MCDERMOTT, Edward A.

Photo courtesy: Junior Achievement

MCDERMOTT, Edward A. (Dubuque, IA, June 28, 1920--May 12, 1999). McDermott attended COLUMBIA COLLEGE and was in the first class to have "Loras" degrees when the school was renamed as part of its 100th anniversary. He attended the University of Iowa College of Law and began his areer as an attorney with Travelers Insurance Company in Omaha, Nebraska. He worked in Chicago for a time and then returned to Dubuque to work in a private practice. A listing of McDermott's accomplishments, published in the Who's Who in America, takes over three inches to recall. (1)

McDermott served as chief counsel to the United States Senate Subcommittee on Privileges and Elections in 1950 that bravely attacked campaign tactics of John Marshall Butler, a strong supporter of anti-communist crusader Senator Joe McCarthy. It was at this time that he met future President John F. Kennedy who later involved McDermott in top-level politics in the nation's capital. (2) In 1951 as the chief counsel of the same committee McDermott conducted what were called the "Maryland hearings" in which Senator Millard T. Tydings lodged complaints of irregularities in the election of that state. (3)

In 1951 McDermott returned to Dubuque and became a partner in the firm of O'Connor, Thomas, McDermott and Wright. He was active in Democratic politics at both the state and national levels as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1952, 1960, and 1964; a member of Iowa’s Democratic Central Committee from 1956-1960; and co-chairman of Iowans for Kennedy in 1960. In the 1960s, McDermott was appointed to a number of different posts in Washington, D.C. In 1961, he was deputy director and later acting director of the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization. (4)

As Director of the Office of Emergency Planning under President John F. KENNEDY, McDermott held a position just below cabinet status and controlled a Washington, D.C., staff of 1,200 and a nationwide staff of 1,500. At a time when global war seemed imminent, his department had the responsibility of developing a plan for protecting people if and when nuclear war began. As director of the OEP, he was also a member of the National Security Council and represented the United States at various NATO committee meetings. He also served as the chairman of the Executive Stockpile Committee and as the chairman of the Committee on Assumptions for Nonmilitary Planning. (5)

In 1962 McDermott announced that his office would be closely involved with a congressional investigation committee and a special presidential committee studying excessive stockpiling. In 1961 at the request of the president, McDermott had supervised an examination of strategic and critical stockpiles that led to the president's call for a further study. President Kennedy believed the stockpiles were excessive and an invitation to profiteering and mismanagement. (6)

McDermott served as a member of the Federal Reconstruction and Development Planning Commission for Alaska in 1964. (7)

In 1986 McDermott received the national award of the DUBUQUE BUSINESS HALL OF FAME. His work for various Roman Catholic charities resulted in him receiving the Knight of the Equestrian order of the Holy Sepulchre and Knight of Malta. Both raise money and goods for the poor worldwide. At that time he was a partner in Hogan & Hartson, the oldest large law firm in Washington giving legal representation to foreign nations and companies and representing American firms abroad. (8)

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Source:

1. Chanaud, Timothy, "Dubuque Native Recalls History in the Making," Telegraph Herald, November 10, 1986, p. 9

2. Ibid.

3. "Dubuquer Has A Leading Role in Senate Quiz," Telegraph-Herald, February 18, 1951, p. 15

4. "PAPERS OF EDWARD A. MCDERMOTT," University of Iowa Libraries, Online: http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/scua/msc/tomsc250/msc241/msc241.htm#BIOGRAPHICAL%20NOTE

5. Ibid.

6. "McDermott to Play Key Role," Telegraph Herald, February 4, 1962, p. 1

7. "Papers..."

8. Chanaud