In 2013, from left, Dean Margaret Raymond, Kastenmeier Speaker John
Dean, Rep. Bob Kastenmeier, Prof. Frank Tuerkheimer
The UW Law School community is mourning the death of Robert Kastenmeier, a 1952 graduate who represented Dane County in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1958 to 1990. He passed away at his home in Virginia on March 20.
The Law School's annual Kastenmeier Lecture Series celebrates the congressman's contributions to the improvement of the judiciary and to the field of
intellectual property law. He drafted the rules for the House Committee
on the Judiciary that were used for the impeachment of President Richard
M. Nixon, as well as the articles of impeachment against Judge Harry
Claiborne.
Around the country, news agencies are remembering the life of the distinguished congressman:
- Robert Kastenmeier, Liberal House voice, dies at 91
"Mr. Kastenmeier balanced his liberalism with pragmatism in the interest of getting things done. And while he was a severe critic of Nixon, he persuaded fellow Democrats that the president’s lawyers should be able to participate in the impeachment inquiry."
The New York Times, March 20, 2105
- Robert Kastenmeier, former Wisconsin congressman, dies at 91
"A veteran of World War II, he became a skeptic of U.S. military intervention abroad and, in 1965, voiced outspoken opposition to sending troops to Vietnam. He later had key roles in the Watergate hearings of the 1970s and in revising the country’s copyright law."
The Washington Post, March 21, 2015
- Ex-Wisconsin Rep. Kastenmeier, early Vietnam critic, dies
"Kastenmeier's incessant pursuit of civil rights, nuclear disarmament and openness in government became a symbol of Madison's political climate during the 1960s and 1970s. He was an early critic of the Vietnam War, and even brought a House subcommittee to Madison to hold hearings on how the war was affecting his constituents."
Associated Press, March 20, 2015
- Wineke: Bob Kastenmeier was a gentleman politician
"What he really knew about, though, were copyright laws. His revision of copyright legislation benefited authors and in many ways, set the stage for intellectual property rights that support much of today's economy."
Channel 3000, March 21, 2015
- Former Rep. Kastenmeier leaves lasting impact on federal courts
"He cared about the courts and wanted to make sure they did the job they were intended to do. He worked to get the necessary resources and to pass key court improvements legislation, but he also held us to the highest standards ... He visited our court on a regular basis and he asked lots of questions. He wanted to know what was working and was not working. He was truly concerned about the business of the courts and the way it was being handled."
Judge Barbara Crabb, quoted in United States Courts News, March 25, 2015
Submitted by Law School News on March 26, 2015