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McManus, Edward J.

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1920-

Biography

Keokuk, Iowa, native Edward Joseph McManus was born on February 9, 1920. After graduating from Keokuk Senior High School he attended St. Ambrose College in Davenport. Transferring to the University of Iowa, he received his B.A. in 1940 and graduated from the College of Law in 1942. Entering into military service during W.W. II, McManus was a Naval aviator and pilot instructor. Upon being discharged from the Navy, he returned to Keokuk and began his legal practice. From 1946 until 1955 he was the City Attorney for Keokuk, and he compiled the Keokuk Municipal Code 1959.   A Democrat, McManus was elected to the Iowa state senate where he served from 1955 to 1959, at which time he was elected Lieutenant Governor. He was also a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1956 and 1960. McManus was a member of the Interstate Cooperation Commission of the Council of State Governments (1955-1961) and of the Iowa Development Commission (1957-1959). He ended his political career in 1960, after losing the race for governor to the Republican candidate, Norman Erbe. In 1962, McManus was commissioned as a federal judge. He became the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Edward J. McManus Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MsC0258
Abstract

Iowa state senator, lieutenant governor of Iowa, Democratic candidate for governor of Iowa, delegate to Democratic National Convention, and U.S. District Court Judge for Northern District of Iowa. Correspondence, speeches, telegrams, campaign material, press releases, photographs, newspaper clippings, tape recordings, phonograph recordings, and scrapbooks.

Dates: 1942-1964; Majority of material found within 1960-1969