John P. East
John P. East | |
|---|---|
East in 1983 | |
| United States Senator from North Carolina | |
| In office January 3, 1981 – June 29, 1986 | |
| Preceded by | Robert B. Morgan |
| Succeeded by | Jim Broyhill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Porter East May 5, 1931 Springfield, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | June 29, 1986 (aged 55) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Priscilla Sherk East
(m. 1953) |
| Alma mater | Earlham College (BA) University of Florida (MA, PhD) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1953–1955 |
John Porter East (May 5, 1931 – June 29, 1986) was an American politician, attorney, and academic. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a U.S. senator from North Carolina from 1981 to 1986.
Born in Springfield, Illinois, East served in the United States Marine Corps after graduating from Earlham College and was discharged in 1955 after being infected with polio and becoming paraplegic. East then completed a law degree at the University of Illinois College of Law and Ph.D. in political science at the University of Florida. From 1964 to 1980, East was a professor of political science at East Carolina University.
In 1980, East ran for U.S. Senate to challenge incumbent Democratic Senator Robert B. Morgan and won a close election, in an election year favoring Republicans nationally. As senator, East supported conservative policies and cosponsored the Firearm Owners Protection Act. He also served on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism. Having already declined to run for re-election and believing that his doctor missed a hypothyroidism diagnosis, East committed suicide in 1986.