Lawrence Hogan

Early life and education

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 30, 1928, Hogan attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. He received his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University in 1947, J.D. from Georgetown in 1954, and was admitted to the Bar in the same year. The Washington Post wrote that he was a full-time FBI agent while attending law school. He later was enrolled in graduate studies at San Francisco State College, 1956–1957, received a master's degree from American University in 1965, and continued studies at the University of Maryland, 1966–1967.

Career

Larry Hogan Associates

Hogan's private career included practicing law and public relations. His Larry Hogan Associates business was making $1 million a year before he sold it to enter politics.

U.S. Congress

After losing the same race in 1966, Hogan won against incumbent Hervey Machen in 1968 to represent Maryland's 5th congressional district, and was easily re-elected in 1970 and 1972. Hogan was the only Republican on the House Judiciary Committee to vote for all three articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon when they were adopted in committee. Hogan famously said into the television cameras:

"The thing that's so appalling to me is that the President, when this whole idea was suggested to him, didn't, in righteous indignation, rise up and say, 'Get out of here, you're in the office of the President of the United States. How can you talk about blackmail and bribery and keeping witnesses silent? This is the Presidency of the United States.' But my President didn't do that. He sat there and he worked and worked to try to cover this thing up so it wouldn't come to light."

Gubernatorial candidate

Hogan entered Maryland's 1974 gubernatorial race when polls showed him a strong challenger to incumbent Governor Marvin Mandel. Hogan's abandonment of Nixon, however, contributed to his loss in the Republican primary to Louise Gore, who in turn lost to Mandel. Political observers also attributed Hogan's loss to Gore's "genteel, low-key nature". Gladys Spellman was elected to take Hogan's former seat in congress.

Between public service

After his 1974 defeat, Hogan and his wife Ilona opened the Hogan and Hogan law firm, with offices in Forestville, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. In 1976, Hogan was elected a Maryland National Republican Committeeman, and in January 1977 he began working as executive vice-president of the Associated Builders and Contractors trade association. When he left the position to re-enter politics, he was being paid between $70,000 and $100,000 a year.

County Executive

In 1978, Hogan challenged incumbent Prince George's County Executive Win Kelly amid a 'tax revolt' and won the office with 60% of the vote. County voters passed a tax reform measure known as "TRIM" that same year.

Senatorial candidate

Hogan challenged first-term Senator Paul Sarbanes in 1982 and lost heavily. Parris Glendening was elected as county executive in his place, and Hogan's political career was over.

After politics

In subsequent years, Hogan returned to practicing law. He also taught and wrote various books. His "Legal Aspects of the Fire Service" title is used at training academies across the country.

Family and death

Hogan married his second wife, Ilona, after his first marriage ended with divorce in 1972 after 27 years. Ilona was elected to the Board of County Commissioners in Frederick County after they moved there. Two of Hogan's six children are also politically involved in the state of Maryland. Patrick N. Hogan was formerly a Republican Delegate representing Maryland's District 3A. Hogan's eldest son, Larry Hogan, is the current Governor of Maryland, an office he has held since January 2015 after winning the 2014 election.

Hogan suffered a stroke and died on April 20, 2017. He was survived by his wife Ilona and six children.