Leo T. McCarthy

Who was Leo T. McCarthy?

Leo Tarcissus McCarthy was a New Zealand-born American politician and businessman. He served as the 43rd lieutenant governor of California from 1983 to 1995.

McCarthy was born in Auckland, but moved with his parents to San Francisco, California at the age of four. He went to elementary school at Mission Dolores. He then went to high school at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco, and also attended college and law school within the city, receiving his B.A. in history from the University of San Francisco and a law degree from San Francisco Law School.

McCarthy served in the United States Air Force, 1951–1952, during the Korean War, briefly taking part in a Strategic Air Command mission to Saudi Arabia to simulate the start of World War III.

In 1958, the year that saw the Democrats capture statewide offices for the first time since World War II, McCarthy managed the successful campaign for State Senate of John Eugene McAteer, and, after the election, served as McAteer's administrative assistant.

McCarthy first ran for office himself in 1963 when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He served there until 1967.