Warren Magnuson (April 12, 1905-May 20, 1989) was a United States Senator of the Democratic Party from Washington from 1944 until 1981. Magnuson also served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the First Congressional District of Washington from 1937 to 1944. Of Scandinavian descent, Warren Magnuson was born in Moorhead, Minnesota. In 1928 he married Peggins Maddieux who had won the 1927 "Miss Seattle" beauty contest. Divorced in 1935, Magnuson lived the good life, dating a number of glamorous women including heiress and cover girl June Millarde and actress Carol Parker. In 1964, he married Jermaine Peralta with whom he remained for the rest of his life.
In 1932 Magnuson was a founding member of the The Young Democrats of Washington.
Magnuson served in the Washington state legislature and as King County Prosecutor. Magnuson was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1936, filling a vacancy caused by the death of fellow Democrat Marion Zioncheck on August 7, 1936. He won re-election in 1938, 1940, and 1942. In 1944, Magnuson successfully ran for U.S. Senate. He was appointed on December 14, 1944 to fill the vacancy created by Homer Bone's appointment to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, thus resigning from the House and starting his service in the Senate a month early.
Warren Magnuson served in the United States Navy during World War II. He was aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise for several months, seeing heavy combat in the Pacific Theatre until President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered all congressmen on active duty to return home.
He was re-elected in 1950, 1956, 1962, 1968, and 1974. He served on the Senate Commerce Committee throughout his tenure in the Senate, and the Senate Appropriations Committee during his final term. Magnuson served most of his tenure in the Senate, concurrently, with his friend and Democratic colleague from Washington State, Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson. Magnuson is one of numerous public officials said to have had a drinking problem during the time he served in Congress. Magnuson was defeated in a bid for re-election in 1980.
At least two important pieces of legislation bear his name: the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
Seattle's Magnuson Park was named in his honor in 1977. The Washington State Democratic Party holds an annual Magnuson awards dinner (sometimes referred to as the Maggies, per his nickname). Magnuson was a member of Theta Chi fraternity.
