Leo J. Ryan
Democratic
Date | Party | Office | Votes | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
11-04-1958 | Democratic | AD-25 | 35880 | Loss |
11-06-1962 | Democratic | AD-27 | 46448 | Win |
11-03-1964 | Democratic | AD-27 | 65917 | Win |
11-08-1966 | Democratic | AD-27 | 50236 | Win |
11-05-1968 | Democratic | AD-27 | 87805 | Win |
11-03-1970 | Democratic | AD-27 | 66323 | Win |
11-07-1972 | Democratic | CD-11 | 114134 | Win |
11-05-1974 | Democratic | CD-11 | 106429 | Win |
11-02-1976 | Democratic | CD-11 | 107618 | Win |
11-07-1978 | Democratic | CD-11 | 92882 | Win |
Website: | bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000558 |
Candidate Biography:
Leo Joseph Ryan, Jr.
Born: May 5, 1925 in Lincoln, Nebraska
Married: Margaret Ryan (m. 1941, d. 1971), Peg
Child: Erin*, Shannon (Jasmine), Patricia*, Christopher, and Kevin
Military Service: USN (WWII)
Killed: November 18, 1978 at the Port Kaituma airstrip near Jonestown, Guyana
1956-1962: Member, South San Francisco City Council
1962: Mayor, City of South San Francisco
1964: Delegate, Democratic National Convention
1966: Opponent, Proposition 1A (which created a fulltime legislature)
1968: Delegate, Democratic National Convention
- As an Assemblyman, Leo Ryan proposed the design for the California State Assembly seal that was adopted and is now used.
- Congressman Ryan visited the Jonestown compound to investigate reports that some members of the People's Temple had been abused by its leader, Jim Jones. During his visit to Jonestown, a cult-member attempted to attack Ryan with a knife. Ryan's group left Jonestown for a nearby airport, where it was attacked by members of the temple. Five people (including Ryan) were killed and nine were injured (including Congressional Aide Jackie Speier).
- Family Public Service: From 2002-2006, Erin Ryan worked as a aide to State Sen. Jackie Speier. She currently works (2008-Present) as Legislative Counsel for Congresswoman Speier. Patricia Ryan previously served as the Executive Director of the California Mental Health Directors Association.
- PLACENAME: The Leo J. Ryan Memorial Federal Building is located in San Bruno. (Home of the National Archives and Records Administration, Pacific Region). Leo J. Ryan Park is a city park located in Foster City. The main post office in San Mateo is named the Leo J. Ryan Post office on the 30th Anniversary of the Jonestown massacre.
- LEGISLATION: Author of the Hughes–Ryan Act (1974), a federal law which "required the President of the United States to report all covert operations of the Central Intelligence Agency to one or more Congressional committees within a set time limit."
Source: California Blue Book (1963), (1967), (1971)
Source: Understanding California Government and Politics by Leo J. Ryan (Fearon Publishers, 1966)
Source: "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-Present" (U.S. Library of Congress) [http://bioguide.congress.gov/]