John Joseph Cavanaugh III

Who is John Joseph Cavanaugh III?

John Joseph Cavanaugh III is a Nebraska Democratic politician.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska on August 1, 1945, he graduated from Creighton Preparatory School in 1963, from Regis College in Denver, Colorado in 1967 and from Creighton University Law School in 1972. He was admitted to the bar in 1972 and set up practice in Omaha.

From 1968 to 1970 he served in the United States Army. In 1972 he was elected to the Nebraska Legislature and served until 1976 when he was elected to represent Nebraska's 2nd district in the Ninety-fifth United States Congress. He was reelected to the Ninety-sixth United States Congress serving from January 3, 1977 to January 3, 1981. He did not run for reelection in 1980, instead resumed his practice in Omaha where he still lives to this day. He is a Catholic and was a delegate for Nebraska to the Democratic National Convention of 1980, 2000, and 2004.

Cavanaugh is the father of 8 children, aged 36 to 22, and has three grandchildren.

In a famous conversation with fellow former Democratic Congressman from Nebraska, Peter Hoagland, in response to the comment "I am standing between two former Democratic congressmen from Nebraska. What are the odds?" Cavanaugh simply replied "Yeah, it's like ham on rye."