Clement Zablocki

Clement John Zablocki (November 18, 1912 – December 3, 1983) was an American politician who served nearly 35 years in the United States House of Representatives, representing Wisconsin's 4th congressional district.[1]

Clement Zablocki
Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
In office
January 3, 1977 – December 3, 1983
Preceded byThomas E. Morgan
Succeeded byDante Fascell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Wisconsin's 4th district
In office
January 3, 1949 – December 3, 1983
Preceded byJohn C. Brophy
Succeeded byJerry Kleczka
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 3rd district
In office
January 1, 1943 – January 1, 1949
Preceded byArthur L. Zimny
Succeeded byCasimir Kendziorski
Personal details
Born
Clement John Zablocki

(1912-11-18)November 18, 1912
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedDecember 3, 1983(1983-12-03) (aged 71)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting placeSt. Adalbert's Cemetery, Milwaukee
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
  • Blanche M. Janic
  • (died 1977)
Children1
Alma materMarquette University

A liberal Democrat, he built his reputation in foreign policy by taking strong anticommunist positions and supporting the Vietnam War. He rose to become chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee for the last six years of his career.[2]

Career

Zablocki was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated from Milwaukee's Marquette University. Zablocki was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 1942, at age 30, representing the 3rd senatorial district. He served one full four-year term and was re-elected in 1946.

Tenure in Congress

In 1948, he challenged incumbent Republican congressman John C. Brophy, who had been narrowly elected in a three-way race in 1946. Zablocki faced no opposition in the Democratic primary, and defeated Brophy in the general election, carrying 55% of the vote.[3] He was sworn in as the representative of Wisconsin's 4th congressional district for the 81st United States Congress and was subsequently reelected 17 times, serving from January 3, 1949, until his death from a heart attack on December 3, 1983.[4] Zablocki was the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee from 1977 until his death in 1983. He served during the presidencies of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, a period that included several significant international events, including the Iran hostage crisis. Zablocki introduced the Taiwan Relations Act on February 28, 1979.

Zablocki's official portrait in the 90th Congress, 1967.

Zablocki was a co-author of the Case-Zablocki Act of 1972 which required that executive agreements by the president be reported to Congress in 60 days. He helped design an early version of the War Powers Act from 1970 to 1972, which put presidential war-making power under congressional control. He was instrumental in House passage of the final version in late 1973 over President Nixon's veto.[5]

An advocate for the interests of Vietnam War prisoners of war and missing in action, Zablocki during May 1973 hearings observed that returning prisoners uniformly had expressed their belief that there were no U.S. servicemen still alive in Vietnam.[6]

Personal life

Zablocki was buried at St. Adalbert's Cemetery in Milwaukee.

Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center at 5000 West National Avenue in Milwaukee is named for him,[7] as is the Zablocki Library and the Clement J. Zablocki Elementary School in Milwaukee.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Senate (1942, 1946)
Wisconsin Senate, 3rd District Election, 1942[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Primary, September 1942
Democratic Clement J. Zablocki 3,015 55.89%
Democratic Maruszewski 2,608 39.49%
Plurality 407 16.40%
Total votes 5,623 100.0%
General Election, November 3, 1942
Democratic Clement J. Zablocki 10,253 48.81% +11.38%
Progressive Alfred J. Melms 6,299 29.99% -5.75%
Republican Harry E. Chelminiak 3,810 18.14% -8.70%
Socialist Edward Schultheis 644 3.07%
Plurality 3,954 18.82% +17.13%
Total votes 21,006 100.0% -7.41%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Senate, 3rd District Election, 1946[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Primary, August 13, 1946
Democratic Clement J. Zablocki 4,271 67.63% +14.01%
Democratic Martin B. Franzkowiak 2,044 32.37%
Plurality 2,227 35.27% +28.03%
Total votes 6,315 100.0% +12.31%
General Election, November 5, 1946
Democratic Clement J. Zablocki (incumbent) 17,414 66.81% +18.00%
Republican Joseph F. Lindner 7,736 29.68% +11.54%
Socialist Edward Schultheis 916 3.51% +0.45%
Plurality 9,678 37.13% +18.31%
Total votes 26,066 100.0% +24.09%
Democratic hold

U.S. House of Representatives (1948–1982)
Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
1948[3] General November 2 Clement J. Zablocki Democratic 89,391 55.89% John C. Brophy (inc.) Rep. 63,161 39.49% 159,929 26,230
Edmund V. Bobrowicz Prog. 5,051 3.16%
Clement Stachowiak Soc. 2,326 1.45%
1950[10] Primary September 19 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 27,717 72.16% Thaddeus Wasielewski Dem. 10,692 27.84% 38,409 17,025
General November 2 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 83,564 60.88% John C. Brophy Rep. 53,702 39.12% 137,266 29,862
1952[11] Primary September 9 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 43,710 77.84% Edwin L. Nowak Dem. 12,445 22.16% 56,155 31,265
General November 4 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 131,098 64.27% John C. Schafer Rep. 72,869 35.73% 203,967 58,229
1954[12] General November 2 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 100,120 71.09% John C. Schafer Rep. 40,723 28.91% 140,843 59,397
1956[13] General November 6 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 128,213 65.66% William J. Burke Rep. 67,063 34.34% 195,276 61,150
1958[14] Primary September 9 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 36,857 85.38% Roman R. Blenski Dem. 6,311 14.62% 43,168 30,546
General November 4 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 112,226 74.13% James J. Arnold Rep. 39,167 25.87% 151,393 73,059
1960[15] Primary September 13 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 47,718 88.00% Roman R. Blenski Dem. 6,505 12.00% 54,223 41,213
General November 8 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 155,789 71.71% Samuel P. Murray Rep. 61,468 28.29% 217,257 94,321
1962[16] Primary September 11 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 41,408 87.91% Roman R. Blenski Dem. 5,694 12.09% 47,102 35,714
General November 6 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 117,029 72.51% David F. Tillotson Rep. 44,368 27.49% 161,397 72,661
1964[17] Primary September 8 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 48,887 89.28% Roman R. Blenski Dem. 5,870 10.72% 54,757 43,017
General November 3 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 125,683 74.17% Edward E. Estkowski Rep. 43,773 25.83% 169,456 81,910
1966[18] Primary September 13 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 37,588 90.10% Roman R. Blenski Dem. 4,129 9.90% 41,717 33,459
General November 8 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 77,690 74.31% James E. Laessig Rep. 26,863 25.69% 104,553 50,827
1968[19] Primary September 10 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 32,121 86.04% Roman R. Blenski Dem. 5,212 13.96% 37,333 26,909
General November 5 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 118,203 72.62% Walter McCullough Rep. 44,558 27.38% 162,761 73,645
1970[20] Primary September 8 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 32,201 85.35% Donald P. Lass Dem. 5,529 14.65% 37,730 26,672
General November 3 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 102,464 80.35% Phillip D. Mrozinski Rep. 23,081 18.10% 127,530 79,383
John A. Zierhut Amer. 1,985 1.56%
1972[21] Primary September 12 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 32,087 75.78% Therese M. Heimann Dem. 4,337 10.24% 42,340 27,750
Grant D. Waldo Dem. 3,890 9.19%
Roman R. Blenski Dem. 2,026 4.79%
General November 7 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 149,078 75.66% Phillip D. Mrozinski Rep. 45,008 22.84% 197,032 104,070
Eugene Annell Amer. 2,946 1.50%
1974[22] General November 5 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 84,768 72.46% Lewis D. Collison Rep. 27,818 23.78% 116,990 56,950
Herbert O. Jahnke Amer. 4,404 3.76%
1976[23] Primary September 14 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 29,540 83.50% Roman R. Blenski Dem. 5,838 16.50% 35,378 23,702
General November 2 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 172,166 100.0% Unopposed 172,166 N/A
1978[24] General November 7 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 101,575 66.09% Elroy C. Honadel Rep. 52,125 33.91% 153,700 49,450
1980[25] Primary September 9 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 29,411 89.40% Roman R. Blenski Dem. 3,489 10.60% 32,900 25,922
General November 4 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 146,437 70.02% Elroy C. Honadel Rep. 61,027 29.18% 209,134 85,410
Lynn Rashkind Ind. 1,670 0.80%
1982[26] Primary September 14 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 56,047 60.82% Lynn Adelman Dem. 36,102 39.18% 92,149 19,945
General November 2 Clement J. Zablocki (inc.) Democratic 129,557 94.58% Nicholas P. Youngers Lib. 4,064 2.97% 136,988 125,493
John F. Baumgartner Ind. 2,421 1.77%
John Gudenschwager Cons. 946 0.69%

Further reading
  • Barone, Michael et al. The Almanac of American Politics: 1976 (1975) pp 930–32
  • Leahy, Stephen M. The Life of Milwaukee's Most Popular Politician, Clement J. Zablocki: Milwaukee Politics and Congressional Foreign Policy. Lewiston, NY: The Edward Mellen Press, 2002.

See also

References
  1. "Zablocki, Clement J. 1912". Wisconsin Historical Society. 20 December 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  2. Schoenebaum, Eleanor W., ed. (1979). Profiles of an Era, the Nixon/Ford Years. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. p. 688. ISBN 9780156746625.
  3. Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1950). "Parties and elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1950 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 652, 754. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  4. Roberts, Steven V. (December 4, 1983). "Clement J. Zablocki of Foreign Affairs Panel Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  5. Eleanor W Schoenebaum, ed., Political Profiles: The Nixon/Ford Years (1979) p 688
  6. Allen, Michael J. (2009). Until the last man comes home : POWs, MIAs, and the unending Vietnam War. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. pp. 98–99. ISBN 978-0-8078-9531-3. OCLC 489150940.
  7. "VA government web site". Archived from the original on 2007-08-03. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  8. Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1944). "Parties and elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1944 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 512, 580. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  9. Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1948). "Parties and elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1948 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 608, 679. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  10. Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1952). "Parties and elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1952 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 675, 745. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  11. Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1954). "Parties and elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1954 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 657, 745. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  12. Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1956). "Parties and elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1956 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 747. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  13. Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1958). "Parties and elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1958 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 774. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  14. Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1960). "Wisconsin state party platforms and elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1960 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 654, 695. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  15. Toepel, M. G.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1962). "Wisconsin elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1962 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 789, 865. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  16. Theobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1964). "Elections in Wisconsin". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1964 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 714, 761. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  17. Theobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1966). "Elections in Wisconsin". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1966 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 735, 752. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  18. Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1968). "Elections in Wisconsin". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1968 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 707, 721. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  19. Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1970). "Elections in Wisconsin". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1970 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 797, 813. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  20. "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin Blue Book, 1971 (Report). State of Wisconsin. 1971. pp. 296, 312. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  21. Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1973). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1973 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 799, 819. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  22. Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1975). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1975 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 821. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  23. Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1977). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1977 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 886, 908. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  24. Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1979). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1979-1980 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 918. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  25. Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1981). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1981-1982 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 888, 909. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  26. Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1983). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 882, 904. Retrieved August 1, 2020.

Further reading
  • Leahy, Stephen M. The Life of Milwaukee's Most Popular Politician, Clement J. Zablocki: Milwaukee Politics and Congressional Foreign Policy (Edwin Mellen Press, 2002).
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