Costigan, Howard

Howard Costigan (1904-1985) was a long-time political organizer, researcher and writer. He was noted mostly for his work as co-founder and executive secretary of the Communist-dominated Washington Commonwealth Federation, and then later as a fervent anti-communist in both Washington and California.

Born and raised in Seattle, Costigan later attended high school in Centralia, and then went to Whitman College. He worked briefly as a high school teacher in Vancouver, but did not commit to a career until he discovered politics. In 1934, he helped organize the Commonwealth Builders, serving as its executive secretary and editor of the organization newspaper. A year later he organized the convention at which the Washington Commonwealth Federation was created, and also served as its executive secretary. He was known as an exceptional orator, particularly before large crowds, and he combined that ability with keen organizational skills to help the WCF become an influential force in Democratic Party politics.

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