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Gale McGee

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Person.png Gale McGee  Rdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
( politician)
Gale McGee.jpg
BornGale William McGee
March 17, 1915
 Lincoln,  Nebraska,  USA
DiedApril 9, 1992 (Age 77)
 Washington D.C.,  USA
Nationality US
Spouse Loraine Baker McGee
Member ofSenate Subcommittee on Multinational Corporations
PartyDemocratic
Soon after WW2 he became associated with several influential spooks and deep state actors, adopted a political line as a liberal Cold Warrior, and was installed in the Senate in 1959, where he was put on the Appropriations Committee, later on the Foreign Relations Committee. He attended the 1960 Bilderberg meeting.

Employment.png United States Senator from Wyoming

In office
January 3, 1959 - January 3, 1977
Succeeded byMalcolm Wallop

Gale William McGee was a United States senator of the Democratic Party, and ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS).[1] Soon after WW2 he became associated with several influential spooks and deep state actors, adopted a political line as a liberal Cold Warrior, and was installed in the Senate in 1959, where he was put on the Appropriations Committee, later on the Foreign Relations Committee. He was a supporter of, and was supported by, Lyndon B. Johnson. He was a strong supporter of Israel. McGee attended the 1960 Bilderberg meeting.

Education

McGee was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on March 17, 1915. He attended public schools and had planned to study law in college but was forced by the Great Depression to attend the State Teachers College in Wayne, Nebraska, instead. He graduated from the Teachers College in 1936 and worked as a high school teacher while studying for a master's degree in history at the University of Colorado. He continued as a college instructor at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Iowa State College, and Notre Dame. In 1946, McGee received his Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago.[2]

Early career

Shortly after receiving his Ph.D., McGee accepted a position as a professor of American history at the University of Wyoming. He founded and was chair of the university's Institute of International Affairs, which brought national dignitaries to the university every summer through a grant from the Carnegie Foundation. Each summer, 21 teachers from Wyoming high schools were selected to participate. Over the next 12 years, the Institute hosted prominent people such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Hans Morgenthau, and Henry Kissinger.[2]

In 1952 McGee took a one-year leave of absence from the University of Wyoming to become a Carnegie Research Fellow in New York with the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).[3] The period coincided with Stalin's death, leading McGee to reassess strategies toward the Soviet Union. During his fellowship, he interacted with influential spooks and deep state actors such as Allen Dulles, John Foster Dulles, Dean Rusk, and John J. McCloy, which deepened his understanding of foreign policy. Additionally, his connections with prominent leaders like Richard Nixon, Adlai Stevenson II, Cyrus Vance and Henry Kissinger further shaped his views.[2]

In 1955, McGee took another leave to work as a legislative assistant for Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney in Washington, DC.[4] O'Mahoney, connected to Senators Lyndon Johnson and John F. Kennedy, particularly in Wyoming's oil industry, recognized McGee's political potential. McGee also established relationships with Sens. William Fulbright, Russell Long, and John Stennis.[5][6]

United States Senator

In 1958, McGee took a leave of absence from the university to run for the U.S. Senate, challenging the incumbent Frank A. Barrett. He campaigned on a platform of "youth and new ideas". Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson of Texas, Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts, Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon, Senator-elect Edmund Muskie of Maine, Congressman Joseph M. Montoya of New Mexico, and former President Harry S. Truman came to the state to support McGee, whose campaign slogan was "McGee for Me!".[7] Lyndon Johnson pledged that, if Wyoming elected McGee, he would secure him a seat on the prestigious Appropriations Committee.[8][2] Eleanor Roosevelt even led a national fundraising drive for him.[9] Johnson supported McGee on several later occasions[10].

McGee was a strong anti-communist, and his view of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War was shaped by the Domino Theory. This theory, prevalent at the time, posited that the fall of one country to communism would lead to a chain reaction in neighboring countries. McGee's doctoral dissertation, "The Founding Fathers and Entangling Alliances" argued for international engagement to maintain a balance of power.[11]

Throughout his career, McGee strongly supported the goals and activities of international organizations such as NATO, and the World Bank to protect and promote U.S. interests around the world. In 1973, McGee introduced a resolution to a convention to explore an Atlantic Union between the US and North Atlantic Community.[12]

McGee consistently supported U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, emphasizing the necessity of preventing communist expansion in Southeast Asia. He advocated for a strong military presence, supported escalating U.S. involvement, and was skeptical of immediate withdrawal or negotiations without a position of strength.

He supported the 1965 U.S. invasion in of the Dominican Republic.[13]

He was a strong advocate for programs like the Peace Corps and the Alliance for Progress. He also played a key role in the development and implementation of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Throughout his career, McGee was a strong advocate for the United Nations, defending its role in diplomacy and support for U.S. interests.[14]

He became part of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1967 and was reappointed in 1969, where he remained until his defeat for re-election in 1976. He also was Chairman of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee from 1969 to 1970.[15]

CIA

In March 1967, Ramparts Magazine revealed links between the CIA and the National Student Association (NSA), raising concerns about CIA involvement in domestic issues. McGee defended the CIA's involvement in student groups. He argued that covert operations were necessary to compete with Soviet influence[16] and that American youth groups could be effective ambassadors for the country.

A July 10, 1975 memo from then White House Chief of Staff Donald Rumsfeld to President Gerald Ford listed McGee as one of many potential candidates to be director of Central Intelligence. Rumsfeld listed "pros and cons" of each candidate (including George Bush, Lee Iacocca, and Byron White and others). The memo thought McGee was a strong defender of the intelligence community, respected within the foreign affairs community, and well-regarded for his independence. On November 4, 1975, William Colby was replaced as CIA Director by George Bush.[17]

Israel

McGee consistently expressed strong support for Israel throughout his Senate career. He frequently spoke to Israel Bonds events throughout the United States.[18] His views emphasized the U.S.'s obligation to assist Israel. In 1970, he endorsed the idea of providing Israel with military aid, especially during and after the War of Attrition, to ensure its defense against neighboring countries, aligning with proposals from figures like Averell Harriman.[19]

McGee remained steadfast in advocating for military aid and diplomatic support, as seen in his 1973 speeches supporting increased foreign assistance for Israel, including additional funding for peacekeeping and military support. He expressed concern over "extremism, particularly from groups like the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and cautioned against policies that would compromise Israel's security. McGee also strongly criticized efforts at the U.N. to delegitimize Israel, notably opposing resolutions that condemned Zionism, seeing them as part of broader Arab efforts to undermine Israel's legitimacy.

Panama Canal Treaty

After his defeat by Malcolm Wallop in 1976, McGee was nominated by President Jimmy Carter as United States ambassador to the Organization of American States. McGee's expertise onLatin America and support for the Panama Canal Treaties made him a strategic choice for the role.

McGee was a strong proponent of ratification of the Panama Canal Treaty. In 1974, McGee joined Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Ellsworth Bunker in Panama City for the US and Panama to sign an agreement to begin negotiations on the Panama Canal Treaty.[20][21] He would later introduce a Senate Concurrent Resolution endorsing the principles for the new treaty.[22] Throughout 1975–76, he was one of the most vocal supporters for the treaty, giving numerous speeches in the Senate, speeches to outside groups, as well as publishing Op-Eds, emphasizing the importance of considering the economic, military, and political aspects of the canal, while dismissing emotional arguments and outdated rhetoric.[23][24][25][26][27][28][29]

His public support would ultimately lead to his appointment as President Carter's OAS Ambassador and point person to push for ratification in the Senate.


 

Event Participated in

EventStartEndLocation(s)Description
Bilderberg/196028 May 196029 May 1960Switzerland
Bürgenstock		The 9th such meeting and the first one in Switzerland. 61 participants + 4 "in attendance". The meeting report contains a press statement, 4 sentences long.
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References

  1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240629021541/https://adst.org/OH%20TOCs/McGee,%20Gale.toc.pdf
  2. ↑ Jump up to: a b c d Oral History Interview with Ambassador Gale McGee, The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, December 9, 1988
  3. ↑ McGee granted leave to serve on Carnegie group (April 15, 1962) Casper Star-Tribune, p. 2
  4. ↑ Community Leaders Conference to be held at UW, Feb. 91-- (January 5, 1956) Newcastle News Letter Journal, p. 7
  5. ↑ Morrissey, Charles T. "Oral History Interview with Gale W. McGee." Interview by Charles T. Morrissey, June 8, 1979, and September 17, 1979. The Modern Congress in American History, Former Members of Congress, Inc
  6. ↑ Strannigan, Liz. Interview with Gale W. McGee. 16 September 1989. Oral History - Interview Number 2. Senator Gale W. McGee (D-Wyo): Complete.
  7. ↑ "The 1958 Election in Wyoming", Herman H. Trachsel, The Western Political Quarterly, Vol. 12, No. 1, Part 2 (March 1959), pp. 363–366
  8. ↑ Sen. Johnson headlines Dem rally here tonight (1958, October 31) Casper Star Tribune, p. 1
  9. ↑ Time
  10. ↑ https://www.discoverlbj.org/item/oh-mcgeeg-19690210-1-74-152-a
  11. ↑ McDaniel, R. E., & Simpson, A. K. (2018). The Man In The Arena: The Life And Times Of U.S. Senator Gale Mcgee. Potomac Books, an imprint of April 9, University of Nebraska Press.,
  12. ↑ 93 Cong. Rec. 1486-87(1973)
  13. ↑ 89 Cong. Rec. 11723-24 (1965)
  14. ↑ McGee shreds slogan on U.S. Senate floor (1962, January 24,) Casper Morning Star, p. 2
  15. ↑ Congressional Record Daily Digest, p. D41 (1969)
  16. ↑ Senator says CIA grants necessary (1967, February 21) Casper Star Tribune, p. 3
  17. ↑ July 10, 1975 Memorandum to the President from Donald Rumsfeld, Ford Presidential Library [1]
  18. ↑ Speech and Trip Files, 1955-1991, Gale W. McGee Papers, Collection Number 09800, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
  19. ↑ Congressional Record 39137-38 (1970)
  20. ↑ National Archives, RG 84, American Embassy, Panama, Panama Canal Treaty Negotiation Files, Lot 81F1, Box 124, Secretary Kissinger's Visit
  21. ↑ Kissinger resignation rumor called idle talk (1974, February 22) Washington Star Neews
  22. ↑ McGee urge Panama Treaty (1974, April 2) Billings Gazette, p. 11
  23. ↑ Congressional Record p. 157279-85 (1975)
  24. ↑ Congressional Record p. 18306-07 (1975)
  25. ↑ Congressional Record p. 27839 (1975)
  26. ↑ U.S. News & World Report "Should US give up the Panama Canal? Two sides of the issue: Interviews with Senator Gale McGee....and Senator Harry Byrd, October 6, 1954, pp.37-38
  27. ↑ Congressional Record p. 10086-66 (1976)
  28. ↑ Congressional Record p. 22774-76 (1976)
  29. ↑ McGee will speak at Partners banquet (1976, April 7) Billings Gazette, p. 27
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