Thomas Boggs Jr., partner at Patton Boggs, a major lobbying firm in Washington, died Monday at the age of 73.  

The Washington Post first reported the news that Boggs died at his home in Chevy Chase, Md. Boggs’ sister, journalist Cokie Roberts, told the Post that her brother died of an apparent heart attack.  

Boggs joined Patton Boggs as a partner in 1966 and became one of the must influential lawyers and lobbyists in Washington. His firm merged earlier this year with Squire Sanders to become Squire Patton Boggs .  

Journalist Carl Bernstein wrote in 1998 that Boggs was “Washington’s premier agent of influence.”  

Boggs’ family has been influential in Washington since the mid-20th Century. His father, Thomas Hale Boggs Sr., served in Congress for nearly 60 years and was the House majority leader until his disappearance while on a flight to Alaska in 1972. Following her husband’s death, Corinne Claiborne “Lindy” Boggs joined the House, where she served for more than 15 years. She died last year.  

Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, whose father, Rep. Nick Begich, D-Alaska, was on the same fateful Alaska plane as the senior Boggs, released the following statement about the junior Boggs’ death: “I was saddened to learn of the passing of respected lawyer and advocate Tommy Boggs. Our two families have known each other for a long time and have been through much together.  Tommy was a larger than life personality in the nation’s Capitol, yet was gracious and generous and visited Alaska at my invitation. My family will always have a special connection to the Hale Boggs family, including the late Congresswoman Lindy Boggs. Deborah and I will be keeping them in our thoughts.”  

Boggs made an unsuccessful run for Congress in 1970. But since then he has wielded considerable power in Washington. Patton Boggs now employs nearly 350 lawyers around the world. Boggs himself represented dozens of corporations, state and foreign governments and trade associations.  

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