Dan White
Dan White | |
|---|---|
Still from Viewpoint Dan White, an interview broadcast in January 1978, a month and a half after White's election to the Board of Supervisors | |
| Born | September 2, 1946 Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Died | October 21, 1985 (aged 39) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning |
| Resting place | Golden Gate National Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Mary Burns (m. 1976) |
| Conviction | Voluntary manslaughter (2 counts) |
| Criminal penalty | 7 years and 8 months imprisonment (released after 5 years) |
| Details | |
| Victims | George Moscone, 49 Harvey Milk, 48 |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Weapon | Smith & Wesson Model 36 |
| Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from the 8th district | |
| In office January 8, 1978 – November 10, 1978 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Don Horanzy |
| Personal details | |
| Children | 3 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1965–1971 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 101st Airborne Division |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Daniel James White (September 2, 1946 – October 21, 1985) was an American politician who assassinated George Moscone, the 37th mayor of San Francisco, and Harvey Milk, a fellow member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, inside San Francisco City Hall on November 27, 1978.
During trial his lawyers argued, controversially, that White did not have the mental capacity required to be found guilty of murder, due to his depression as evidenced by his consumption of junk food.
White was convicted, not of murder, but on two counts of voluntary manslaughter and served five years of a seven-year and eight-month prison sentence. Less than two years after his release, he returned to San Francisco and later committed suicide.