Richard Cates

Richard Lyman Cates (November 22, 1925 – August 3, 2011) was an American Democratic politician and trial lawyer from Wisconsin.[1][2]

Background

Born in New York City,[3] Cates served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean War. Cates graduated from Dartmouth College and received his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1951.[3] Cates served as a Dane County, Wisconsin assistant district attorney. He then served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1959 and 1960[4] and later on the Madison, Wisconsin school board. In 1973, Cates served as one of the lawyers on the House Judiciary Committee inquiry concerning the potential impeachment of President Richard Nixon because of the Watergate scandal.[3][5][6] Cates died in Madison at age 85.[3]

Family

At the time of his death, in 2011, Cates was survived by his wife, Margaret "Marnie" (Lessig) Cates, who died on July 9, 2013, and by his children, Richard Jr., John, Madison, David, Christine, and Robert. He had 18 grandchildren, two great grandchildren.[7]

His nephew is the lawyer and activist Lawrence Lessig.[8] His granddaughter is technology entrepreneur Jennifer Arcuri.[9] His son, David Allan Cates is an author and the executive director of Missoula Medical Aid.[7][10]

References

1. "Cates played key role in Watergate impeachment". www.jsonline.com.
2. "StackPath". www.lawtoncates.com.
3. "Richard Cates, Longtime Trial Lawyer in Madison, Dies at 85". Wisconsin State Journal. August 7, 2011. p. 20. Retrieved April 24, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
4. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1960,' Biographical Sketch of Richard Cate, pg. 36
5. Times, John Nichols | Capital (6 August 2011). "Wisconsin Watergate lawyer dies at 85". La Crosse Tribune.
6. "Richard Cates, Wisconsin Historical Society". Archived from the original on 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
7. Services, Cress Funeral and Cremation. "Obituary for Richard Lyman Cates, Sr. | Cress Funeral and Cremation Services". Obituary for Richard Lyman Cates, Sr. | Cress Funeral and Cremation Services. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
8. Steven Levy (October 2002). "Lawrence Lessig's Supreme Showdown". Wired. Vol. 10, no. 10.
9. Gardner, David (26 September 2019). "Jennifer Arcuri: Grandfather of entrepreneur linked to Boris Johnson led probe into Watergate scandal". Evening Standard.
10. Services, Cress Funeral and Cremation. "Obituary for Margaret Cates | Cress Funeral and Cremation Services". Obituary for Margaret Cates | Cress Funeral and Cremation Services. Retrieved 2020-11-13.