Robert Owens Tiernan (February 24, 1929 – October 15, 2014) was an American lawyer and politician from Rhode Island. He served in the Rhode Island State Senate and was a member of the United States House of Representatives.

Robert Tiernan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Rhode Island's 2nd district
In office
March 28, 1967 – January 3, 1975
Preceded byJohn E. Fogarty
Succeeded byEdward Beard
Member of the Rhode Island State Senate
In office
1960–1967
Personal details
Born(1929-02-24)February 24, 1929
Providence, Rhode Island
DiedOctober 15, 2014(2014-10-15) (aged 85)
Providence, Rhode Island
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDorothy A. Tiernan
ChildrenMichael M. Tiernan
Robert O. Tiernan Jr.
Christopher P. Tiernan
ProfessionBusinessman
politician

Early life

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Tiernan was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and attended La Salle Academy. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Providence College in 1953 and his Juris Doctor from Catholic University Law School in 1956.[1] He was admitted to the bar in 1956 and began practicing law.

Political career

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He began his political career as a Democratic member of the Rhode Island State Senate in 1960 and served until 1967.[2] In 1967, he was elected to the Ninetieth Congress by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative John E. Fogarty.[3] He was reelected to the Ninety-first, Ninety-second and Ninety-third Congresses, serving from March 28, 1967, to January 3, 1975. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination to the Ninety-fourth Congress in 1974.[4]

From April 1975 to November 1981, he was a member of the Federal Election Commission. He served as chairman of the Commission in 1980,[5] and after leaving the Commission he resumed the practice of law in Providence.[6]

Family life

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Tiernan and his wife Dorothy A. Tiernan have three sons: Michael M. Tiernan, Robert O. Tiernan Jr., and Christopher P. Tiernan. His wife Dorothy died in 2001.[7]

He was a resident of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, until his death on October 15, 2014, at the Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center in Providence, Rhode Island after a brief illness.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Capace, Nancy (2001). The Encyclopedia of Rhode Island. North American Book Dist LLC. p. 314. ISBN 9780403096107.
  2. ^ "Tiernan, Robert O." Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  3. ^ "Rhode Island: Eroded Stronghold". Time. April 7, 1967. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  4. ^ Capace, Nancy (2001). The Encyclopedia of Rhode Island. North American Book Dist LLC. p. 314. ISBN 9780403096107.
  5. ^ "Federal Election Commission" (PDF). Federal Election Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 2, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  6. ^ "Tiernan, Robert O." Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  7. ^ "MCNALLY-L Archives". Ancestry.com. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  8. ^ G. Wayne Miller (October 18, 2014). "Passages: Robert O. Tiernan, 85; was R.I. lawyer, state senator, congressman". Providence Journal. Retrieved October 19, 2014.

Further reading

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  • "Ralph Nader Congress Project. Citizens Look at Congress: Robert O. Tiernan, Democratic Representative from Rhode Island. Washington, D.C." by Grossman Publishers, 1972.
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  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district

1967–1975
Succeeded by