Richard Lyman Cates (November 22, 1925 – August 3, 2011) was an American

Democratic Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

politician and trial lawyer from Wisconsin.

Background

Born in New York City, 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. Cates served as a

Dane County, Wisconsin Dane County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 561,504, making it the second-most populous county in Wisconsin. The county seat is Madison, which is also the state capital. Dane County is the ...

assistant district attorney. He then served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1959 and 1960 and later on the Madison, Wisconsin school board. In 1973, Cates served as one of the lawyers on the

House Judiciary Committee The U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, also called the House Judiciary Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is charged with overseeing the administration of justice within the federal courts, a ...

inquiry An inquiry (also spelled as enquiry in British English) is any process that has the aim of augmenting knowledge, resolving doubt, or solving a problem. A theory of inquiry is an account of the various types of inquiry and a treatment of the ...

concerning the potential

impeachment Impeachment is the process by which a legislative body or other legally constituted tribunal initiates charges against a public official for misconduct. It may be understood as a unique process involving both political and legal elements. In ...

of President Richard Nixon because of the Watergate scandal. Cates died in Madison at age 85.

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

References

Politicians from New York City Politicians from Madison, Wisconsin Dartmouth College alumni University of Wisconsin Law School alumni Military personnel from Madison, Wisconsin Wisconsin lawyers School board members in Wisconsin 1925 births 2011 deaths Watergate scandal investigators Lawyers from Madison, Wisconsin United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II United States Marine Corps personnel of the Korean War Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly {{Wisconsin-WIAssembly-Democratic-stub