U.S. Rep. Robert K. Dornan, from Garden Grove, California, represents California's 46th Congressional District, a blue-collar district located in Orange County, south of Los Angeles. Dornan was first elected in 1976 from the 27th District in Los Angeles County, and served from January 1977 to January 1983. In 1984 he was elected from the 38th Congressional District in central Orange County, a Democrat; district with large Hispanic and Asian communities. Much of the 38th District was reapportioned into the 46th District in 1992.
As an outspoken conservative, it is often assumed that Dornan has represented safe congressional seats. The fact is, however, that Dornan has always represented Democrat; districts, ususally requiring aggressive campaigns and fundraising. In 1984, when Dornan began his campaign for the 38th Congressional District, Democrat registration exceeded Republican registration 53.5% to 35%.
Robert Kenneth Dornan was born in New York City on April 3, 1933, and raised there and in West Los Angeles. Educated at Loyola High School (1947-50) and Loyola University (1950-53), he then served in the U.S. Air Force as a jet fighter pilot in the world's first supersonic fighter wing (1953-58). Dornan, a pilot since 1950, survived two jet-fighter parachute ejections and both jet-fighter and solo helicopter "dead stick" forced landings. Before his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976, Dornan was a Vietnam war correspondent, radio talk show host, T.V. news anchorman, a broadcast journalist and a television producer, winning two Emmys (1968 and 1969) as a host of his own television political discussion program. Active in domestic civil rights during the 1960s, having marched with Martin Luther King and registered black voters in the south, Dornan was the originator of both the POW-MIA bracelets worn by more than 10 million Americans during the Vietnam War and the "Prisoner of Conscience" bracelets worn for Soviet Jewish and Christian dissidents.
As a correspondent Dornan has travelled extensively, including 12 food mercy-flights into Biafra in 1969, landing on two lane highways at night. In addition,Dornan travelled ten times to Vietnam (five of these trips were for our Missing in Action), including four fact-finding trips to Laos, three to Cambodia, and a 1979 visit to Hanoi.
After his 1976 election to Congress, Dornan quickly gained national recognition as an innovative legislator and energetic member of the House of Representatives. Dornan is credited with effectively killing the Carter administration's proposed 1977 "instant voter registration" bill by publicizing the ease with which fraudulent voter "Ids" could be obtained. That same year he secured 315 signatures from his colleagues (House and Senate) on a letter to President Carter which was instrumental in blocking the sale to the Soviet Union of the sophisticated, military-sensitive Cyber 76 super-computer.
As a result of his extensive knowledge and background in defense, Dornan was a critic of the "strategically-passive" defense policy of the Carter years.Dornan was a leader in the congressional battle to restore the supersonic Strategic Air Command penetrator aircraft, the B-1B "Lancer" bomber, cancelled by President Carter in 1977. Dornan was appointed in 1978 by the Speaker of the House to the Special Congressional Committee on the SALT II negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, becoming an expert on the treaty.
As a member of the House National Security Committee (formerly House Armed Services Committee) and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Dornan has championed such vital defense projects such as funding for the B-1 and B-2 bombers, the F/A 18 fighter and the V-22 tiltrotor, anti-ballistic missile defense development of an effective ground combat identification system, and maintaining proper levels of Guard and reserve forces. Dornan has also been an active congressional leader promoting President Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative.
During the Clinton presidency, Dornan was a leader in the successful effort to prevent Clinton from eliminating the prohibition on homosexuals in the military, and was the sponsor of legislation to codify the ban. In addition,Dornan has been a critic of the president's irrational defense cuts and efforts to place U.S. forces under the command of foreign officers acting on behalf of the U.S. In 1993, Dornan introduced legislation to place restrictions on a president's ability to place U.S. forces under foreign command. This legislation was included and adopted as part of the House GOP's "Contract with America."
As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee during the 1970s and early 80s, Dornan a staunch anti-Communist, was a defender of freedom around the globe and supporter of freedom fighters in such places as Angola and Nicaragua. His support for human and civil rights continued in the House of Representatives where Dornan has worked on issues including human rights in Vietnam. In June 1986, Dornan travelled to Syria at his own expense on a humanitarian mission to help secure the release of U.S. hostages held in Lebanon. Dornan has also continued his decades-long efforts on behalf of our mission servicemen in Vietnam, serving on various House POW/MIA taskforces.
Consistent with his life long commitment to human rights, Dornan has been a staunch defender of innocent pre-born life as the author of successful legislation to prevent federal funding of abortions in the District of Columbia, military hospitals and federal prisons. Dornan has also been the sponsor of a "human life" amendment to once and for all end our nation's abortion holocaust. For his efforts on behalf of innocent life, Dornan has repeatedly been the target of pro-abortion campaigns, including a 1992 Republican primary challenge.
Dornan's journalism background, his communication skills, and his passion for what he believes have made him a popular guest on radio and television programs including the Rush Limbaugh Show and CNN's Crossfire. In addition, Dornan's passionate "special order" speeches on the House floor, which generally include background briefings in U.S. history, have produced a loyal following for Dornan in all 50 states.
On December 17, 1985, Dornan became the first member of Congress to endorse Vice President George Bush's candidacy for president. Dornan, a loyal campaigner, campaigned in 34 states for the vice president and seconded the nomination of Bush at the New Oreleans Republican National Convention.