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Harry Johnston (American politician)

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Harry Johnston
Johnston in 1974
United States Special Envoy for Sudan
In office
August 27, 1999[1] – 2000
PresidentBill Clinton
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida
In office
January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1997
Preceded byDaniel A. Mica
Succeeded byRobert Wexler
Constituency14th District (1989-1993)
19th District (1993-1997)
President of the Florida Senate
In office
November 20, 1984 – November 18, 1986
Preceded byN. Curtis Peterson Jr.
Succeeded byJohn W. Vogt
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 26th district
In office
November 19, 1974 – November 18, 1986
Preceded byRussell Sykes[2]
Succeeded byEleanor Weinstock[3]
Personal details
Born
Harry Allison Johnston II

(1931-12-02)December 2, 1931
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
DiedJune 28, 2021(2021-06-28) (aged 89)
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMary Otley[4]
Children2[4]
EducationVirginia Military Institute (BA)
University of Florida (JD)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1953–1955
Rank First Lieutenant

Harry Allison Johnston II (December 2, 1931 – June 28, 2021) was an American lawyer, politician and diplomat from Florida. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives and was a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and career

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Johnston was born in West Palm Beach, Florida. He attended the Virginia Military Institute, and he became a lieutenant in the United States Army after graduating. Once he was discharged, he entered the University of Florida and earned his Juris Doctor degree.

In 1974, Johnston was elected to the Florida Senate. With the Democrats in control of the body in the 1980s, Johnston rose to the rank of President of the Senate. In 1986, he sought the Democratic nomination for Governor of Florida, but lost in a close primary race.

Congress

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Johnston was elected to Congress in 1988. He served four terms in the House before his retirement in 1997.

Later career

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In 1999, President Bill Clinton appointed him to serve as the United States Special Envoy for Sudan, a position he held until 2000.

He was an attorney at the West Palm Beach law firm of Jones, Foster, Johnston & Stubbs, P.A., until his retirement from practicing law.

He served on the District Board of Trustees at Palm Beach State College from 1997 to 1999.

Johnston died on June 28, 2021, aged 89, more than a decade after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton, 1999, Book 3
  2. ^ "Gainesville Sun - Google News Archive Search". News.google.com. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  3. ^ "Guides @ UF: Federal Documents at University of Florida: Home". Archived from the original on January 13, 2018.
  4. ^ a b 1989-1990 Official Congressional Directory: 101st Congress
  5. ^ "Harry Johnston, former congressman and state Senate president, dead at 89". Palmbeachpost.com. June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
[edit]
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 14th congressional district

1989–1993
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 19th congressional district

1993–1997
Succeeded by