Lantos

Citizendia: Lantos

The native form of this personal name is Lantos Tamás Péter. This article uses theWestern name order.

Tom Lantos
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 12th district
In office January 5, 1981 – February 11, 2008
Preceded by	William H. Royer
Succeeded by	Jackie Speier
Born	February 1, 1928 Budapest, Hungary
Died	February 11, 2008 (aged 80) National Naval Medical Center,Bethesda, Maryland
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Annette Lantos
Religion	Jewish (non practicing) [1]

Thomas Peter Lantos (February 1, 1928 – February 11, 2008)^[2] was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1981 until his death, representing the northern two-thirds of San Mateo County and a small portion of southwest San Francisco.California's 12th congressional district spans from the southwestern portions of San Francisco in the north down to San Mateo in the south and from Moss Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Events 660 BC - Traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Karen Lorraine Jacqueline Speier, known as Jackie Speier (born May 14, 1950) is the Democratic Representative for California's 12th congressional Events 1327 - Teenaged Edward III iscrowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Budapest ( also /ˈbʊ-/) is the capital city of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary it serves as the country's principal Political, Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic Events 660 BC - Traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu.2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda Maryland, United States, also known as the Bethesda Naval Hospital, is considered the flagship of the The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut Events 1327 - Teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 660 BC - Traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu.2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. San Mateo County ( &quotsan muh-TAY-o") ( Spanish for: St The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Lantos had announced in early January 2008 that he would not run for reelection because of cancer of the esophagus,^[3][4] but died before finishing his term.Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the Esophagus. There are various subtypes Lantos was the only Holocaust survivor to have served in the US Congress. The Holocaust (from the Greek el ''ὁλόκαυστον'' (el-Latn holókauston holos, &quotcompletely" and kaustos, &quotburnt" also known as

Contents 1 Personal and family life 2 Political positions 3 Foreign affairs issues 3.1 1991 Persian Gulf War 3.2 War in Iraq 3.3 Darfur 3.4 Hungarian minorities 3.5 Lebanon 4 Planned Retirement and Death 5 Congressional scorecards 6 Controversies 7 Electoral history 8 References 9 External links

Personal and family life

Born as Lantos Tamás Péter (pronounced ['lɒntoʃ 'tɒmaːʃ 'peːtɛr]) to a Jewish family inBudapest, Hungary, Lantos was part of a resistance movement against the Nazis during theGerman occupation of Hungary. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Budapest ( also /ˈbʊ-/) is the capital city of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary it serves as the country's principal Political, Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic Resistance during World War II occurred in every occupied country by a variety of means ranging from non-cooperation disinformation and propaganda to hiding crashed pilots Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers Hungary during World War II was a generally opportunistic and generally unwilling member of the Axis. In his floor speeches, he sometimes referred to himself as one of the few living members of Congress who had fought against fascism. Fascism is a totalitarian nationalist and corporatist ideology
He sought refuge in a safe house established by Raoul Wallenberg; in 1981 Lantos sponsored a bill making Wallenberg an Honorary Citizen of the United States. Raoul Wallenberg (August 4 1912 – July 17 1947? was a Swedish Humanitarian of the prominent Swedish Wallenberg family who worked in Budapest A non- United States citizen of exceptional merit may be declared an Honorary Citizen of the United States by an Act of Congress, or by a proclamation issued by the He moved to the United States in 1947, and though he became fluent in English, he retained a marked Hungarian accent for the rest of his life. Hungarian ( magyar nyelv) is a Uraliclanguage (more specifically a Ugric language) unrelated to most other languages in Europe.
Lantos considered himself a secular Jew^[1] . Secular Jewish culture embraces several related phenomena above all it is the Culture of secular communities of Jewish people but it can also include Upon immigrating to the United States under the auspices of Hillel he attended theUniversity of Washington and the University of California, Berkeley, receiving his Ph.D in 1953.American immigration ( emigration to the United States of America) refers to the movement of non-residents to the United States. Hillel The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life (or simply known as Hillel International) is the largest Jewish Campus organization in the world The University of California Berkeley (also referred to as Cal, Berkeley and UC Berkeley) is a major research university located in Berkeley &quotPhD" redirects here for other uses see PhD (disambiguation.
From 1950 to 1980, Lantos was a professor of economics, an international affairs analyst forpublic television, and a consultant to a number of businesses. Economics is the social science that studies the production distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Public broadcasting refers to radio television and other electronic media outlets that receive some or all of their funding from the public A consultant (from the Latin consultare means &quotto discuss" from which we also derive words such as consul and counsel) is a Professional He also served as a senior advisor to several U.S. Senators.
Lantos made his first run for office in 1980, when he defeated one-term Republicancongressman Bill Royer by 5,700 votes. William Howard Royer (b April 11, 1920) is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He never faced another contest nearly that close, and was reelected 13 times. He was the only Holocaust survivor ever to serve in Congress. There are many famous Holocaust survivors who survived the Nazi Genocides in Europe and went on to achievements of great fame and notability ^[5]
Lantos and his wife Annette have two daughters, Annette and Katrina, and 17 grandchildren.Katrina Swett, JD PhD (born October 8, 1955) is the wife of Ambassador and former Congressman Lantos' wife is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints^[6].The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known Annette Lantos is a first cousin of the sisters Zsa Zsa, Eva, and Magda Gabor. Zsa Zsa Gabor ( born February 6 1917) is a Hungarian -born American Actress and Socialite. Eva Gabor ( February 11 1919 – July 4 1995) was a Hungarian -born actress best known as Lisa Douglas, the Magdolna &quotMagda" Gabor (circa 1915 - June 6 1997) was a Hungarian-born American entertainer and elder sister of actresses ^[7]Katrina, who married ambassador and former U. An ambassador is the highest ranking Diplomat who represents their country S. Representative from New Hampshire Richard Swett, was a candidate for Congress in New Hampshire, running for the House of Representatives in 2002 against Charlie Bass and in 2008 for the U. New Hampshire ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. Richard Swett (born May 1, 1957) is an American politician from the U Charles Foster &quotCharlie" Bass (born January 8 1952) is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives S. Senate against John Sununu. John Sununu is the name of two US politicians John H Sununu, Governor of New Hampshire (1983-1989 and White House Chief of Staff for George H His daughter Annette was married to Timber Dick, "an independent businessman in Colorado,"^[8] until Dick's death on April 10, 2008 from burns suffered in an automobile accident. Events 879 - Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks. 1407 - the lama 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common ^[9][10]
Lantos appeared in the Academy Award-winning film The Last Days, a documentary of the Holocaust's effect on Hungarian Jews, and "To Bear Witness", another documentary. &quotThe Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. ^[11]
Lantos often brought a small white terrier named Mackó (pronounced [mɒtskoː]; "little bear" in Hungarian) to his Capitol Hill office. Lantos' previous dog, a small poodle named Gigi, was also a fixture in Washington.
Tom Lantos was an honorary member of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.

Political positions

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Lantos

Lantos was a strong supporter of the Iraq War from the start, but from 2006 onward made increasingly critical statements about the conduct of the war, and as the chairman of the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs he held 20 oversight hearings on the war in 2007.Gavin Christopher Newsom (born October 10 1967 is the current mayor of San Francisco. The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign The US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, also known as the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives (See separate section below about the war in Iraq. )
Lantos was a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus^[12] and repeatedly called for reforms to the nation's health-care system, reduction of the national budget deficit and thenational debt, repeal of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, and has opposed Social Security privatization efforts. The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC is the single largest partisan caucus in the United States House of Representatives, and works together to advance Health care in the United States is provided by many separate legal entities Historically the United States government has tended to spend more than it takes in with national debt that was close to $1 billion at the beginning of the 20th century The United States total public debt, commonly called the national debt, or U The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (, June 7[[ 001]] was a sweeping piece of Tax legislation in the United States. This article concerns proposals to change the Social Security system in the United States. He supported same-sex marriage rights and marijuana for medical use, was a strong proponent of gun control^[13] and was adamantly pro-choice. Same-sex marriage, also referred to as gay marriage, is a Marriage between two persons of the same sex Medical cannabis refers to the use of the Cannabis plant as a physician-recommended Herbal therapy as well as synthetic THC and Cannabinoids Gun politics in the United States, incorporating the political aspects of Gun politics, and firearms rights has long been among the most controversial and intractable issues The abortion debate refers to discussion and controversy surrounding the moral and legal status of Abortion. ^[14]
Lantos was a well-known advocate on behalf of the environment, receiving consistently high ratings from the League of Conservation Voters and other environmental organizations for his legislative record. Environmental policy is any (course of action deliberately taken (or not taken to manage human activities with a view to prevent reduce or mitigate harmful effects on nature and natural The League of Conservation Voters (LCV is a political advocacy organization that was founded in 1969 by American Environmentalist David Brower. This is a list of environmental organizations. See also Environmental organization Intergovernmental organizations International organizations ^[15] His long-standing efforts to protect open space brought thousands of acres under the protection of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including Mori Point, Sweeney Ridge and — most recently — Rancho Corral de Tierra, which will keep its watersheds and delicate habitats free from development permanently. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA is a US National Recreation Area administered by the National Park Service that surrounds the San Francisco ^[16][17] In 2005 he opposed an effort to expand public use of the Farallon Islands, a protected wildlife haven. The Farallon Islands, or Farallones, are a group of Islands and rocks found in the Gulf of the Farallones, off the coast of San Francisco,
Lantos consistently championed local transportation projects that need federal funds and, given his seniority in Congress, proved successful at delivering this support. Transport or transportation is the movement of people and goods from one place to another
He also championed human rights. For example, Yahoo turned over the email records of two pro-democracy dissidents to the Chinese government that allowed it to trace them. One was given ten years in a Chinese dungeon. Lantos had Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang testify at a congressional hearing with the weeping mother of the political prisoner seated directly behind him.

Foreign affairs issues

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon with Lantos and his wife, Annette Lantos

Lantos served as the chairman of the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the head of the Secretariat, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. Ban Ki-moon (born 13 June 1944 Korean: 반기문 Hanja: 潘基文 is the current Secretary-General of the United Nations. The US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, also known as the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives
Through its more than 20 years of work, the Congressional Human Rights Caucus^[18] — of which Lantos was co-chair with Representative Frank Wolf — has covered a wide range of human rights issues, speaking out for Christians who want to practice their faith in Saudi Arabia and Sudan, fighting for Tibetans to be able to retain their culture and religion in Tibet and advocating for other oppressed minorities worldwide. Frank Rudolph Wolf (born January 30, 1939) is a career politician and a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi Sudan (officially the Republic of Sudan) ( السودان al-Sūdān is a country in northeastern Africa. Lantos’ efforts to protect religious freedom in 2004 resulted in a bill to halt the global spread of antisemitism. Antisemitism (alternatively spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism; also rarely known as judeophobia) is the Prejudice against or hostility ^[19]
Lantos was involved with his colleagues on the International Relations Committee on many decisions that affect other aspects of American foreign policy. The foreign policy of the United States is highly influential on the world stage as it is a Superpower. Lantos spoke out strongly against waste, fraud and abuse in the multi-billion dollar U. S. reconstruction program in Iraq, and has warned that the U. S. may lose Afghanistan to the Taliban if the Bush Administrationfails to take decisive action to halt the current decline in political stability there. The Taliban ( طالبان, also anglicised as Taleban; translation &quotstudents" is a Sunni Islamist, predominately
Lantos, then the ranking Democrat on the International Relations Committee, tried to disrupt U. S. military aid to Egypt. Lantos argued that the Egyptian military had made insufficient efforts to stop the flow of money and weapons across the Egyptian border to Hamas in Gaza, and had not contributed troops to internationally-supported peacekeeping efforts in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Ḥamas (ar حركة حماس acronym ar حركة المقاومة Lantos was a strong advocate of Israel

1991 Persian Gulf War

See also: Nurse Nayirah

Lantos was a strong supporter of the 1991 Persian Gulf War. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. &quotNurse Nayirah" ( Nayirah al-Sabah) was a 15-year old Kuwaiti girl who alleged that she had witnessed the murder of infant children in Kuwait, in verbal During the run-up to the war, the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, of which Lantos was co-chairman, hosted a young Kuwaiti woman identified only as "Nurse Nayirah", who told of horrific abuses by Iraqi soldiers, including the killing of Kuwaiti babies by taking them out of their incubators and leaving them to die on the cold floor of the hospital. The State of Kuwait ( دولة الكويت IPA [dawlatt̪ alkuwajt̪]) is a sovereign Arab Emirate on the coast of the Persian Gulf, enclosed &quotNurse Nayirah" ( Nayirah al-Sabah) was a 15-year old Kuwaiti girl who alleged that she had witnessed the murder of infant children in Kuwait, in verbal These alleged atrocities figured prominently in the rhetoric at the time about Iraqi abuses in Kuwait.
The girl's account was later challenged by independent human rights monitors. ^[20] "Nurse Nayirah" later turned out to be the daughter of the Kuwaiti ambassador to the United States.^[20] Asked about his having allowed the girl to give testimony without identifying herself, and without her story having been corroborated, Lantos replied, "The notion that any of the witnesses brought to the caucus through the Kuwaiti Embassy would not be credible did not cross my mind. . . I have no basis for assuming that her story is not true, but the point goes beyond that. If one hypothesizes that the woman's story is fictitious from A to Z, that in no way diminishes the avalanche of human rights violations. "^[20]
Lantos and John R. MacArthur, the foremost critic of the Nayirah issue, each had op-eds features in The New York Times, in which each accused the other of distortion. John R MacArthur ( June 4, 1956, New York City) is a journalist and the president of Harper's Magazine ^[21] MacArthur suggested that Lantos may have materially benefited from his having accommodated Nayirah. ^[22] Nayirah was later revealed to have connections to a lobbying firm in the employ of a Kuwaiti activist group, and her story has since come to be regarded as baseless propaganda. Citizens for a Free Kuwait (CFK was a front group established by the Kuwaiti government to promote the 1991 U ^[22]

War in Iraq

On October 4, 2002, Lantos led a narrow majority of Democrats on the House International Relations Committee to a successful vote in support of the Resolution for the Use of Force, seeking the approval of the United Nations and under the condition that Bush would allow UN weapons inspectors to finish their work and that Bush would need to return to Congress for an actual declaration of war before invading Iraq. Events 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The resolution later passed the House and the Senate with a total of 373 members of Congress supporting it. "The train is now on its way," said Lantos after his — and the President's — victory. ^[23] In later hearings on the war, Lantos continued his enthusiastic support. At one point he was confronted by witnesses who questioned the likelihood of enthusiastic Baghdadis welcoming the invading Americans; Lantos called this a kind of racism, to suggest the Iraqis might be so ungrateful.
Starting in early 2006, Lantos has distanced himself from the Bush Administration's Iraq policy, making critical statements at hearings, on the House floor and in published media interviews about the conduct of the war. During hearings of the House International Relations Committee, where he was then the ranking member, Lantos repeatedly praised the investigative work of the office of the Special Inspector of Iraq Reconstruction General Stuart Bowen, which uncovered evidence of waste, fraud and abuse in the use of U. S. taxpayer dollars intended to help secure and rebuild Iraq.
Lantos was an immediate and consistent critic of the troop surge advocated by President Bush. On the night in January 2007 that Bush announced his plan, Lantos responded, "I oppose the so-called surge that constitutes the centerpiece of the President's plan. Our efforts in Iraq are a mess, and throwing in more troops will not improve it. " And during a joint House hearing onSeptember 10, 2007 featuring General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Lantos said, "The Administration’s myopic policies in Iraq have created a fiasco. Events 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul meet in the Council of Agde. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. General David Howell Petraeus, USA (born November 7 1952) is scheduled to become the next Commander U Ryan Clark Crocker (born on June 19, 1949 in Spokane Washington) is the current United States Ambassador to Iraq. Is it any wonder that on the subject of Iraq, more and more Americans have little confidence in this Administration? We can not take ANY of this Administration's assertions on Iraq at face value anymore, and no amount of charts or statistics will improve its credibility. This is not a knock on you, General Petraeus, or on you, Ambassador Crocker. But the fact remains, gentlemen, that the Administration has sent you here today to convince the members of these two Committees and the Congress that victory is at hand. With all due respect to you, I must say … I don't buy it. " At the same hearing, Lantos drew comparisons between some of the current U. S. activities in Iraq to U. S. support two decades ago of Islamic militants in Afghanistan: "America should not be in the business of arming, training and funding both sides of a religious civil war in Iraq. Did the Administration learn nothing from our country’s actions in Afghanistan two decades ago, when by supporting Islamist militants against the Soviet Union, we helped pave the way for the rise of the Taliban? Why are we now repeating the short-sighted patterns of the past?"^[24]

Darfur

On April 28, 2006, Lantos and four other Democratic U. Events 1192 - Assassination of Conrad of Montferrat (Conrad I King of Jerusalem, in Tyre, two days after his title Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. S. Representatives (Sheila Jackson Lee, Jim McGovern, Jim Moran, and John Olver), along with six other activists, took part in a civil disobedience action in front of the Sudanese embassy in Washington, D.C. They were protesting the role of the Sudanese government in carrying out genocide in the Darfur conflict and were arrested for disorderly conduct. Sheila Jackson-Lee (born January 12, 1950) is an American politician James P &quotJim" McGovern (born November 20, 1959) an American politician, has been a Democratic member of the United States James Patrick &quotJim" Moran Jr (born 16 May 1945 in Buffalo New York) has represented the of Virginia since 1991 John Walter Olver (born September 3 1936) American politician has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives Civil disobedience is the active refusal to obey certain Laws demands and commands of a Government, or of an occupying power, without resorting to physical Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The politics of Sudan takes place in the framework of an authoritarian Republic in which all effective political power is in the hands of President Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction in whole or in part of an ethnic racial religious or national group The War in Darfur is a military conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan. Almost every state in the United States has a disorderly conduct law that makes it a crime to be drunk in public to &quotdisturb the peace" or to loiter in certain areas ^[25]

Hungarian minorities

Tom Lantos stood up for the rights of Hungarian minorities several times^[26][27] as a member of the US House of Representatives. Hungarians (or Magyars, magyarok are an Ethnic group primarily associated with Hungary. In a 2007 letter he asked Robert Fico, the Prime Minister of Slovakia to distance themselves from the Benes decrees, a reasonable process in the Hedvig Malina case, and to treat members of the Hungarian minority as equal^[28][29]. Robert Fico ( September 15, 1964 in Topoľčany) is the current Prime Minister of Slovakia (since July 4 2006The Beneš decrees is a current popular term (officially they are called Decrees of the President of the Republic - dekrety presidenta republiky) for a series of Hedvig Malina (Hedviga Malinová is an ethnic Hungarian student from Horné Mýto (Vámosfalu Slovakia, who was allegedly physically assaulted in a Hungarians or Magyars are the largest ethnic minority of Slovakia, numbering 520528 people or 9 He indirectly blamed the Slovak government for ethnically motivated attacks on Hungarians because the country's governing coalition included ultra-nationalist parties^[30].

Lebanon

On August 27, 2006, at the Israeli Foreign Ministry building in Israel, Lantos said he would block a foreign aid package promised by President George W. Bush to Lebanon and free the funds only when Beirut agreed to the deployment of international troops on the border withSyria. Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel (שר החוץ Sar HaHutz) is the political head of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. Aid (from the french word aide, also known as international aid, overseas aid, or foreign aid, especially in the United States) is George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Lantos was meeting at the time with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni after talks with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel (שר החוץ Sar HaHutz) is the political head of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Tzipora Malka &quotTzipi" Livni (ציפורה מלכה "ציפי" לבני born 8 July 1958 in Tel Aviv, Israel) is Foreign Affairs Minister The Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and is the most powerful political officer in Israel (the President of Israel being a titular figurehead Ehud Olmert (אהוד אולמרט ɛˈhud ˈolmeʁt born September 30, 1945) is the 12th and current Prime Minister of Israel and the former leader

Planned Retirement and Death

On January 2, 2008, Lantos announced he would not run for a 15th term in the House due to being diagnosed with esophagus cancer, but planned to complete his final term. Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire.2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Lantos was quoted as saying, "It is only in the United States that a penniless survivor of the Holocaust and a fighter in the anti-Nazi underground could have received an education, raised a family, and had the privilege of serving the last three decades of his life as a Member of Congress," he said. "I will never be able to express fully my profoundly felt gratitude to this great country. "^[31][32] Lantos died on February 11, 2008 of complications from esophageal cancer before finishing his term. A special election was held to fill his seat on April 8, 2008 and was won by former State Senator Jackie Speier who Lantos had endorsed as his successor. California's 12th congressional district special election 2008 occurred on April 8, 2008. The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. Karen Lorraine Jacqueline Speier, known as Jackie Speier (born May 14, 1950) is the Democratic Representative for California's 12th congressional ^[33].
Shortly after his death, Roy Blunt, the House Republican Whip stated that "Chairman Lantos will be remembered as a man of uncommon integrity and sincere moral conviction -- and a public servant who never wavered in his pursuit of a better, freer and more religiously tolerant world. Roy D Blunt (born January 10, 1950) is a Republican Politician from Missouri, representing ( map "^[34]

Congressional scorecards

See also

• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart

Project Vote Smart provides the following results from congressional scorecards. Project Vote Smart ( PVS) is a Non-profit, Non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in Project Vote Smart ( PVS) is a Non-profit, Non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in ^[35]

• American Civil Liberties Union — 91% for 2005–2006
• Americans for Democratic Action — 100% for 2006
• American Land Rights Association — 9% for 2006
• Americans for Tax Reform — 0% for 2006
• AFL-CIO — 100% in 2006
• Campaign for America's Future — 100% for 2005-2006
• Conservative Index-John Birch Society — 11% for Fall 2004
• Children's Defense Fund — 100% for 2006
• Drug Policy Alliance — 83% for 2006
• Drum Major Institute — 100% for 2005
• Family Research Council — 0% for 2006
• FreedomWorks — 0% for 2006
• Gun Owners of America — 0% for 2006
• Humane Society of the United States — 100% for 2005-2006
• League of Conservation Voters — 92% for 2006
• NARAL Pro-Choice America — 100% for 2006
• National Association of Wheat Growers — 37% for 2005
• National Education Association — 100% for 2005-2006
• National Federation of Independent Business — 14% for 2005-2006
• National Journal — Composite liberal score of 86. The American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU) consists of two separate Non-profit organizations the ACLU Foundation a 501(c(3 organization which focuses Americans for Democratic Action ( ADA) is an American political organization advocating liberal policies. Americans for Tax Reform is an Interest group seeking to reduce the overall level of Taxation in the United States, at the federal state and local level American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL-CIO, is a National trade union center, the largest federation of Campaign for America's Future ( CAF) is an American political organization of progressives. The John Birch Society is a political education and action organization founded by Robert W The Children's Defense Fund is a child advocacy and research group founded in 1973 by Marian Wright Edelman. The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA is a New York City -based Non-profit organization with the principal goal of ending the American " War on Drugs The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy (DMI is a Non-profit American progressive public policy institute founded during the Civil Rights The Family Research Council (FRC is a Christian right Non-profit Think tank and Lobbying organization.FreedomWorks is a conservative Non-profit organization based in Washington D The Humane Society of the United States ( HSUS) is a Washington D The League of Conservation Voters (LCV is a political advocacy organization that was founded in 1969 by American Environmentalist David Brower. NARAL Pro-Choice America (pronounced &quotNAY-ral" is a Pro-choice organization in the United States that engages in political action to oppose restrictions The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG is an advocacy group based in Washington D The National Education Association ( NEA) is the largest professional organization in the United States, representing Public school Teachers and The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB is a lobbying organization with offices in Washington D National Journal is a weekly magazine that reports on the current political environment and emerging political and policy trends 2% for 2006
• National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws — 20 for 2006
• National Organization for Women — 95% for 2005-2006
• National Rifle Association — F for 2006
• National Right to Life Committee — 0% for 2005-2006
• National Taxpayers Union — 10% for 2006
• Population Connection — 100% for 2006
• Republican Liberty Caucus — 16% for 2005
• Secular Coalition for America — 70% on 2006 scorecards^[36]
• United States Chamber of Commerce — 33% for 2006

Controversies

During a 1996 Congressional inquiry into the “Filegate” scandal, Lantos told witness Craig Livingstone that “with an infinitely more distinguished public record than yours, Admiral Boorda committed suicide when he may have committed a minor mistake.” Boorda, the Chief of Naval Operations, had taken his own life after his right to wear Combat V decorations had been questioned. Lantos was criticized by some (including fellow Congressman Joe Scarborough) who interpreted the remark as a suggestion that Livingstone too should kill himself.^[53] Craig Livingstone forgave Lantos for his remark by stating to the gallery, “He (Lantos) obviously learned much from the Nazis and speaks like them today.”^{[citation needed]}

On May 3, 2000, Lantos was involved in an automobile accident while driving on Capitol Hill. Lantos drove over a young boy’s foot and then failed to stop his vehicle. He was later fined over the incident for inattentive driving.^[54]

In 2002, Lantos, who was on the House Committee on International Affairs, took Colette Avital, a Labor Party member of the Israeli Knesset, by the hand and, according to Ha’aretz, tried to reassure her with these words: “My dear Colette, don’t worry. You won’t have any problem with Saddam. We’ll be rid of the bastard soon enough. And in his place we’ll install a pro-Western dictator, who will be good for us and for you.”^[55]He later denied saying this, but Avital confirmed it, according to Ben Terrall, an adviser to Maad H. Abu-Ghazalah, aLibertarian Party candidate who ran against Lantos that year.^[56]

In June 2007, Lantos called former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder a “political prostitute” at the dedication ceremony of the Victims of Communism Memorial, which caused a political backlash from the German government. Lantos was referring to Schröder’s ties to energy business in Russia, and remarked that this appellation would offend prostitutes.^[57]

In October 2007, Dutch parliament members said Lantos insulted them while discussing theWar on Terror by stating that the Netherlands had to help the United States because it liberated them in World War II, while adding that “Europe was not as outraged by Auschwitzas by Guantanamo Bay.”^[58]

Electoral history

California's 11th congressional district: Results 1980–1990^[43]

Year		Democrat	Votes	Pct		Republican	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct
1980		Tom Lantos	85,823	46%		Bill Royer	80,100	43%		Wilson Branch	Peace and Freedom	13,723	7%		William S.California's 11th congressional district is located in Northern California, encompassing parts of San Joaquin, Alameda, Contra Costa, and The US House election 1980 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1980 which coincided with the election of Ronald ReaganWade, Jr.	Libertarian	3,816	2%	*
1982		Tom Lantos	109,812	57%		Bill Royer	76,462	40%		Chuck Olson	Libertarian	2,920	2%		Wilson Branch	Peace and Freedom	1,928	1%	*
1984		Tom Lantos	147,607	70%		Jack Hickey	59,625	28%		Nicholas W.The Libertarian Party is a United States political party founded on December 11 1971 The US House election 1982 was an election for the United States House of Representatives on 1982-11-02 in the middle of President Ronald ReaganThe Libertarian Party is a United States political party founded on December 11 1971 The US House election 1984 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1984 which coincided with the re-election of PresidentKudrovzeff	American Independent	3,883	2%
1986		Tom Lantos	112,380	74%		Bill Quraishi	39,315	26%
1988		Tom Lantos	145,484	71%		Bill Quraishi	50,050	24%		Bill Wade	Libertarian	4,683	2%		Victor Martinez	Peace and Freedom	2,906	1%	*
1990		Tom Lantos	105,029	66%		Bill Quraishi	45,818	29%		June R. The American Independent Party is a California Political party.The US House election 1986 was an election for the United States House of Representatives held on November 4, 1986, in the middle of President The US House election 1988 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1988 which coincided with the election of George H The Libertarian Party is a United States political party founded on December 11 1971 The US House election 1990 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1990 which occurred in the middle of President George H Genis	Libertarian	8,518	5%

*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 1980, Nicholas W. The Libertarian Party is a United States political party founded on December 11 1971 Kudrovzeff, American Independent Party, received 1,550 votes (1%). The American Independent Party is a California Political party. In 1982, Nicholas W. Kudrovzeff, American Independent Party, received 1,250 votes (1%). The American Independent Party is a California Political party. In 1988, Nicholas W. Kudrovzeff,American Independent Party, received 1,893 votes (1%). The American Independent Party is a California Political party.

California's 12th congressional district: Results 1992–2006^[43]

Year		Democrat	Votes	Pct		Republican	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct
1992		Tom Lantos	157,205	69%		Jim Tomlin	53,278	23%		Mary Weldon	Peace and Freedom	10,142	4%		George O'Brien	Libertarian	7,782	3%
1994		Tom Lantos	118,408	67%		Deborah Wilder	57,228	33%
1996		Tom Lantos	149,049	72%		Storm Jenkins	49,276	24%		Christopher V.California's 12th congressional district spans from the southwestern portions of San Francisco in the north down to San Mateo in the south and from MossThe US House election 1992 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1992 which coincided with the election of Bill Clinton asThe Peace and Freedom Party ( PFP) is a ballot-listed minor Political party in California. The Libertarian Party is a United States political party founded on December 11 1971 The US House election 1994 was an election for the United States House of Representatives on November 8 1994, in the middle of President The US House election 1996 was an election for the United States House of Representatives on November 5, 1996 which coincided with the re-electionA. Schmidt	Libertarian	6,111	3%		Richard Borg	Natural Law	3,472	2%
1998		Tom Lantos	128,135	74%		Robert Evans, Jr. The Libertarian Party is a United States political party founded on December 11 1971 The Natural Law Party was a United States Political party affiliated with the international Natural Law Party. The US House election 1998 was the midterm Congressional election during President Bill Clinton 's second term	36,562	21%		Michael J. Moloney	Libertarian	8,515	5%
2000		Tom Lantos	158,404	75%		Mike Garza	44,162	21%		Barbara J. The Libertarian Party is a United States political party founded on December 11 1971 The elections for the United States House of Representatives in 2000 coincided with the disputed election of George W Less	Libertarian	6,431	3%		Rifkin Young	Natural Law	3,559	2%
2002		Tom Lantos	105,597	68%		Michael Moloney	38,381	25%		Maad H. The Libertarian Party is a United States political party founded on December 11 1971 The Natural Law Party was a United States Political party affiliated with the international Natural Law Party. Elections for the United States House of Representatives on 5 November 2002 was in the middle of President George W Abu-Ghazalah	Libertarian	11,006	7%
2004		Tom Lantos	171,852	68%		Mike Garza	52,593	21%		Pat Gray	Green	23,038	9%		Harland Harrison	Libertarian	5,116	2%
2006		Tom Lantos	138,650	76%		Michael Moloney	43,674	24%

References

1. ^ ^a b Project Vote Smart: Tom Lantos
2. ^ "AP News Alert", Associated Press, 2008-02-11. The Libertarian Party is a United States political party founded on December 11 1971 Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 109th Congress were held on November 2, 2004. One of the Political parties in the United States, and similar in mission to many of the worldwide Green Parties, the Greens have been active as a third party The Libertarian Party is a United States political party founded on December 11 1971 This article discusses only races that resulted in a seat's party switch in the U 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 660 BC - Traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu. "Rep. Tom Lantos of California, the only Holocaust survivor ever to serve in Congress, died early Monday morning, his spokeswoman said. "
3. ^ Lantos, stricken with cancer, to retire at the end of the year San Francisco Chronicle, January 2, 2008. Accessed online 2 January, 2008
4. ^ California's Lantos says cancer will prevent another House run. Los Angeles Times(January 3, 2008). Retrieved on 29 January 2008
5. ^ Janine Zacharia, Lantos's List, Jerusalem Post, dated 13 April but year not given, presumably 2001. Events 904 - Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed Antipope Christopher. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The Jerusalem Post is an Israeli daily English-language Broadsheet Newspaper, founded on December 1, 1932 Janine Zacharia, Lantos' D.C. office is a Living Tribute to Wallenberg, originally from Jewish Bulletin of Northern California (credited as aJerusalem Post Service story, and appears to be a reworking of the previous story), April 20, 2001; reproduced on Lantos's congressional web site. Aleza Goldsmith, Arab-American challenges Lantos in three-way race, j. (formerly Jewish Bulletin of Northern California), October 4, 2002. j is a weekly community Newspaper serving the Jewish community of Northern California. All accessed 25 September 2006.
6. ^ Aleza Goldsmith, Arab-American challenges Lantos in three-way race, j. (formerlyJewish Bulletin of Northern California), October 4, 2002. j is a weekly community Newspaper serving the Jewish community of Northern California. Accessed 25 September 2006.
7. ^ Mark Simon, Lantos Sells House in Hillsborough, San Francisco Chronicle, June 22, 2000. Accessed 25 September 2006.
8. ^ Tom Lantos for Congress - Biography
9. ^ Denver inventor Dick dies after crash, Denver Post, April 11, 2008.
10. ^ Timber Dick, a former city council candidate, dies, Rocky Mountain News, April 11, 2008.
11. ^ Tom Lantos at the Internet Movie Database. Accessed 25 September 2006.
12. ^ Congressional Progressive Caucus membership list, accessed 25 September 2006.
13. ^ Vote Smart: Tom Lantos: Gun issues, accessed 25 September 2006.
14. ^ Vote Smart: Tom Lantos: Abortion issues, accessed 25 September 2006.
15. ^ Vote Smart: Tom Lantos: Environmental Issues, accessed 25 September 2006.
16. ^ Edward Epstein, BAY AREA: Recreation area about to get bigger: Historic rancho near Devil's Slide a deal at $15 million, San Francisco Chronicle, December 7, 2005. Accessed online 25 September 2006.
17. ^ Bush signs Lantos’ open space bill, San Mateo Daily Journal, December 22, 2005. Accessed online 25 September 2006.
18. ^ Index of Congressional Human Rights Caucus stories on Lantos's congressional site. Accessed 25 September 2006.
19. ^ Chronicle Washington Bureau, Bush inks Jewish bill by Lantos, San Francisco Chronicle, October 19, 2004. Accessed 25 September 2006.
20. ^ ^a b c CONGRESSMAN SAYS GIRL WAS CREDIBLE, The New York Times. January 12, 1992
21. ^ Kuwaiti Gave Consistent Account of Atrocities, The New York Times. January 27, 1992
22. ^ ^a b Deception on Capitol Hill, The New York Times. January 15, 1992
23. ^ "THREATS AND RESPONSES: THE CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION; LAWMAKERS BEGIN PUSH TO GIVE BUSH AUTHORITY ON IRAQ," by Alison Mitchell, The New York Times, October 4, 2002
24. ^ Petraeus Hearing, Opening Statement by Chairman Lantos at hearing With General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. September 10, 2007
25. ^ Jim Doyle, Five members of Congress arrested over Sudan protest, San Francisco Chronicle, April 28, 2006. Accessed September 25, 2006.
26. ^ Letter of Lantos, titled "The Arrest Of Hungarian Intellectual Miklós Duray By The Government Of Czechoslovakia". US Congressional Record. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6.
27. ^ Official Letter from Tom Lantos to Vojislav Kostunica. Congress of the United States, Committee on International Relations. Retrieved on 2008-03-25. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6.
28. ^ Official Letter from Tom Lantos to Robert Fico. Congress of the United States, Committee on Foreign affairs. Retrieved on 2008-03-25. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6.
29. ^ Chairman of U.S. Foreign Affairs Committee Calls on Slovakian Prime Minister to disavow Benes Decrees, ensure justice for Hungarian minority. Press release of the Hungarian American Coalition USA. Retrieved on 2008-03-25. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6.
30. ^ U.S. lawmaker blames Slovak government for ethnically motivated attacks on Hungarians. International Herald Tribune. Retrieved on 2008-02-25. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor
31. ^ Congressman Tom Lantos to Complete his Congressional Service at the End of Current Term
32. ^ CQ Politics | California Dems Expected to Vie for Lantos Seat
33. ^ Inside Bay Area - Lantos endorses Speier as 'our best candidate'
34. ^ - Rep. Tom Lantos of California dies at 80
35. ^ {{cite web f| url = http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=26739 | title = "Representative Tom Lantos (CA)" | work = vote-smart. org | publisher = Project Vote Smart | accessdate = 2007-12-31 | archiveurl =http://web.archive.org/web/20060301222402/http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=26739 | archivedate = 2006-03-01 }}
36. ^ "Scorecard for the 109th Congress U.S. House of Representatives". Project Vote Smart ( PVS) is a Non-profit, Non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in Secular. org. Secular Coalition for America. Retrieved on 2007-12-31. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia.
37. ^ George Lardner, Jr, Panel Sputters; Immunity Vote Fails, The Washington Post, May 14, 1998. Accessed September 11, 1997. Events 9 - The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest ends 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar
38. ^ Jackie Kucinich, In trouble with the law: run-ins with police are fact of Capitol life, The Hill, May 11, 2006. Accessed Feb. 15 2008. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common
39. ^ Akiva Eldar, They're jumping in head first Ha'aretz, September 30, 2002
40. ^ Ben Terrall, Tom Lantos' Big Lie: The Pro-War Congressman Calls for Replacing Saddam with a Pro-West "Dictator" CounterPunch, October 25, 2002
41. ^ US Lawmaker's "Prostitute" Remarks Provokes Germany | Germany | Deutsche Welle | 13.06.2007
42. ^ The Associated Press, Senior US Democratic lawmaker offends Dutch counterparts with historical remarks, International Herald Tribune, October 27, 2007. Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. AccessedOctober 27, 2007. Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
43. ^ ^a b Election Statistics. Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved on2008-01-10. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war.

External links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Current Bills Sponsored at StateSurge. The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D The Center for Responsive Politics (CRP is a nonpartisan research group based in Washington D com
• Congressional profile at GovTrack. us
• Biography at Find A Grave, retrieved on 2008-05-04
• Notable Names DataBase — Tom Lantos
• SourceWatch Congresspedia — Tom Lantos profile
• Tom Lantos for Congress, Campaign site
• They're jumping in head first Akiva Eldar, Ha'aretz, September 30, 2002
• Lantos' D.C. office is a living tribute to Wallenberg Janine Zacharia, Jewish News Weekly of Northern California, April 20, 2001
• Lantos Lashes Out at Germany and France
• Lantos set to retire after 27 years in public office -- Article in the Canadian Hungarian Journal

Political offices
Preceded by William H. Royer	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 11th congressional district 1981–1993	Succeeded by Richard W. Pombo
Preceded by Tom Campbell	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 12th congressional district 1993–2008	Succeeded by Jackie Speier
Preceded by Henry J. Hyde	Chairman of House Committee on Foreign Affairs 2007–2008	Succeeded by Howard Berman

Find A Grave is a Website allowing its users to access maintain and expand an online Database of Burial records 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1256 - The Augustinian monastic order is constituted at the Lecceto Monastery when Pope Alexander IV Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1303 - The University of Rome La Sapienza is instituted by Pope Boniface VIII. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. William Howard Royer (b April 11, 1920) is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. These are tables of congressional delegations from California in the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. Thomas J (Tom Campbell (born August 14, 1952) is a former congressman from California's 12th and 15th districts the current dean of the Haas School of Henry John Hyde ( April 18, 1924 – November 29, 2007) an American politician was a Republican member of the The US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, also known as the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives Howard Lawrence Berman (born April 15 1941) has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1983 representing

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