James B. Brennan

James Butler Brennan (February 1, 1926  June 6, 2021) was an American attorney and Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Wisconsin. He was United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin during the presidencies of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson and later served twelve years as Milwaukee's city attorney. Earlier in his career, he served two and a half years in the Wisconsin State Senate.

James B. Brennan
City Attorney of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
In office
April 1972  April 1984
Preceded byJohn J. Fleming
Succeeded byGrant Langley
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
In office
May 8, 1961  1969
PresidentJohn F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
Preceded byEdward G. Minor
Succeeded byDavid J. Cannon
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 5th district
In office
January 5, 1959  April 29, 1961
Preceded byWalter L. Merten
Succeeded byCharles J. Schmidt
Personal details
Born
James Butler Brennan

(1926-02-01)February 1, 1926
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
DiedJune 6, 2021(2021-06-06) (aged 95)
Resting placeMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJoan Landgraf Brennan
ChildrenWilliam Brennan, Mary Jo Brennan, Nancy Brennan, Marty Brennan
Alma mater
Professionattorney
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service19441946
Battles/warsWorld War II

Life and career

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Brennan graduated from Milwaukee's Marquette University High School and joined the United States Navy at age 18, for service in World War II. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame and his LL.B. from Marquette University Law School. He practiced law in Milwaukee for several years before running for office. He was a delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention, supporting the presidential nomination of then-Senator John F. Kennedy.[1]

Brennan was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 1958, representing part of the city of Milwaukee. He served two years but resigned in April 1961 in anticipation of his confirmation as United States Attorney.[2]

In March 1961, newly elected president John F. Kennedy nominated Brennan to serve as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.[3]:477 His nomination was reported favorably out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 4, 1961,[3]:589 and he was confirmed on May 8.[2] Brennan ultimately served through the Kennedy administration, and continued to serve through the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson. He remained in office until his successor was appointed by President Nixon in 1969.

In 1972, Brennan was elected City Attorney for Milwaukee, serving three four-year terms.[4] He was defeated in the 1984 election by his subordinate, Grant Langley, despite strong backing from the then-Mayor Henry Maier.[5] After his defeat, he worked briefly as a staff attorney for the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District before resigning from that role in 1988.[6]

Brennan died on June 6, 2021. He is survived by his four children, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.[7]

References

  1. Toepel, M. G.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1962). "Biographies and Pictures" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1962 (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 21. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  2. "Senate OK's Nominee as Federal Attorney". Racine Journal Times. May 9, 1961. p. 2. Retrieved May 1, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America". CIII, Part 1 (Eighty-Seventh Congress, First Session). United States Senate. 1961: 477, 589. Retrieved May 1, 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. "District to seek lawyer before Brennan resigns". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 30 May 1988. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  5. "Milwaukee mayor walks to 7th term". La Crosse Tribune. April 4, 1984. p. 6. Retrieved May 1, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "District to seek lawyer before Brennan resigns". The Milwaukee Sentinel. 30 May 1988. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  7. "James Brennan Obituary (2021)". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
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