lassiter won both his party's nomination and the presidency in 1990.
   
 
Lassiter made his home in [[Costa Mesa]], [[California]]. He was described as an "Attila the Hun conservative." Josiah Bartlet considered him a "pompous, arrogant know-it-all." <ref name=TSP/>
  
Lassiter made his home in [[Costa Mesa]], [[California]]. He was described as an "Attila the Hun conservative." Josiah Bartlet considered him a "pompous, arrogant know-it-all." <ref name=TSP/>

Revision as of 22:31, 17 July 2015

Owen Lassiter
Owen Lassiter poster
42nd President of the United States
In office:
January 20, 1991 – January 20, 1999
Vice President: Lewis David Eisenhower
Preceded by: David Wire Newman
Succeded by: Josiah Edward Bartlet
35th Governor of California
In office
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1989
Lieutenant: Michael Curb (1979-1989)
Preceded by: Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown, Sr.
Succeeded by: Theodore Roosevelt "Teddy" Bridges
Biography
Born: March 15, 1925
Topeka, Kansas
Death: January 15, 2004
Costa Mesa, California
Birth name: Owen Lassiter
Political party: Republican
Spouse: Elizabeth Cass "Libby" Hauser (married 1953)
Children: Richard Lassiter (adopted)
Alma mater: University of California
Occupation: Politician
Religion: Presbyterian
Military service
Allegiance: United States of America
Service/branch: United States Army
Years of service: 1943-1953
Rank: Major
Lassiter signature

Signature

Owen Lassiter (March 15, 1925 – January 15, 2004) was a Republican politician from California who served two terms as President of the United States from January 20, 1991 to January 20, 1999, and was succeeded as President by Josiah Bartlet.[1]

Early life and political career

Lassiter was born in Topeka, Kansas to Ron and Laura Lassiter. Owen graduated from high school and joined the U.S. Marines in 1943, serving in the Pacific at Saipain and Iwo Jima rising from private to the rank of 1st. Lieutenant.

After the war, Lassiter attended the University of California and played on the college baseball team. When the Korean War began Lassiter was called up as a Marine captain and sent into battle. Lassiter had already earned the Navy Cross among other medals in WW2, but now for an act of selfless bravery he was awarded the Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman in person.

He married Libby Hauser in 1953.[1] and adopted a son named Richard.

He was a conservative Democrat in his early years supporting Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower. However, as the Democrats became more liberal, Lassiter joined the Republican party in 1961 and was elected to Congress in 1964. After serving two terms in the U.S. House he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1968, and re-elected in 1974. In Congress, Lassiter became a ally of Barry Goldwater and was considerd a rising star in the GOP. In 1978, Lassiter was elected Governor of California, he was a popular governor and won re-election in 1980 and 1984 retiring in 1989.

After failing to win the Republican presidential nomination in 1986, Lassiter won both his party's nomination and the presidency in 1990.

Lassiter made his home in Costa Mesa, California. He was described as an "Attila the Hun conservative." Josiah Bartlet considered him a "pompous, arrogant know-it-all." [1]

Presidential administration

Lassiter's administration is considered partially responsible for causing or enhancing many of the Middle Eastern problems that faced the Bartlet administration years later.[1]

In 1991, $5 billion dollars was spent on the War on Drugs. This figure would increase incrementally under the Lassiter administration.[2]

During his presidency, Lassiter had 120 empty judicial seats, due to Democratic disapproval of his appointments.[3]

Despite his inability to fill 15% of the judicial seats, Lassiter did elevate liberal Associate Justice Roy Ashland to Chief Justice in 1992.[4]

That same year, Lassiter appointed Bernard Dahl as Chairman of the Federal Reserve[5]

In both 1991 and 1995, the Lassiter administration lent money to bailout the Mexican economy.[6]

In 1996, the Lassiter administration promised Democratic Senator Chris Carrick to build the MB-827 in his state of Idaho.[7]

Owen Lassiter's Cabinet
Notable Members of the Lassiter Administration

In November 1998, during one of his last major acts as President, Lassiter and Admiral Fitzwallace sent a peacekeeping mission to the Philipinnes consisting of over 1,000 troops. Despite the mission primarily involving just training, logistics, and intelligence, Lassiter was heavily criticized by President-elect Bartlet, who thought he was being "saddled with a war."[11]

Post-Presidency

President Lassiter spent many of his last years travelling to foreign countries, including the Phillippines, South Korea, and Vietnam. He maintained a habit of telephone communication with former President D. Wire Newman and current President Bartlet, generally regarding issues of the day or historical former Presidents.[1]

On a trip to China with Congressman Glen Allen Walken, Lassiter was forced to relieve himself in some bushes in Beijing when a restroom was unavailable. Walken would later speak fondly of the incident and Lassiter's reciting of Lincoln's second State of the Union during the situation.[1]

During the MS scandal in 2001 and 2002, Lassiter made phone calls to President Newman, advising him to stay off the media trail and not denounce President Bartlet.[1]

Lassiter spent his last years continuing his travels. He travelled not only to foreign countries and sites of foreign battlefields, but also sites of American battlefields of the Civil War. He collected jars of dirt from the battlefields and spent most of his time at the replica of the Oval Office in his library.

In late 2003, Lassiter had hip replacement surgery, and he was still recovering from his surgery in early 2004. He slept, ate, and operated mostly out of his Oval Office replica.[1]

Lassiter made several calls to President Bartlet, as well as writing him a letter, entitled Need for an American Empire. Lassiter gave his last call to the White House the same night of his death, postponing a trip to Ford's Theatre by President Bartlet.[1]

He was found deceased in his Oval Office, from complications due to his hip surgery.[1]


OFFICES HELD:

42nd President of the United States. January 20, 1991-January 20, 1999. Elected in 1990, Re-Elected in 1994.

35th Governor of California. January 5, 1979-January 3, 1989. Elected in 1978, Re-Elected in 1980, and 1984.

United States Senator from California. January 3, 1969-January 3, 1979. Elected in 1968, Re-Elected in 1974, Resigned.

US Representative from California's 1st District. January 3, 1965-January 3, 1969. Elected in 1964, Re-Elected in 1966.

Funeral

See Funeral of Owen Lassiter for more information.

The funeral of President Lassiter was held at the Owen Lassiter Library in Costa Mesa, California. It was coordinated by Mrs. Lassiter and Donna Moss.[1]

Notes

President Lassiter was played by an unknown stand-in. His hands as he wrote his letter were the only physical time he was seen, and his image was seen on posters at his funeral.

Lassiter's status as Bartlet's immediate predecessor is never directly stated. It is indirectly shown in The Stormy Present with the comment that "the men on this plane are the only ones who have been there" (referring to Walken and Newman) and the fact that the Bartlet administration has not dealt with a presidential funeral before.

Lassiter appears to be based on the real life U.S. President Ronald Reagan in that he was a Democrat turned Republican who served as the Governor of California before being elected to two terms as President. Like Reagan, he was known for his strongly conservative views.

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Episode 5x10 "The Stormy Present"
  2. ↑ The War at Home
  3. ↑ Eppur Si Muove
  4. ↑ The Supremes
  5. ↑ The White House Pro-Am
  6. ↑ Bad Moon Rising
  7. ↑ Constituency of One
  8. ↑ In Excelsis Deo
  9. ↑ Debate Camp
  10. ↑ Disaster Relief
  11. ↑ Memorial Day


Presidents of the United States
Washington 〉J. Adams 〉Jefferson 〉Madison 〉J.Q. Adams 〉Jackson 〉W. Harrison 〉Polk 〉Pierce 〉Buchanan 〉Lincoln 〉A. Johnson 〉Grant 〉Hayes 〉B. Harrison 〉McKinley 〉T. Roosevelt 〉Taft 〉Wilson 〉Harding 〉Coolidge 〉Hoover 〉F. Roosevelt 〉Truman 〉Eisenhower 〉Kennedy 〉L. Johnson 〉Nixon 〉Newman 〉Lassiter 〉Bartlet (Walken) • Santos
See Also: Monroe — Ford • Carter • Reagan • G.H.W. Bush • Clinton • G.W. Bush
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