Montoya, Joseph Manuel, 1915-1978

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Joseph Manuel Montoya (September 24, 1915 – June 5, 1978) was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party who served as the lieutenant governor of New Mexico (1947–1951 and 1955–1957), in the U.S. House of Representatives (1957–1964) and as a U.S. Senator from New Mexico (1964–1977).

Born in Peña Blanca, New Mexico, he received his early education in public schools in Sandoval County and graduated from Bernalillo High School before continuing his education at Regis College in Denver, Colorado, where he earned a B.A. and Georgetown University's Law Center, where he earned an LL.B. In 1936 at age 21, while Montoya was still at Georgetown, he became the youngest representative in the history of the state to be elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives. In 1938, Montoya graduated from law school and was re-elected. The following year, he was elected the Democratic majority floor leader. Montoya was elected to the New Mexico Senate in 1940, once again becoming the youngest member of that body ever elected. By the time he left the Senate in 1946, Montoya had been twice reelected to the State Senate and held the positions of majority whip and chairman of the Judiciary Committee. From 1947 to 1957 he was elected Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico three times and also served two additional terms in the State Senate.

In 1957 Montoya was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election after the sudden death of the recently reelected New Mexico Congressman Antonio M. Fernández. In Congress Montoya gained a recognition as a political moderate, a dedicated Democrat, and a diligent legislator — qualities that earned him the esteem of his fellow legislators and made him an effective congressman. Montoya won the 1964 Senate election to complete the term of Dennis Chavez, who died in office. Thus began a twelve-year career in the Senate, where he served on the Appropriations Committee, the Public Works Committee, the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, and Senate Watergate Committee. As a Senator, Montoya sought to link Hispanic-American issues with the broader civil rights movement in the 1960s and 1970s. Montoya initially supported the Vietnam War as fulfilling U.S. obligations to maintain regional security and preserve access to strategic natural resource; by 1971, Montoya was among the first voices calling for more immediate withdrawal increased inside and outside Congress until the final pullout of U.S. combat troops in 1973.

In 1976, with questions regarding his personal, political, and financial matters looming large in his bid for re-election, Montoya lost his Senate seat to former astronaut Harrison Schmitt. Montoya suffered from failing health throughout 1977. After traveling to Washington, D.C., in the spring of 1978 to seek medical care, Montoya died of liver and kidney failure there. He was interred at Rosario Cemetery in Peña Blanca, New Mexico.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Vigil, Maurilio E., 1941-. Joseph M. Montoya : politician and statesman / by Maurilio E. Vigil. New Mexico Highlands University, Donnelly Library
referencedIn Clinton P. Anderson Photographs, 1946-1975 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Vigil, Maurilio E., 1941-. Parallels in the careers of two Hispanic U.S. senators / by Maurilio Vigil and Roy Lujan. New Mexico Highlands University, Donnelly Library
referencedIn Braithwaite, Karl, 1942-. Karl Braithwaite papers, 1968-2003 (bulk 1973-1980, 1986-1987) Bates College Library, George and Helen Ladd Library
referencedIn Governor Jack M. Campbell Papers, 1936-1967 (bulk: 1963-1966) New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
referencedIn Ortiz y Pino de Kleven, Concha, 1910-2006. Concha Ortiz y Pino de Kleven photograph collection [Picture] University of New Mexico-Main Campus
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Portraits of University of California individuals and groups, ca. 1850-[ongoing] Bancroft Library
referencedIn Publicity photographs of U.S. Senator Hugh Scott, 1958-1973. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Joseph M. Montoya Papers, 1913-1977, 1957-1976 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn C. D. Jackson Papers. 1933 - 1989. Photographs Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. White House telephone tape number 9 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Governor Bruce King Papers, 1st Term, 1971-1974 New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
referencedIn Clinton Presba Anderson Papers, 1938-1973, (bulk 1948-1973) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf New Mexico. Governor (1959-1960 : Burroughs). Governor John Burroughs papers, 1959-1960. New Mexico State Library
referencedIn Biography clippings : "M" [surname] folder 1904-2003. Monterey Public Library
referencedIn Jackson, William Henry. Anderson, Clinton P. (Collection) [picture]. University of New Mexico-Main Campus
referencedIn Charles R. Beeson Papers, 1963-1997 New Mexico Health Historical Collection, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Executive Office Building tape number 278 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Papers of J.O.Seth and Oliver Seth, 1947-1963 School for Advanced Research
creatorOf Comfort, Mary Apoline. Mary A. Comfort collection, 1957-1959. New Mexico State Library
referencedIn New Mexico Health Foundation. New Mexico Health Foundation Photograph Collection [picture]. University of New Mexico-Main Campus
referencedIn John Sylvester Fischer papers, 1907-1980 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Governor David F. Cargo Papers, 1967-1970 New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
referencedIn George W. Pray Papers, 1844-1890 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf New Mexico. Governor (1963-1966 : Campbell). Governor Jack M. Campbell papers, 1936-1967, (bulk, 1963-1966). New Mexico State Library
referencedIn Concha Ortiz y Pino de Kleven photograph collection, 1914-1987 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Margaret Bayne Price Papers, 1918-1969, 1947-1968 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Witter Bynner papers, 1829-1965. Houghton Library
referencedIn Harvard Law School Forums Records Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Thomas J. Dodd Papers, undated, 1919-1971. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
creatorOf New Mexico. Governor (1967-1970 : Cargo). Governor David Cargo papers, 1967-1970. New Mexico State Library
creatorOf J. Fred Buzhardt Jr. Papers Clemson University Libraries, Robert Muldrow Cooper Library
referencedIn Oral history interview with Vicente Ximenes, 2004 University of Texas at Arlington, Central Library
referencedIn Yzaguirre, Raúl, 1939-. Oral history interview with Raúl Yzaguirre, 1998 [videorecording]. University of Texas at Arlington, Central Library
creatorOf Harris, Fred R., 1930-. Papers, 1963-1976. University of Oklahoma, Bizzell Memorial Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Anderson, Clinton Presba, 1895- person
associatedWith Beeson, Charles R., 1923- person
associatedWith Braithwaite, Karl, 1942- person
associatedWith Buzhardt, J. Fred (Joseph Fred), 1924-1978. person
correspondedWith Bynner, Witter, 1881-1968 person
associatedWith Cargo, David F. person
associatedWith Comfort, Mary Apoline. person
correspondedWith Dodd, Thomas J. (Thomas Joseph), 1907-1971 person
associatedWith Fischer, John Sylvester, 1910-1978. person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Georgetown University. Law Center. corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf George Washington University. Law School. corporateBody
associatedWith Harris, Fred R., 1930- person
correspondedWith Harvard Law School Forum corporateBody
associatedWith Monterey Public Library. California History Room. corporateBody
associatedWith New Mexico. Governor (1947-1950 : Mabry) corporateBody
associatedWith New Mexico. Governor (1955-1956 : Simms) corporateBody
associatedWith New Mexico. Governor (1957-1958 : Mechem) corporateBody
associatedWith New Mexico. Governor (1959-1960 : Burroughs) corporateBody
associatedWith New Mexico. Governor (1963-1966 : Campbell) corporateBody
associatedWith New Mexico. Governor (1963-1966 : Campbell) corporateBody
associatedWith New Mexico. Governor (1967-1970 : Cargo) corporateBody
associatedWith New Mexico. Governor (1971-1974 : King) corporateBody
associatedWith New Mexico Health Foundation. corporateBody
memberOf New Mexico. Legislature corporateBody
memberOf New Mexico. Legislature. Senate corporateBody
associatedWith Ortiz y Pino de Kleven, Concha, 1910- person
associatedWith Ortiz y Pino de Kleven, Concha, 1910-2006. person
associatedWith Pray, George Washington, 1825-1890 person
associatedWith Price, Margaret Bayne, 1912-1968 person
associatedWith Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961 person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Regis University (Denver, Colo.) corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Regis University (Denver, Colo.) corporateBody
associatedWith Rural electrification corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. House person
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. Senate corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Internal Revenue Service corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Internal Revenue Service. corporateBody
associatedWith United States Postal Service corporateBody
associatedWith United States Postal Service. corporateBody
associatedWith U.S. Atomic Energy Commission corporateBody
associatedWith U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. corporateBody
associatedWith Vigil, Maurilio E., 1941- person
associatedWith Ximenes, Vicente 1919- person
associatedWith Yzaguirre, Raúl, 1939- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Bernalillo County NM US
Denver CO US
District of Columbia DC US
Peña Blanca NM US
Santa Fe NM US
Subject
Affirmative action programs
Education, Bilingual
Consumer protection
Democratic Party (N.M.)
Democratic Party (U.S.)
Discrimination
Education, Higher
Expenditures, Public
Indians of North America
Indians of North America
Land use, Rural
Mexican Americans
Mexican Americans
Mexican Americans
Multicultural education
Natural resources
Navajo Indians
Navajo Indians
Navajo Indians
Older people
Public works
Pueblo Indians
Pueblo Indians
Pueblo Indians
Rural development
Rural electrification
Veterans
Watergate Affair, 1972-1974
Occupation
Lieutenant governors
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Senators, U.S. Congress
State Representative
State Senator
Activity

Person

Birth 1915-09-24

Death 1978-06-05

Male

Americans

English,

Spanish; Castilian

Information

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