Larry McDonald
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Lawrence Patton "Larry" McDonald (April 1, 1935 - September 1, 1983) was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the seventh congressional district of Georgia.
Life and Career
McDonald was born in Atlanta, Georgia and he graduated from Davidson College. He was a urologist and a member of the John Birch Society.
McDonald was elected to the House in 1974 as a member of the Democratic Party. Some feel that McDonald's ultra-conservative views limited his influence in Washington. McDonald is also noted for using amendments to stop government aid to homosexuals. During his terms in Congress, McDonald founded the Western Goals Foundation which was intended to combat the threat from Communism and he was sued for malpractice for using Laetrile to treat a patient's cancer.
On September 1, 1983, he died when Korean Air Flight KAL-007 was shot down by Soviet fighters, becoming the only congressman ever killed by the Soviets during the Cold War. The portion of interstate highway 75 which runs through Cobb County, Georgia is named in his honor.
Quotations about Larry McDonald
- "There is a real question in my mind that the Soviets may have actually murdered 269 passengers and crew on the Korean Air Lines Flight 007 in order to kill Larry McDonald" - Jerry Falwell, 09/02/1983, Washington Post
- "McDonald has fine credentials: a good education, a successful career as a urologist. But his views on issues are so far out, and his political skill so limited, that he has little impact" - Michael Barone, 1984 Almanac of American Politics