By ANDREW DALTON
LOS ANGELES — John V. Tunney, whose successful campaign for a California seat in the U.S. Senate became the basis for the 1972 Robert Redford film “The Candidate,” has died. He was 83.
Tunney died Friday afternoon in Santa Monica, his brother, Jay Tunney, told The Associated Press. John Tunney had been suffering from prostate cancer and died in a temporary home that family members were converting into a hospice for him, his brother said.
Tunney was among the youngest people elected to the U.S. Senate in the past century when he won his seat in 1970 at age 36. He then became one of the youngest in recent history to lose a Senate seat when he was defeated after just one term.
The charismatic young Democrat, who was often compared to the Kennedy brothers, had to quiet some of his idealism and swing to the center to beat the 68-year-old Republican incumbent George Murphy in 1970.
Director Michael Ritchie worked on Tunney’s campaign, and the story of competing generations and the machinations of elections was perfect fodder for the political-minded Hollywood of the day.
Redford took on the role of Bill McKay, based on Tunney. The film was a commercial and critical success, winning an Academy Award for screenwriter Jeremy Larner.
Tunney was born in New York the son of Connecticut socialite Polly Lauder Tunney and boxer Gene Tunney, the 1920s heavyweight champion whose two victories over Jack Dempsey were among the most renowned fights of the 20th century.
Gene Tunney was insistent that his sons pursue professions other than boxing.
“He was very strict about that,” Jay Tunney said.
John Tunney grew up on the family farm in Connecticut. He graduated from Yale and earned a law degree from the University of Virginia before moving to California, where he became a law professor and expert in semantics.
Tunney was elected to the U.S. House, where he served from 1964 until his Senate election in 1970.
In 1976, he was challenged on the left by political activist Tom Hayden, but won re-nomination.
He lost in the general election to Republican S.I. Hayakawa, the 70-year-old president of California State University, San Francisco who had never run for office before.
Jay Tunney said his brother wasn’t overly devastated by the loss.
“He didn’t like the temper of Washington, he didn’t care for it,” Jay Tunney said. “He started napping, during committee hearings and such.”
John Tunney returned to a Los Angeles firm and resumed practicing law.
He is survived by his second wife, Kathinka Osborne Tunney, and three children, Edward, Mark and Arianne.
Source: Oc Register
John Tunney, ex-US senator from California, dies at 83
More from boxingMore posts in boxing »
More from California NewsMore posts in California News »
- A look at California’s mountain lions
- Jury clears Musk of wrongdoing related to 2018 tweets
- ‘Huge jump’ in pregnant women hospitalized with flu may be due to lagging vaccinations
- LA Metro, Metrolink, OCTA, SBCTA offering free rides Saturday for Transit Equity Day
- Fired swim coach Teri McKeever preparing to sue UC Berkeley
More from California politicsMore posts in California politics »
- AAPI groups focus on the CA-47 race, viewing it as a potential pickup in 2024
- Orange County members of Congress get to work
- As the state’s budget work gets underway, recent weather puts spotlight on water infrastructure
- OC Sen. Janet Nguyen elected to leadership position
- Sacramento Snapshot: Budget process gets underway
More from electionsMore posts in elections »
- Analysis: Trump raises nightmare scenario for GOP
- Besides Rep. Katie Porter, who else might run for U.S. Senate in California?
- Rep. Katie Porter launches a U.S. Senate bid
- New Orange County Assembly members lay out legislative priorities
- Supreme Court justices spar in latest clash over religion, gay rights
More from entertainmentMore posts in entertainment »
More from moviesMore posts in movies »
- Regal closing Costa Mesa, Yorba Linda theaters
- Actor Quinn K. Redeker dies; played Alex Marshall on ‘Days of Our Lives,’ Rex Sterling on ‘Young and the Restless’
- The Golden Globes return Tuesday in a 1-year audition
- Jeremy Renner posts video update: ‘ICU spa moment to lift my spirits’
- Movies, books, music entering the public domain in 2023 include last Sherlock Holmes work
More from National NewsMore posts in National News »
More from NewsMore posts in News »
- AAPI groups focus on the CA-47 race, viewing it as a potential pickup in 2024
- Arts for all: NEA chair will share her vision at Irvine Barclay Theater
- Two weeks later, what we know — and still don’t know — about Monterey Park shooter
- State news executives gather to work on trust in age of disinformation
- ‘It’s going to take some time’: Alhambra’s Lai Lai Ballroom seeks to buoy ‘healing process’ after shooting
More from ObituariesMore posts in Obituaries »
- Lisa Loring, original Wednesday Addams actress, dead at 64
- Charlotte FC defender Anton Walkes dies in Florida boat crash
- The world’s oldest person, a French nun, dies at age 118
- Musician Robbie Bachman dies at age 69; was drummer for Bachman-Turner Overdrive
- Actor Quinn K. Redeker dies; played Alex Marshall on ‘Days of Our Lives,’ Rex Sterling on ‘Young and the Restless’
More from politicsMore posts in politics »
More from Top Stories BreezeMore posts in Top Stories Breeze »
- Two weeks later, what we know — and still don’t know — about Monterey Park shooter
- State news executives gather to work on trust in age of disinformation
- ‘It’s going to take some time’: Alhambra’s Lai Lai Ballroom seeks to buoy ‘healing process’ after shooting
- ‘Hollywood Cat’ P-22’s celebration of life packs Greek Theater
- 65th Grammy Awards: Here’s are some eye popping streaming statistics
More from top stories ivdbMore posts in top stories ivdb »
- Two weeks later, what we know — and still don’t know — about Monterey Park shooter
- State news executives gather to work on trust in age of disinformation
- ‘It’s going to take some time’: Alhambra’s Lai Lai Ballroom seeks to buoy ‘healing process’ after shooting
- ‘Hollywood Cat’ P-22’s celebration of life packs Greek Theater
- 65th Grammy Awards: Here’s are some eye popping streaming statistics
More from Top Stories LADNMore posts in Top Stories LADN »
- Two weeks later, what we know — and still don’t know — about Monterey Park shooter
- State news executives gather to work on trust in age of disinformation
- ‘It’s going to take some time’: Alhambra’s Lai Lai Ballroom seeks to buoy ‘healing process’ after shooting
- ‘Hollywood Cat’ P-22’s celebration of life packs Greek Theater
- 65th Grammy Awards: Here’s are some eye popping streaming statistics
More from Top Stories LBPTMore posts in Top Stories LBPT »
- Two weeks later, what we know — and still don’t know — about Monterey Park shooter
- State news executives gather to work on trust in age of disinformation
- ‘It’s going to take some time’: Alhambra’s Lai Lai Ballroom seeks to buoy ‘healing process’ after shooting
- ‘Hollywood Cat’ P-22’s celebration of life packs Greek Theater
- 65th Grammy Awards: Here’s are some eye popping streaming statistics
More from Top Stories OCRMore posts in Top Stories OCR »
- Arts for all: NEA chair will share her vision at Irvine Barclay Theater
- Two weeks later, what we know — and still don’t know — about Monterey Park shooter
- State news executives gather to work on trust in age of disinformation
- ‘It’s going to take some time’: Alhambra’s Lai Lai Ballroom seeks to buoy ‘healing process’ after shooting
- ‘Hollywood Cat’ P-22’s celebration of life packs Greek Theater
More from Top Stories PEMore posts in Top Stories PE »
- Two weeks later, what we know — and still don’t know — about Monterey Park shooter
- State news executives gather to work on trust in age of disinformation
- ‘It’s going to take some time’: Alhambra’s Lai Lai Ballroom seeks to buoy ‘healing process’ after shooting
- ‘Hollywood Cat’ P-22’s celebration of life packs Greek Theater
- 65th Grammy Awards: Here’s are some eye popping streaming statistics
More from Top Stories PSNMore posts in Top Stories PSN »
- Two weeks later, what we know — and still don’t know — about Monterey Park shooter
- State news executives gather to work on trust in age of disinformation
- ‘It’s going to take some time’: Alhambra’s Lai Lai Ballroom seeks to buoy ‘healing process’ after shooting
- ‘Hollywood Cat’ P-22’s celebration of life packs Greek Theater
- 65th Grammy Awards: Here’s are some eye popping streaming statistics
More from top stories rdfMore posts in top stories rdf »
- Two weeks later, what we know — and still don’t know — about Monterey Park shooter
- State news executives gather to work on trust in age of disinformation
- ‘It’s going to take some time’: Alhambra’s Lai Lai Ballroom seeks to buoy ‘healing process’ after shooting
- ‘Hollywood Cat’ P-22’s celebration of life packs Greek Theater
- 65th Grammy Awards: Here’s are some eye popping streaming statistics
More from Top Stories SGVTMore posts in Top Stories SGVT »
- Two weeks later, what we know — and still don’t know — about Monterey Park shooter
- State news executives gather to work on trust in age of disinformation
- ‘It’s going to take some time’: Alhambra’s Lai Lai Ballroom seeks to buoy ‘healing process’ after shooting
- ‘Hollywood Cat’ P-22’s celebration of life packs Greek Theater
- 65th Grammy Awards: Here’s are some eye popping streaming statistics
More from top stories sunMore posts in top stories sun »
- Two weeks later, what we know — and still don’t know — about Monterey Park shooter
- State news executives gather to work on trust in age of disinformation
- ‘It’s going to take some time’: Alhambra’s Lai Lai Ballroom seeks to buoy ‘healing process’ after shooting
- 65th Grammy Awards: Here’s are some eye popping streaming statistics
- A look at California’s mountain lions
More from Top Stories WDNMore posts in Top Stories WDN »
- State news executives gather to work on trust in age of disinformation
- ‘It’s going to take some time’: Alhambra’s Lai Lai Ballroom seeks to buoy ‘healing process’ after shooting
- ‘Hollywood Cat’ P-22’s celebration of life packs Greek Theater
- 65th Grammy Awards: Here’s are some eye popping streaming statistics
- A look at California’s mountain lions
Be First to Comment