Joseph A. McNamara (August 4,1892 - March 25,1972) was a Vermont attorney and politician. A Democrat,he was most notable for his service as United States Attorney for Vermont from 1933 to 1953.
After leaving the Army,McNamara was admitted to the bar and began to practice law in Burlington,Vermont. He became active in politics as a Democrat,and served as Burlington's municipal court judge from 1921 to 1923. After unsuccessful runs for Vermont Attorney General and the U.S. House,in 1933 McNamara was named US Attorney for Vermont. He held the post through the administrations of Democrats Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman,and resigned after Republican Dwight Eisenhower became president.
After leaving the US Attorney's position,McNamara continued to practice law in Burlington. He died in Burlington on March 25,1972,and was buried at Resurrection Park Cemetery in South Burlington,Vermont.
McNamara studied law with attorney Thomas W. Moloney of Rutland and attended Harvard Law School.[2] In 1918 he received the school's "war diploma",which was awarded to students near to graduation who left early to enter military service.[3] He was undergoing his initial military training at the University of Vermont in Burlington in July 1918 when he was permitted to take a special bar exam.[4][5] The exam was available to recently qualified applicants who were serving in the military,and McNamara passed.[5]
Military service
McNamara in his World War I uniform. From 1920's Holy Cross Service Record,War of 1917.
McNamara completed his induction and training in the summer of 1918 and sailed for France,arriving on September 11.[6] The 87th Division had not completed its final pre-combat training before the war ended in November,so its members were used as replacements for soldiers in other units who had been killed or wounded,and to construct roads,bases and other facilities.[8] McNamara attained the rank of sergeant,and was discharged from the military in June 1919.[6]
Start of career
After leaving the Army,McNamara was admitted to the bar and began to practice in Burlington.[1] In 1919,he was appointed assistant supervisor of the 1920 federal census in Vermont.[9] McNamara was a Democrat during the era when the Republicans dominated Vermont politics and government,and served as an election inspector,chairman of the Burlington and Chittenden County Democratic Committees,and a delegate to several state and national party conventions.[1]
Despite his party affiliation,the judge of Burlington's municipal court,Henry B. Shaw,recommended McNamara as his replacement in 1921 when Shaw resigned to become Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs (chief assistant) to Governor James Hartness.[10] Hartness concurred and appointed McNamara,who served until 1923.[10][11]
In 1924,1926 and 1928,McNamara was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Vermont Attorney General.[12] In 1930,he was the Democratic nominee in Vermont's 1st congressional district,and received 42 percent of the vote in his unsuccessful race against Republican John E. Weeks,who was the incumbent governor.[12] Vermont's 1st and 2nd Districts were eliminated following the 1930 Census,and in 1932 McNamara was the Democratic nominee in Vermont's new at-large district.[12] He lost to incumbent 2nd District Republican Ernest Willard Gibson by 64 percent to 36.[12]
United States Attorney
Franklin Roosevelt won the presidency in 1932,enabling him to make appointments of US Attorneys once his term commenced in March 1933.[13] In June 1933,he appointed McNamara to succeed Harry B. Amey as the United States Attorney for Vermont.[13] McNamara was confirmed later that month,and was sworn in on July 1,1933.[13]
Because the U.S. Attorney's caseload did not require a full time prosecutor,McNamara continued to practice law.[14] In 1940,he began to practice in partnership with Robert W. Larrow as McNamara &Larrow.[14] This firm is still in existence,and is now known as McCormick,Fitzpatrick,Kasper &Burchard,P.C.[14]
In 1948,most Vermont political observers expected McNamara to be appointed as Vermont's U.S. District Court Judge following the death of James P. Leamy,but incumbent Republican Governor Ernest W. Gibson Jr. expressed his interest in the position to President Harry S. Truman.[14] Truman,who had known Gibson's father Ernest Willard Gibson when they served in the United States Senate,and the younger Gibson when he served briefly as his father's appointed replacement,admired the younger Gibson's World War II military career and the progressive political record he built as governor.[14] Despite the difference in their party affiliations,these factors caused Truman to nominate Gibson for the judgeship.[14]
McNamara resigned as US Attorney in October 1953,after the election of Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower to the presidency,enabling Eisenhower to name a Republican to the position.[15] Eisenhower appointed Louis G. Whitcomb,who served until 1961.[15]
Later career
After leaving office,McNamara continued to practice law in Burlington.[16] Among his notable cases was his defense in 1966 and 1967 of State Senator and Vermont Democratic Party chairman Frederick J. Fayette,who was accused of accepting a bribe to influence the appointment of the postmaster in St. Johnsbury.[16] Fayette was convicted and fined $300,[16] and his conviction was affirmed on appeal.[17]
In 1922,McNamara married Mary P. Magner.[1][20] They were the parents of son James J. and daughters Maureen,Nancy (Mrs. Clifton Harris) and Martha (Mrs. Russell Mahoney).[1][20]
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United States
United States Army 
Sergeant 
Company D,312th Supply Train,87th Division 
