Brademas, John, 1927-

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Congressman, university president.

From the description of Reminiscences of John Brademas : oral history, 1966. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122481077

John Brademas, now President Emeritus of New York University, served as President from 1981 to 1992. During that time, he led the transition of NYU from a regional commuter school to a national and international residential research university. Before coming to New York, he served as U.S. Representative in Congress from Indiana for 22 years (1959-81), the last four as House Majority Whip. In Congress he earned a reputation for his leadership in education and the arts. Former Chairman of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the National Endowment for Democracy and the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, he is president of the King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center of New York University Foundation. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and member of the National Academy of Education (USA), The Academy of Athens, European Academy of Science and Arts and National Academy of Education of Argentina. In 2004 he was elected to the New York State Board of Regents by the New York State Legislature.

From the guide to the Records of the Office of the President (Brademas), Speeches, 1980-1991, (New York University Archives)

This collection documents John Brademas' career as a U.S. Congressional Representative from Indiana's Third District from 1959 to 1981. A member of the Committee on Education and Labor throughout his tenure, Brademas piloted through Congress major legislation concerning education, arts and humanities, vocational rehabilitation, services for the elderly and handicapped, and libraries and museums. Also included in the collection are materials related to Brademas' role in the Democratic Leadership, the legislative response to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, and the creation of the Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act.

From the description of Congressional papers, 1948-1981 (bulk 1958-1981). (New York University). WorldCat record id: 480441597

John Brademas served as President of New York University from 1981 to 1992. During that time, he led the transition of NYU from a regional commuter school to a national and international residential research university. Before coming to New York, he served as U.S. Representative in Congress from Indiana for 22 years (1959-81), the last four as House Majority Whip. In Congress he earned a reputation for his leadership in education and the arts. Former Chairman of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the National Endowment for Democracy and the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, he is president of the King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center of New York University Foundation. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and member of the National Academy of Education (USA), The Academy of Athens, European Academy of Science and Arts and National Academy of Education of Argentina. In 2004 he was elected to the New York State Board of Regents by the New York State Legislature.

From the description of John Brademas speeches, 1980-1991. (New York University). WorldCat record id: 479493767

U.S. representative from Indiana, educator, and president of New York University.

From the description of Papers of John Brademas, 1950-1980. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81465881

Stephen John Brademas, Jr. was born in Mishawaka, Indiana, on March 2, 1927. He was the eldest of four children of Beatrice Goble Brademas, a schoolteacher, and Stephen John Brademas, Sr., a Greek-immigrant restaurateur. Brademas graduated from South Bend Central High School and entered the University of Notre Dame in 1945, but soon left college to join the Navy. He was appointed to the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps and sent to the University of Mississippi, which he attended until his discharge in May 1946. In September of that year, he entered Harvard College as a Veterans National Scholar. Majoring in government with an emphasis in international affairs, he graduated in 1949 with a B.A., magna cum laude, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. From 1950 to 1953, he studied as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, England, receiving the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Social Studies. His dissertation topic was the anarchist movement in Spain from the mid-1920s to the first year of the Spanish Civil War.

While at Harvard in 1948, Brademas first entertained the idea of a congressional career. In a later interview, he remarked, "After an initial flirtation with the idea of going into business, into export-import work in Latin America, which is something I thought I wanted to do when I was in the 9th grade, I decided I would go into either the United Nations or the Foreign Service or run for Congress." (Oral History, Columbia University, see Series II:, Subseries III: Personal, Articles 1976).

Returning to South Bend in 1953, Brademas became the Democratic nominee from the Third District by defeating six other candidates in the primary. Paul M. Butler, a Notre Dame lawyer from South Bend, then Democratic Comitteeman for the State of Indiana and in 1954 elected Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, became Brademas' political mentor. Although Brademas lost the November election by one-half percent of the vote, he had, at 27, established himself as an able and aggressive campaigner and notable figure in the political climate of Indiana. While waiting for another opportunity to run for office, he joined the staff of Adlai Stevenson in his second presidential campaign. Brademas also during that time served as assistant to Senator Pat McNamara of Michigan and administrative assistant to Representative Thomas Ludlow Ashley of Ohio.

Defeated again by a small margin in 1956, Brademas taught political science at Saint Mary's College in South Bend, Indiana. He at last secured his seat in 1958 by the largest margin of votes received by any Congressional nominee in either party in Indiana.

Beginning service on January 3, 1959, Brademas soon proved himself to be one of the ablest and most respected of the large group of newly-elected Representatives. He served principally on the Education and Labor Committee, and also served on the House Administration Committee and the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress.

As chair of the Select Subcommittee on Education from 1969 to 1979, Brademas earned a reputation for leadership in education. He played a principal role in writing most of the major legislation concerning elementary and secondary education, higher education, vocational education, services for the elderly and handicapped, and Federal support for libraries, museums and the arts and humanities. He is chief architect of the National Institute of Education, the principal Federal agency supporting research in education, and was a major sponsor of the Omnibus Education Act of 1972 and the Higher Education Amendments of 1976.

While serving on the House Administration Committee, Brademas authored major provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments of 1974 and 1976, and was chief House author of the Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act of 1974, which assured ownership by the Federal government of the tapes and papers of the Nixon presidency, and was a co-sponsor of the Presidential Records Act of 1978, which governs papers of Presidents.

Brademas was the first native American of Greek origin ever elected to Congress. He remained actively involved in Greek affairs throughout his tenure, particularly in response to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. He led a coalition calling for an arms embargo against Turkey. With four other members of the House of Representatives who were of Greek descent (Peter N. Kyros (D-Me.), Gus Yatron (D-Penn.), Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.), and Skip Bafalis (R-Fla.)), Brademas rallied for the American government to enforce provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and Foreign Military Sales Act of 1968, which stipulated that weapons supplied by the U.S. could only be used for defensive purposes. After facing vigorous opposition from Secretary of State Kissinger and President Ford, the coalition succeeded in passing a resolution to cut off military aid to Turkey. In 1978, however, the embargo was lifted.

In January 1973, Brademas assumed his first role in the Democratic leadership when he was appointed Chief Deputy Majority Whip, fourth ranking position in the House Majority Leadership. In 1977, Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. and Majority Leader Jim Wright appointed Brademas Majority Whip, a position which he held for the next four years. As Whip his responsibilities included keeping track of vote counts, exerting gentle pressure when necessary on House Democrats to vote the leadership position on important bills, and serving as advisor to the Speaker of the House on how the vote will go. Additionally, he served on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee in the House and attended bi-weekly breakfast meetings at the White House.

Brademas had never been guaranteed re-election to the Third District. Of the five presidential elections that occurred during his time in office, only once did his district vote for the Democratic candidate. His constituents were predominantly conservative and Republican, and the community contained a mix of economic classes, industry, and agriculture. He had managed to win eleven terms in Congress by tirelessly campaigning, responding to constituent needs, and seeking government grants and funds for district industry. But by 1980 factors including a struggling economy, the popularity of the Republican Presidential ticket led to Brademas' defeat.

The following year he became President of New York University. Over the next eleven years Brademas led the transition of NYU from a regional commuter school to a national and international residential research university.

In 1992, Brademas embarked on a third career: active engagement in a range of pro bono organizations. His various endeavors include: seven years, by appointment of President Clinton, as Chairman of the president's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities; seven years as Chairman of the National Endowment for Democracy; and chair of the American Ditchley Foundation. He was also in 2004 elected by the New York State Legislature to the New York State Board of Regents.

In 1977, Brademas married Mary Ellen Briggs, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. A physician in private practice in New York City, Dr. Brademas is a graduate of the Georgetown University School of Medicine. A member of the Department of Dermatology of the NYU Medical Center, she is former director of the venereal disease clinic at Bellevue Hospital and former chief of dermatology at St. Vincent's Hospital.

Sources:

Brademas, John. Biographical file, New York University Archives. Brademas, John. Washington, D.C. to Washington Square. 1st ed. New York: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1986. Brademas, John, with Lynne P. Brown. The politics of education: conflict and consensus on Capitol Hill. Plains reprint ed. Julian J. Rothbaum distinguished lecture series, Vol. 1. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2002.

From the guide to the John Brademas Congressional Papers, Bulk, 1958-1981, 1948-1981, (New York University Archives)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Records of the Office of Vice President for Administration, 1983-2003 New York University. Archives
referencedIn Stevenson, Adlai E. (Adlai Ewing), 1900-1965. Adlai E. Stevenson papers, 1861-1990 (bulk 1952-1965). Princeton University Library
referencedIn New York University. Office of the Vice President for Administration. Robert Goldfeld papers, 1983-2003. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Oliva, Lawrence Jay, 1933-. Administrative records of L. Jay Oliva, 1959-1995 (bulk 1964-1989). Churchill County Museum
creatorOf Brademas, John, 1927-. Papers of John Brademas, 1950-1980. Library of Congress
referencedIn National Organization for Women. New York City. Records, 1966-1984 (bulk 1970-1972). Churchill County Museum
creatorOf Records of the Office of the President (Brademas), Speeches, 1980-1991 New York University. Archives
referencedIn Wallace R. Brode Papers, 1901-1974, (bulk 1928-1969) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Brademas, John, 1927-. John Brademas : commercials , 1968-1980 University of Oklahoma, Political Community Archives
referencedIn Wallace R. Brode Papers, 1901-1974, (bulk 1928-1969) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Alice M. Rivlin Papers, 1963-1988 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 6/4/1979 [3] Jimmy Carter Library
creatorOf Brademas, John, 1927-. John Brademas speeches, 1980-1991. Churchill County Museum
creatorOf Brademas, John, 1927-. Reminiscences of John Brademas : oral history, 1966. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Records of the Office of Senior Vice President for Administration, 1981-1983 New York University. Archives
referencedIn Records of the New York University Sesquicentennial Celebration, Bulk, 1979-1981, 1965-1982 New York University. Archives
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Staff Scheduling Memoranda. 1977 - 1978. 2/9/78-2/17/78 Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn R. Buckminster Fuller Papers Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Brademas, John, 1927-. Congressional papers, 1948-1981 (bulk 1958-1981). Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Records of the Office of Public Affairs, 1927-2007 New York University. Archives
referencedIn Julius Silver Papers, Bulk, 1962-1980, 1945-1990 New York University. Archives
creatorOf John Brademas Congressional Papers, Bulk, 1958-1981, 1948-1981 New York University. Archives
creatorOf Carl Bert Albert Congressional papers, 1910-1998, bulk 1946-1998. University of Oklahoma, Bizzell Memorial Library
referencedIn New York University. Office of the Senior Vice President for Administration. William Vandament papers, 1981-1983. New-York Historical Society
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Albert, Carl Bert, 1908-2000. person
associatedWith Bayh, Birch, 1928- person
associatedWith Brode, Wallace R. (Wallace Reed), 1900-1974. person
associatedWith Carter, Jimmy, 1924- person
associatedWith Davis, Douglas, 1933- person
associatedWith Davis, Kenneth S. (Kenneth Sydney), 1912-1999, person
associatedWith Fuller, R. Buckminster (Richard Buckminster), 1895-1983 person
associatedWith Kissinger, Henry, 1923- person
associatedWith Kissinger, Henry, 1923- person
associatedWith Mondale, Walter F., 1928- person
associatedWith National Endowment for the Arts. corporateBody
associatedWith National Endowment for the Humanities. corporateBody
associatedWith National Historical Publications Commission. corporateBody
associatedWith National Institute of Education (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith National Organization for Women. New York City. corporateBody
associatedWith New York University. corporateBody
associatedWith New York University. Office of Senior Vice President for Administration. corporateBody
associatedWith New York University. Office of the President. corporateBody
associatedWith New York University. Office of the President. corporateBody
associatedWith Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994. person
associatedWith Office of Public Affairs. corporateBody
associatedWith Oliva, Lawrence Jay, 1933- person
correspondedWith Rivlin, Alice M. person
associatedWith Sarbanes, Paul. person
associatedWith Silver, Julius person
associatedWith Stevenson, Adlai E. (Adlai Ewing), 1900-1965. person
associatedWith United States. Congress. House corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. Committee on Education and Labor. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. Committee on Education and Labor. Select Subcommittee on Education. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. National Historical Publications Commission. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Oklahoma. Political Commercial Archive. corporateBody
associatedWith Wahl, Nicholas person
associatedWith Wahl, Nicholas. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Indiana
United States. Congress. House. |x Leadership.
United States
Indiana
Cyprus
New York (N.Y.)
United States
Indiana |x Politics and government |y 20th century.
Subject
Advertising, political
Aging
Aging
College presidents
Cyprus
Cyprus
Educational law and legislation
Educational law and legislation
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to the arts
Federal aid to the arts
Legislators
Legislators
Legislators
Television advertising
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Education and Labor
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Education and Labor. Select Subcommittee on Education
Occupation
Educators
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1927-03-02

Americans

English

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