Bob Dornan

Template:Short description Template:Infobox officeholder Robert Kenneth Dornan (born April 3, 1933) is an American actor, radio talk show host, combat veteran, and Republican politician from California. Dornan represented two Southern California districts in the United States House of Representatives from 1977 to 1983 and from 1985 to 1997, where he became known as a "leading firebrand" on the party's conservative wing. He unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for the United States Senate in 1982 and for President of the United States in 1996.

A former actor and television and radio talk show host, Dornan had a flair for the dramatic that drew supporters and detractors well beyond his congressional district. Though never a major power in Washington, he became one of the most well-known members of the House of Representatives as a participant in televised "special orders" speeches and was described as "one of the leading firebrands among American politicians".<ref name="AAP96">Template:Cite book</ref> He has become well known for publicly outing fellow Republican U.S. Representative Steve Gunderson as gay on the House of Representatives floor in 1994.

Early life

Dornan was born in New York City, the son of Gertrude (McFadden) Dornan (1900–1967) and Harry Joseph Dornan (1892–1975).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In New York, Dornan's mother had been a vaudeville performer as part of an act called the McFadden Sisters and a Ziegfeld Follies showgirl, and had performed under the stage name Bara Wilkes; her sister was the wife of actor Jack Haley.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Harry Dornan owned a haberdashery. After moving to California, he became a real estate entrepreneur in West Los Angeles. He was active in harness racing, a pastime in which many celebrities participated during the 1940s and 1950s.Template:Sfn<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Robert Dornan took advantage of his family's entertainment industry experience and connections after he embarked on his own acting and talk show career. He used celebrity endorsements and campaign contributions to launch his political career.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Dornan attended Loyola University of Los Angeles (later renamed Loyola Marymount University) from 1950 to 1953. At age 19, Robert joined the United States Air Force. He became a fighter pilot, and during his time in the Air Force, he survived two emergency parachute ejections and two "dead stick" forced landings (including one of an F-100). He was on active duty until 1958, and attained the rank of captain.<ref name=CongressBio>Template:Cite web</ref> He served in the California Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve until retiring in 1975.<ref name=CongressBio /> Dornan also served as a combat journalist and photographer on several missions in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia during the Vietnam War and flew relief flights into Biafra.

Career

Entertainment

Dornan was involved in the entertainment industry as an actor. He starred in the film The Starfighters, cast as Lt. Witkowski, an Air Force pilot who was the son of a U.S. congressman. The Starfighters aired on Mystery Science Theater 3000 on October 29, 1994.Template:Citation needed

In 1962, he portrayed Air Force Lieutenant Alden in the episode "Dennis at Boot Camp" of the CBS sitcom Dennis the Menace, starring Jay North and Gale Gordon, with Roy Roberts in this segment as Captain Stone.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1966 he co-starred in and possibly co-wrote To the Shores of Hell.

Dornan had a frequent role as Captain Fowler on ABC's 12 O'Clock High television series and smaller roles on ABC's Bewitched and NBC's I Dream of Jeannie. Dornan was an Emmy-award-winning television talk show host on Tempo and The Robert K. Dornan Show broadcast from Los Angeles from 1967 to 1973.Template:Citation needed

Politics

Dornan has said he took an active role in the civil rights movement.<ref name="Martinez">Template:Cite news</ref> He did attend the historic 1963 March on Washington led by Martin Luther King Jr.; when this claim was questioned in 1994, he circulated a photo of himself in his Air Force uniform seated in the audience for King's speech.<ref name="Martinez"/> News accounts also indicate he participated in voter registration drives for African Americans in Mississippi.<ref name="Martinez"/> However, a 1998 Washington Post article indicated there is no corroborating information (such as news clippings from the era) to confirm this claim.<ref>Claiborne, William (9 May 16, 1998). Template:"'B-1 Bob' Is on the Attack Again". The Washington Post.</ref><ref>Template:Usurped.</ref><ref>Tawa, Renee (September 2, 1995). "Dornan Presidential Campaign Staffers Fired for Using Racial Slurs". Los Angeles Times.</ref>

Dornan moved into politics in 1973 as national spokesman for the Citizens for Decency Through Law advocacy group. He made an unsuccessful run for mayor of Los Angeles the same year. In 1976, Dornan was elected to the House of Representatives, representing the 27th congressional district in western Los Angeles County. He was re-elected twice. He was such an unswerving advocate for the development of the B-1 bomber, that he was soon nicknamed "B-1 Bob".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In November 1977, he was an opposition speaker at the 1977 National Women's Conference with Lottie Beth Hobbs, Dr. Mildred Jefferson, Phyllis Schlafly and Nellie Gray.<ref>"1977 National Women's Conference: A Question of Choices". November 21, 1977. The Walter J. Brown Media Archives & Peabody Awards Collection at the University of Georgia, American Archive of Public Broadcasting.</ref>

After the 1980 census, California's congressional map was redrawn. Dornan's district, previously a Republican-leaning swing district, was made significantly more Democratic. Believing he had no chance of winning this new district, he opted to run for the United States Senate in 1982. He finished fourth in the Republican primary behind San Diego mayor and future Governor Pete Wilson, who won in November.Template:Citation needed

Dornan moved to Garden Grove, in the more Republican Orange County. In 1984, he was elected to Congress from the 38th district in central Orange County, defeating 10-year Democratic incumbent Jerry M. Patterson by a 53% to 45% margin amid Ronald Reagan's massive landslide that year. In 1986, he won a tough race against Democratic state Assemblyman Richard Robinson, winning by a 55% to 43% margin. He was re-elected four more times and served on the Intelligence Committee.Template:Citation needed

Dornan made headlines in March 1985 for a confrontation with Representative Thomas Downey (a Democrat from New York) on the House floor.<ref name="Romano">Template:Cite news</ref> Downey asked Dornan about comments he had made calling Downey "a draft-dodging wimp".<ref name="Romano"/> (Downey was exempt from the Vietnam War draft because of a perforated eardrum.<ref name="Romano"/>) According to Downey, Dornan, grabbing him by collar and tie, said, "It's good you're being protected by the sergeant-at-arms. If I saw you outside, it would be a different story" and threatened him "with some form of bodily harm".<ref name="Romano"/> Dornan claimed he was merely straightening Downey's tie and refused to apologize for the incident or the derogatory comment.<ref name="Romano"/> A Dornan aide said, "It will be a cold day in hell before he gets an apology from Bob Dornan".<ref>"Dornan Won't Apologize for Wimp Remark". Los Angeles Times. March 5, 1985. p. 2.</ref>

Dornan standing on the ladder of an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft during a visit to Torrejon Air Base, Spain, September 20, 1988.

Dornan's record was staunchly conservative. However, he did hold some positions that some might call liberal, including sponsoring animal protection acts, earning him the recognition of PETA in 1988.<ref>The Utne Reader, Issues 34-36. Lens Publishing Company, 1989. p. 51.</ref><ref>Rockwell, Lew (1990). The Economics of Liberty, Ludwig von Mises Institute. p. 304. Retrieved April 3, 2017.</ref> During the summers of 1991 and 1992, future U.S. representative Randy Fine was an assistant for Dornan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=cov>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1994, during his final successful run for Congress, it was reported that Dornan's wife, Sallie, had made multiple allegations of domestic violence against him earlier in their marriage. In 1966, Dornan had been convicted of a domestic violence offense and sentenced to jail time; however, it was unclear whether his sentence had ever been served. After the allegations were made public, Sallie Dornan retracted them, stating that she had made false claims about her husband during a period when she was struggling with prescription drug addiction. The Dornans' five children asserted that their father had not been physically abusive.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Martinez1994">Martinez, Gebe (October 26, 1994). "Dornan Challenges Foe's Claims of Spousal Abuse". Los Angeles Times.</ref> During the same campaign, Dornan had signs posted at polling places that warned voters in Spanish that they should be prepared to prove their citizenship in order to vote. The signs suggested that immigration officials would be present at the polls. The success of this action was believed to have kept enough Latino voters away from the polls to eke out a victory for Dornan against Mike Farber.<ref name="Martinez1994"/>

In 1995, Dornan received a minor reprimand from the House for stating in a floor speech that President Bill Clinton had "given aid and comfort to the enemy" during the Vietnam War.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dornan was a dark horse candidate for president of the United States in 1996.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In a GOP debate in Iowa on January 13, Dornan called Clinton a "criminal" and a "pathological liar".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dornan later dropped out of the presidential race and ran for reelection to his seat in the House; he was defeated by Democrat Loretta Sanchez by less than 1,000 votes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dornan ran for president in 1996

Following the narrow defeat, Dornan alleged that Sanchez's winning margin was provided by illegal voting from non-U.S. citizens. A thirteen-month House of Representatives investigation ensued, during which Sanchez was seated provisionally, pending the inquiry.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A task force found 748 votes that had been cast illegally—624 from non-citizens in addition to 124 that had already been thrown out by California officials. This was not enough to overturn Sanchez's margin of victory and she was allowed to keep her seat.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, in consultation with the INS, the House committee identified 4,762 questionable registration affidavits.<ref>Warren, Peter (November 8, 1997). "Signature Lists Sought in Sanchez Probe". Los Angeles Times: A1.</ref>

In September 1997, while his 1996 bid against Sanchez was still being contested, Dornan confronted then-Representative Bob Menendez on the House floor, using profanity and calling Menendez an "anti-Catholic coward". This encounter led to Menendez filing a resolution to bar Dornan from the House floor until the election was resolved, which passed by a vote of 289–65.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Controversial statements

During his political career, Dornan became known for his controversial or offensive statements. Among his remarks:

• During a House debate in 1994, Dornan outed fellow Republican representative Steve Gunderson, accusing him of having a "revolving door on his closet."<ref>ElBoghdady, Dina (March 24, 1994). "Dornan Accuses Fellow Republican of Being Gay". States News Service.</ref>
• In a 1986 U.S. House speech, he called Soviet journalist Vladimir Posner a "disloyal, betraying little Jew who sits there on television claiming that he is somehow or other a newsman."<ref>"Lawmaker Apologizes for 'Inelegant' Words". The New York Times. United Press International. March 1, 1986. p. 1.11.</ref> This was the only statement Dornan apologized for, saying, "That's the only thing in my life I ever lost sleep over."<ref name="NYTJune95">Clines, Francis X. (June 27, 1995). "Appearing Nightly: Robert Dornan, Master of the Put-Down". The New York Times.</ref> Dornan also said that he intended "to say 'Judas', not 'Jew'," as a rebuttal to Posner's insistence that the Soviet Union was free of anti-Semitism.<ref name="NYTJune95" />
• "Every lesbian spear chucker in this country is hoping I get defeated" to a Los Angeles television reporter in 1992 regarding a female challenger in the primary election.<ref name="NYTJune95" /><ref>Romano, Lois (June 4, 1992). "The Reliable Source". The Washington Post. p. c.03.</ref>
• On a January 28, 1994, appearance on Politically Incorrect, Dornan declared it was "The Year of the Penis" due to recent events in the news. This was a joke in regard to the 1992 media and political reference as that election being referred to as "The Year of the Woman", when four women won election to the United States Senate.<ref>Senior, Jennifer (March 6, 1994). "When Politicians Get Silly". The New York Times. p. A.1.</ref>
• "You are a slimy coward. Go register in another party" to Orange County Republican Central Committee member William Dougherty after he supported Dornan's opponent in 1996.<ref>Time, December 2, 1996. 148 (25) p. 28(1).</ref>

In 1994, a 120-page book of quotations of Dornan was compiled by Nathan Callahan and William Payton and published as Shut Up, Fag! The quotation that gives the book the title was actually shouted by Dornan's wife, Sallie, at an AIDS activist during an Orange County town forum. Dornan claimed the book was backed by director Oliver Stone, whom Dornan labeled "a Bolshevik enemy".<ref>Fiore, Faye (July 15, 1994). Template:"'Shut Up' Is Not in Dornan's Vocabulary". Los Angeles Times. p. 3.</ref>

Dornan's comments and behavior led his political opponents to question his mental health. Mike Kaspar of the Orange County Democratic Party said, "The primary issue is Bob Dornan, himself. I think his character and his own sanity are an issue here."<ref>Parsons, Dana (May 4, 1994). "Democrats Unveil Weapon Against Dornan — Dornan". Los Angeles Times. p. 1.</ref> At a White House Correspondents Dinner, Al Franken, who had worked once on Politically Incorrect with Dornan, joked "having Al D'Amato leading an ethics investigation is like getting Bob Dornan to head up a mental health task force."<ref>Template:Cite web, Salon.com.</ref> Michael Moore devoted an entire chapter of his book Downsize This! to his efforts to get Dornan involuntarily committed for psychiatric examination.<ref>Moore, Michael (1997). Downsize This! Random Threats from an Unarmed American. Harper.</ref>

Later career

Dornan ran against Loretta Sanchez again in 1998, but was defeated.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Dornan hosted The Bob Dornan Show, a radio talk show syndicated nationally by Talk Radio Network.<ref>"One Dornan Stays Out, One Gets In". Los Angeles Times. December 2, 1999. Retrieved April 3, 2017.</ref><ref>"Savage gets the boot after on-air anti-gay outburst". Los Angeles Times. July 8, 2003. Retrieved April 3, 2017.</ref>

In 2004, Dornan challenged Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, a fellow Republican, in the primary. Dornan charged Rohrabacher with being soft on terrorism and being too close to Islamic extremists.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, he lost by 84% to 16%.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

During the summer of 2005, Dornan briefly expressed interest in the 48th congressional district seat that became vacant when then U.S. Congressman Christopher Cox resigned to become chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was interested in running as the nominee of the American Independent Party but did not, allegedly rebuffed by party officials.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

In 1955, Dornan married Sallie Hansen.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They have five children.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1960	The Great Impostor	Reporter	Uncredited
1961	X-15	Test Engineer
1963	A Gathering of Eagles	Non-Com
1964	The Starfighters	Lt. John Witkowski
1965	Harlow	Photographer	Uncredited
1966	To the Shores of Hell	Dr. Gary Donahue
1967	Hell on Wheels	Steve Robbins
2005	Missing, Presumed Dead: The Search for America's POWs	Himself	Documentary

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1960	Men into Space	Radio Operator	Episode: "Verdict in Orbit"
1962	Have Gun – Will Travel	Dandy	Episode: "Darwin's Man"
1962	Dennis the Menace	Lt. Alden	Episode: "Dennis at Boot Camp"
1965	Bewitched	Policeman	Episode: "Red Light, Green Light"
1965	I Dream of Jeannie	Carson	Episode: "The Yacht Murder Case"
1965–1967	12 O'Clock High	Bob Fowler	25 episodes
1966	The Fugitive	Doctor	Episode: "Shadow of the Swan"
1968	The Rat Patrol	German Sergeant	Episode: "The Touch and Go Raid"
1971	Ironside	Paul (The Body)	Episode: "If a Body See a Body"

External links

• Template:Official website [Dead Link]

Template:CongBio Retrieved March 8, 2009.

• Template:C-SPAN
• Template:IMDb name
• A sample: speaking to Congress (YouTube)

Template:S-start Template:S-par Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft |- Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft |- Template:S-new Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft |- Template:S-prec Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft Template:S-end