Robert H Finch

Robert H. Finch, the well-regarded former lieutenant governor of California, U.S. secretary of health, education and welfare and special counselor to President Richard Nixon, died early Tuesday of a heart attack at his Pasadena home. Monday was his 70th birthday. Sue Schechter, Finch's sister, said he had been in excellent health and had celebrated his birthday with a family surprise party Sunday night and another surprise party given Monday by his law firm, Fleming, Anderson & Salisbury.

When Robert Hutchison Finch died of a heart attack at his Pasadena home early Tuesday, one day after celebrating his 70th birthday, it's likely most Californians never had heard of him. Certainly very few people under 40. But that's probably just as well. Many of his colleagues who became household names--H. R. (Bob) Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman--wound up in prison. Fame in that circle had a way of deteriorating into infamy.

One way to look at it is that Robert H. Finch took some unlucky turns in his political life. He left the California lieutenant governorship, with its promise of a considerable future in California politics, to become secretary of health, education and welfare in the Administration of his old friend and mentor, Richard M. Nixon. Then he left HEW to become an unhappy counselor in a Watergate White House whose staff was dominated by H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Later, he ran for U.S.

Robert H. Finch, the well-regarded former lieutenant governor of California, U.S. secretary of health, education and welfare and special counselor to President Richard Nixon, died early Tuesday of a heart attack at his Pasadena home. Monday was his 70th birthday. Sue Schechter, Finch's sister, said he had been in excellent health and had celebrated his birthday with a family surprise party Sunday night and another surprise party given Monday by his law firm, Fleming, Anderson & Salisbury.

When Robert Hutchison Finch died of a heart attack at his Pasadena home early Tuesday, one day after celebrating his 70th birthday, it's likely most Californians never had heard of him. Certainly very few people under 40. But that's probably just as well. Many of his colleagues who became household names--H. R. (Bob) Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman--wound up in prison. Fame in that circle had a way of deteriorating into infamy.

Pasadena-based Petroleum Land Corp. elected as new directors Francis L. Dale, commissioner of the Major Indoor Soccer League and former publisher of the Los Angeles Herald Examiner; Robert H. Finch, a partner in a Pasadena law firm and former lieutenant governor of California; Ann M. Graham, vice-chairman of Grand American Inc., a real estate development and construction company, and Thomas H.

The Conrad cartoon of Aug. 6 includes the name of my client, Maurice H. Stans, among a list of individuals in the Nixon Administration who were depicted as having served behind prison walls. Mr. Stans has never served a day in jail or prison in his life. He had never even been charged with any violations in Watergate, much less ever been convicted of any crime in connection with Watergate. ROBERT H. FINCH Pasadena Editor's note: Stans was indicted in 1974 and later acquitted of 10 counts of perjury and conspiracy in the so-called Vesco case.

Here's a quick Potomac trivia question: How many secretaries of health, education and welfare and health and human services have there been since the department was established on April 11, 1953? The answer is 15. The 16th would be former Indiana Gov. Otis R. Bowen, nominated Thursday by President Reagan to take over the government's largest domestic department and possibly the most difficult to manage.

Howard Seelye, 86, a former political writer for the Orange County edition of the Los Angeles Times, died Tuesday at his home in the northern San Diego County city of Fallbrook, after a short illness, according to his family. Seelye joined The Times in 1966 after serving as press secretary for Robert H. Finch during his successful race for lieutenant governor of California. At The Times, Seelye handled political coverage for the emerging Orange County edition. He worked at The Times until 1976, when he took early retirement and joined the staff of newly elected Rep. Robert E. Badham (R-Newport Beach)

One way to look at it is that Robert H. Finch took some unlucky turns in his political life. He left the California lieutenant governorship, with its promise of a considerable future in California politics, to become secretary of health, education and welfare in the Administration of his old friend and mentor, Richard M. Nixon. Then he left HEW to become an unhappy counselor in a Watergate White House whose staff was dominated by H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. Later, he ran for U.S.

The local National Issues Forum will offer Ventura County residents a chance to discuss three of the nation's most critical issues: health care, the economy and the state of democracy. The annual three-night series will begin Tuesday with a forum entitled "The Health Care Crisis: Containing Costs, Expanding Coverage." That forum, along with two others slated for Wednesday and Thursday nights, will be held between 7 and 9:30 p.m.

Capitol Journal by George Skelton ("A Trusty Political Animal," Oct. 12) paid tribute to former Lt. Gov. Robert H. Finch, who died Oct. 10. I would like to relate an incident that demonstrated his down-to-earth good common sense. In the summer of 1967 or 1968, the National Guard 40th Armored Division was being disbanded. A formal parade was scheduled at Camp Roberts, Paso Robles, and all units from throughout California reported as part of their annual field training. I was part of a unit that made an overnight drive from Twentynine Palms.