Thomas Hale Boggs Jr.


Thomas Hale "Tommy" Boggs Jr. was an American lawyer and lobbyist based in Washington, D.C.
Boggs was the son of Thomas Hale Boggs, a United States Representative from Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, and Lindy Boggs, her husband's successor in the 2nd congressional district and thereafter U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican under U.S. President Bill Clinton. His siblings included journalist and news commentator Cokie Roberts and Barbara Boggs Sigmund, who served as the mayor of Princeton, New Jersey.
Boggs, a Democrat, began his legal practice in New Orleans and later moved to Washington, D.C., to become a lawyer and lobbyist. He joined the law/lobbyist firm of James R. Patton Jr., which today is known as Squire Patton Boggs. Boggs was the firm's senior partner. With Patton Boggs, he was known for lobbying on major issues, including:
In 1970, Boggs unsuccessfully ran for the United States House of Representatives from Maryland's 8th congressional district against incumbent Republican Gilbert Gude. The district is currently represented by the Democrat Jamie Raskin. Boggs represented dozens of corporations, trade associations, and state and foreign governments. In 2013, The American Lawyer magazine named Boggs one of the "Top 50 Innovators in Big Law in the Last 50 Years." The National Law Journal termed him one of the most influential lawyers in the nation.

Death

Boggs died of an apparent heart attack September 15, 2014, three days before his 74th birthday. Former U.S. Senator John Breaux of Louisiana, who worked for Boggs' firm after leaving the Senate in 2005, said: "He was one of the smartest men I’ve ever known and one who had an abiding commitment to seeing how government works and explaining it to others."