Thomas Kuchel

About

Affiliated with the Republican Party, this California politician served in the United States Senate from 1953 until 1969. Before entering the national political arena, he had served in both the California State Assembly and the California State Senate.

Before Fame

After earning undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Southern California, he served during World War II as a United States Naval Reserves lieutenant commander.

Trivia

Before becoming Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and White House Chief of Staff, Leon Panetta worked as Kuchel's legislative assistant.

Family Life

His marriage to Betty Mellenthin resulted in a daughter named Karen. He died in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of eighty-four.

Associated With

In 1964, he endorsed Nelson Rockefeller as the Republican presidential nominee; Rockefeller, however, lost the California primary to Barry Goldwater.