Richard Dean McCarthy

Richard Dean “Max” McCarthy (September 24, 1927 – May 5, 1995) was an American newspaperman and Democratic politician who served three terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York from 1965 to 1971. Also known as Richard Max McCarthy or Max McCarthy, he represented his constituents in Congress during a significant period in American history, contributing to the legislative process over the course of his six years in federal office.

McCarthy served in the United States Navy from November 1945 until August 1946, entering military service near the end of World War II. After returning to civilian life, he pursued higher education and graduated from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, in 1950. He later returned to military service during the Korean War era, serving in the United States Army from November 1950 until October 1952. These experiences in two branches of the armed forces preceded and informed his later work in journalism and public office.

Following his graduation from Canisius College, McCarthy embarked on a career in journalism. He joined The Buffalo News in 1952 and worked there until 1956, establishing himself as a newspaperman in western New York. His early professional years in the press corps provided him with a detailed understanding of public affairs, government, and the concerns of citizens, experience that would later shape his approach to legislative service and political life.

McCarthy was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1964 as a Democrat from New York and took office on January 3, 1965. He served three consecutive terms, remaining in the House until January 3, 1971. During his tenure, he participated fully in the democratic process, representing the interests of his constituents and engaging in the legislative debates of the mid-1960s and early 1970s, a period marked by the Vietnam War, civil rights legislation, and significant social and political change. As a member of the House of Representatives, he contributed to the formulation and consideration of federal policy in this transformative era.

In 1970, rather than seek another term in the House, McCarthy entered the Democratic primary for the United States Senate from New York. He ran against several prominent figures, including Ted Sorensen, Richard Ottinger, and Paul O’Dwyer. In that primary contest he was defeated by Richard Ottinger, bringing an end to his service in Congress the following year. His Senate bid reflected an effort to continue his public service at a higher level of federal office.

After leaving Congress, McCarthy returned to work connected to public affairs and international relations. From 1975 to 1976, he served as a press attaché at the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran, a position that placed him at the intersection of diplomacy, media, and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. He subsequently resumed his association with The Buffalo News, becoming the newspaper’s Washington bureau chief in 1978. In that role, he oversaw coverage of national politics and government from the nation’s capital until his retirement in 1989.

Richard Dean “Max” McCarthy died on May 5, 1995. Over the course of his life, he combined military service, journalism, and elected office, maintaining a career that linked the press, public service, and international engagement. His years in Congress from 1965 to 1971, his work as a newspaperman, and his later diplomatic and journalistic roles in Washington and abroad marked him as a notable public figure from New York in the mid-20th century.