Pete McCloskey, Vietnam War Critic and Former Congressman, Dies at 96

Pete McCloskey, a former California congressman known for his rebellion against President Richard M. Nixon’s war policies in the 1970s, passed away on Wednesday at his home in Winters, California, at the age of 96. The news of his death was confirmed by a family spokesman, Lee Houskeeper.

A Liberal Republican

McCloskey, who served as a congressman for an area south of San Francisco from late 1967 to early 1983, was recognized as a liberal Republican who supported environmental causes and believed that the Republican Party had shifted too far to the right. He was an admirer of President John F. Kennedy and was known for voting for environmental initiatives alongside Democrats.

Rebellion Against Nixon

In July 1971, at a time when the nation was deeply divided over the Vietnam War and President Nixon was favored for re-election, McCloskey, then a 43-year-old Korean War veteran, launched an ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. Despite lacking financial resources and party backing, McCloskey vividly portrayed the horrors of the war in Vietnam during his campaign, emphasizing the devastating impact of cluster bombs and napalm strikes.

He had personally visited Vietnam three times and was deeply affected by the "cruelty and futility" of the war, arguing passionately that tens of thousands of Vietnamese and Americans were losing their lives in a war that was unwinnable.

Pete McCloskey will be remembered for his bold stance against the Vietnam War and his unwavering commitment to his beliefs, even in the face of overwhelming odds. His passing marks the end of an era for California politics.