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Leo J. Ryan

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U.S. Congressman

The Resume

    (May 5, 1925-November 18, 1978)
    Born in Lincoln, Nebraska
    California State Assemblyman (1962-72)
    US Representative from California (1973-78)
    Democrat
    Murdered by followers of Jim Jones while investigating rumors of abuse at Jonestown, Guyana

Why he might be annoying:

    He told Dick Cheney that leaking state secrets would be an appropriate way for a Congressman to block an 'ill conceived' CIA operation.
    Because of his opposition to the CIA, conspiracy theorists think US intelligence was behind his murder.
    His visit to Jonestown triggered the murder-suicide of over 900 cultists.
    Despite his public opposition to cults, his daughter became a follower of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was a 'hands on' politician.
    After the Watts riots (1965), he took a job as a substitute teacher in the area to investigate conditions.
    While heading a committee on prison reform, he had himself pseudonymously arrested and held for ten days at Folsom Prison (1970).
    He criticized Scientology and Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church.
    He was planning to leave Jonestown with 16 disaffected members when they were gunned down.
    He was the first Congressman killed in the line of duty.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 19 Votes: 31.58% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 19 Votes: 52.63% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 17 Votes: 47.06% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 44 Votes: 47.73% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 38 Votes: 44.74% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 71 Votes: 35.21% Annoying