# Mac Sweeney > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mac_Sweeney > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mac_Sweeney.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Sweeney > Source revision: 1346123726 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American politician (1955–2024)}} {{sources|date=August 2024}} {{use mdy dates|date=January 2020}} {{use American English|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = Mac Sweeney.jpg | birth_name = David McCann Sweeney | birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1955|9|15}} | birth_place = [Wharton, Texas](/source/Wharton%2C_Texas), U.S. | death_place = [Honolulu, Hawaii](/source/Honolulu%2C_Hawaii), U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2024|7|21|1955|9|15}} | state = [Texas](/source/Texas) | district = [14th](/source/Texas's_14th_congressional_district) | term_start = {{start date|1985|1|3}} | term_end = {{end date|1989|1|3}} | preceded = [Bill Patman](/source/Bill_Patman) | succeeded = [Greg Laughlin](/source/Greg_Laughlin) | office1 = Director of White House Administrative Operations | term_start1 = {{start date|1981}} | term_end1 = {{end date|1983}} | president1 = [Ronald Reagan](/source/Ronald_Reagan) | party = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) | spouse = Catherine Sweeney | children = 4 | occupation = Non-profit executive, [investment banker](/source/investment_banker) | education = [University of Texas, Austin](/source/University_of_Texas_at_Austin) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts), [JD](/source/Juris_Doctor)) }} '''David McCann''' "'''Mac'''" '''Sweeney''' (September 15, 1955 – July 21, 2024) was an American lawyer, businessman, and politician who served as a [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) member of the [United States House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) from [Texas](/source/Texas) from 1985 to 1989. == Early life and education == Born in [Wharton](/source/Wharton%2C_Texas) in [Wharton County](/source/Wharton_County%2C_Texas) west of [Houston](/source/Houston%2C_Texas), Sweeney earned his [Bachelor of Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) and [Juris Doctor](/source/Juris_Doctor) from the [University of Texas](/source/University_of_Texas) at [Austin](/source/Austin%2C_Texas). == Career == In his early political years Sweeney served on the staffs of Republican [Senator](/source/United_States_Senate) [John G. Tower](/source/John_G._Tower) from 1977 to 1978, and former [Governor](/source/Governor_of_Texas) [John B. Connally, Jr.](/source/John_Connally), from 1979 to 1980, when Connally was seeking the 1980 Republican [presidential](/source/U.S._president) nomination but finished with only one committed delegate. Sweeney served as the director of administrative operations in the [Ronald Reagan](/source/Ronald_Reagan) [White House](/source/White_House) from 1981 to 1983. In this capacity, he worked directly with [John F.W. Rogers](/source/John_F.W._Rogers) and began a long-term association with another well-known Texan, [James A. Baker III](/source/James_A._Baker_III), then the White House Chief of Staff. === Congress === In 1984, he unseated [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) U.S. Representative [William Neff "Bill" Patman](/source/William_Neff_Patman) in one of the nation's closest congressional elections. In doing so, Sweeney became the first-ever Republican to represent District 14. In his campaign against Patman, Sweeney highlighted his time at the university of Texas Law School and claimed to had been published in the Texas Law Review. These were later proved to be untrue. In June 1986, a Sweeney staffer charged that she had told to work on his campaign or lose her job. Sweeney in reply said- "Most of what we are talking about here is junior staff indiscretions by a young staff." Ex-Congressman Patman said of Sweeney, "He's very flexible. I'd think he'd be a Chinese Communist if it would further his cause."[Barone, Michael](/source/Michael_Barone_(pundit)); and Ujifusa, Grant. ''[The Almanac of American Politics](/source/The_Almanac_of_American_Politics)'' 1988, p. 1167. ''[National Journal](/source/National_Journal)'', 1987. He was appointed to the [House Armed Services Committee](/source/House_Armed_Services_Committee) and became in 1985 one of six freshmen Republican congressmen from Texas infamously known as the [Texas Six Pack](/source/Texas_Six_Pack), including future [House Majority Leaders](/source/Party_leaders_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives) [Dick Armey](/source/Dick_Armey) and [Tom DeLay](/source/Tom_DeLay). Sweeney served two terms from 1985 to 1989 but was unseated in 1988 by Democrat [Greg Laughlin](/source/Greg_Laughlin). The prior, sprawling, 22-county District 14 has been divided, primarily by the [2003 Texas redistricting](/source/2003_Texas_redistricting), into five different congressional districts today. Sweeney voted against the [Abandoned Shipwrecks Act of 1987](/source/Abandoned_Shipwrecks_Act).{{Cite web |title=TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS S 858, ABANDONED SHIPWRECK … -- House Vote #532 -- March 29, 1988 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/h532 |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}} The Act asserts United States title to certain abandoned shipwrecks located on or embedded in submerged lands under state jurisdiction, and transfers title to the respective state, thereby empowering states to manage these cultural and historical resources more efficiently, with the goal of preventing [treasure hunters](/source/Treasure_hunting) and salvagers from damaging them. Despite his vote against it, President [Ronald Reagan](/source/Ronald_Reagan) signed it into law on April 28, 1988.{{Cite web |title=Laws - Division of Historical Resources - Florida Department of State |url=https://dos.fl.gov/historical/archaeology/underwater/laws/#:~:text=On%2028%20April%201988,%20President,authority%20over%20those%20abandoned%20shipwrecks. |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=dos.fl.gov}} == Later career == After his final unsuccessful campaign, Sweeney entered the private practice of law on Wall Street with the international firm [Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle](/source/Curtis%2C_Mallet-Prevost%2C_Colt_%26_Mosle) before later heading two businesses in New Jersey and Texas involved in successful restructurings or turnarounds. === Missionary work === In 1997 he began what became a seven-year commitment to [humanitarian](/source/humanitarian) and [missionary](/source/missionary) work, based out of [Cairo](/source/Cairo%2C_Egypt) but also working in over five different Arab countries. A large number of the 400-plus Christians, Muslims and [Copts](/source/Copts) trained and funded by the Sweeney family continue to work today in [Syria](/source/Syria), [Tunisia](/source/Tunisia), [Bahrain](/source/Bahrain), [Lebanon](/source/Lebanon) and [Sudan](/source/Sudan) primarily with schools, clinics, job training, micro-business and [tent making](/source/tent_making) enterprises. {{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} In 2004 Sweeney was considered for top positions at the [Peace Corps](/source/Peace_Corps) and in helping to organize the first democratic [Afghan presidential election, 2004](/source/Afghan_presidential_election%2C_2004) and the [Afghan parliamentary election, 2005](/source/Afghan_parliamentary_election%2C_2005); but could not come to terms with the [Bush administration](/source/George_W._Bush_administration). === Overseas investments === He later operated the Washington-based Paraclete Group which funded large infrastructure projects in [developing nations](/source/developing_nations) that are typically paired with select in-country charities or international [NGO](/source/NGO) groups. He served on four non-profit or business boards, and he and his wife split their time between [Bethesda, Maryland](/source/Bethesda%2C_Maryland) and Houston. He had four children.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} == Death == On July 21, 2024, Sweeney died at the age of 68 in [Honolulu](/source/Honolulu), where he was visiting his son.{{cite web | url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/houstonchronicle/name/david-mccann-mac-sweeney-obituary?id=55821838 | date=July 22, 2024 | website=Legacy.com | title=Obituary of David McCann Sweeney}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==Sources== {{CongBio|S001101}} *{{C-SPAN|1744}} {{Bioguide}} {{s-start}} {{s-par|us-hs}} {{US House succession box | state = Texas | district = 14 | before = [William Neff Patman](/source/William_Neff_Patman) | years = 1985–1989 | after = [Greg Laughlin](/source/Greg_Laughlin) }} {{s-end}} {{USCongRep-start|congresses= 99th–100th [United States Congress](/source/United_States_Congress) |state=[Texas](/source/Texas)}} {{USCongRep/TX/99}} {{USCongRep/TX/100}} {{USCongRep-end}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Sweeney, Mac}} Category:1955 births Category:2024 deaths Category:20th-century American lawyers Category:20th-century Texas politicians Category:21st-century American businesspeople Category:21st-century American lawyers Category:People from Wharton, Texas Category:Reagan administration personnel Category:Republican Party United States representatives from Texas Category:United States congressional aides Category:University of Texas at Austin alumni Category:20th-century United States representatives --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mac Sweeney](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Sweeney) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Sweeney?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.