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 »
- Cal Poly Humboldt closed through the weekend as student protests continue
- Big Sur Highway 1 repair work hitting its stride
- OC woman falls to death while hiking with family on Bear Mountain in Sedona, Arizona
- Amid valedictorian protest, USC scrubs outside commencement speakers, honorees
- How 4/20 grew from humble roots to marijuana’s high holiday
More from California politicsMore posts in California politics »
- California schools may be required to provide kosher and halal meals
- Sen. Laphonza Butler isn’t just keeping a seat warm in Washington
- Sacramento Snapshot: Legislators want to ensure schools are providing services for foster youth
- What’s next for Rep. Katie Porter after she leaves Congress?
- Sacramento Snapshot: Legislators consider more aid to foster youth who are also parents
More from electionsMore posts in elections »
- Huntington Beach councilmembers pledge to fight state’s lawsuit over city’s voter ID measure
- At least 104 Southern California voters mailed their ballots on time. They weren’t counted
- With 399 victims, Mexico campaign violence is already at record
- Sacramento Snapshot: How the state Senate may tackle election policy work this year
- Politics and faith intertwine at Orange County church
More from entertainmentMore posts in entertainment »
- A Golden State Killer movie with Vincent Gallo and James Franco? Yes, of course there’s controversy
- Remembering those we lost in 2023: Matthew Perry, Henry Kissinger and more
- Hahn, Kounalakis urge Swift to call off SoFi concerts in support of striking hotel workers
- Barbie’s latest look is diverse. But is it toying with fans?
- Shakespeare by the Sea returns to LA and Orange counties for 26th season
More from moviesMore posts in movies »
- Protests over Israel’s war in Gaza snarl traffic outside Oscars
- 15 film projects to receive state tax credits
- Snoop Dogg’s ‘The Underdoggs’ pays homage to Long Beach Poly High School
- ‘Oppenheimer’ gets 13 Oscar nominations; Gerwig, Cooper snubbed for best director
- Oscar nominations 2024: See the full list
More from National NewsMore posts in National News »
- TikTok has promised to sue over the potential US ban. What’s the legal outlook?
- Cal Poly Humboldt closed through the weekend as student protests continue
- Spirit Airlines shows improvements, but still finishes last in travel industry customer satisfaction study
- Pro-Palestinian student protests target colleges’ financial ties with Israel
- OC woman falls to death while hiking with family on Bear Mountain in Sedona, Arizona
More from NewsMore posts in News »
- TikTok has promised to sue over the potential US ban. What’s the legal outlook?
- Cal Poly Humboldt closed through the weekend as student protests continue
- Big Sur Highway 1 repair work hitting its stride
- SURFscape trade show focusing on surf, outdoor adventure is beachfront in Huntington Beach
- California schools may be required to provide kosher and halal meals
More from ObituariesMore posts in Obituaries »
- Roman Gabriel, former Rams QB great, dies at 83
- Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
- Whitey Herzog, Hall of Fame manager who led St. Louis Cardinals to 3 pennants, dies at 92
- Josh Waring, son of ex-‘Real Housewives’ of OC cast member Lauri Peterson, dead at 35
- Cecil Murray, first AME pastor who calmed LA after ’92 Riots, dies at age 94
More from politicsMore posts in politics »
- Cal Poly Humboldt closed through the weekend as student protests continue
- California schools may be required to provide kosher and halal meals
- Sammy’s Law in California seeks to protect youth from social media drug sales
- Haiti’s fragile health system nearing collapse as chaos grips country
- TikTok digs in to fight US ban with 170 million users at stake
More from Top Stories BreezeMore posts in Top Stories Breeze »
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- Senior living: The importance of proper nutrition as you age
- Man breaks in to home of LA Mayor Karen Bass, is arrested
- After 25 years of selling tamales in Chicago, an undocumented immigrant mother returns to Mexico without her family
More from top stories ivdbMore posts in top stories ivdb »
- San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy to stand trial on alleged Mongols affiliation, gun offenses
- Redlands boots embattled LA developer from homeless housing program
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy used alias in double life as alleged outlaw biker
More from Top Stories LADNMore posts in Top Stories LADN »
- Redlands boots embattled LA developer from homeless housing program
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- Man breaks in to home of LA Mayor Karen Bass, is arrested
- After 25 years of selling tamales in Chicago, an undocumented immigrant mother returns to Mexico without her family
More from Top Stories LBPTMore posts in Top Stories LBPT »
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- Senior living: The importance of proper nutrition as you age
- Rich Archbold: Kids enjoy roar of Grand Prix of Long Beach thanks to King Taco
- Grand Prix of Long Beach’s final day is here — and it’ll be a fun one
More from Top Stories OCRMore posts in Top Stories OCR »
- SURFscape trade show focusing on surf, outdoor adventure is beachfront in Huntington Beach
- California schools may be required to provide kosher and halal meals
- Big GOP donor Buck Johns lists his 3.5-acre Newport Beach estate for $25 million
- Dana Point Planning Commission sets hours for embattled Headlands bluff-top trail
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
More from Top Stories PEMore posts in Top Stories PE »
- San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy to stand trial on alleged Mongols affiliation, gun offenses
- Redlands boots embattled LA developer from homeless housing program
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy used alias in double life as alleged outlaw biker
More from Top Stories PSNMore posts in Top Stories PSN »
- Covina man charged with shooting deputy in West Covina
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- After 25 years of selling tamales in Chicago, an undocumented immigrant mother returns to Mexico without her family
- 37% more Southern California workers added in March than average
More from top stories rdfMore posts in top stories rdf »
- San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy to stand trial on alleged Mongols affiliation, gun offenses
- Redlands boots embattled LA developer from homeless housing program
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy used alias in double life as alleged outlaw biker
More from Top Stories SGVTMore posts in Top Stories SGVT »
- Covina man charged with shooting deputy in West Covina
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- After 25 years of selling tamales in Chicago, an undocumented immigrant mother returns to Mexico without her family
- 37% more Southern California workers added in March than average
More from top stories sunMore posts in top stories sun »
- San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy to stand trial on alleged Mongols affiliation, gun offenses
- Redlands boots embattled LA developer from homeless housing program
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy used alias in double life as alleged outlaw biker
More from Top Stories WDNMore posts in Top Stories WDN »
- Plan to kill Catalina deer using sharpshooters in copters is opposed by county
- Reunited and it feels so good: Voyager 1 is talking sense again
- After 25 years of selling tamales in Chicago, an undocumented immigrant mother returns to Mexico without her family
- 37% more Southern California workers added in March than average
- Amid valedictorian protest, USC scrubs outside commencement speakers, honorees
Be First to Comment