Elliott H. Levitas
Encyclopedia
Elliott Harris Levitas (born December 26, 1930) is a former U.S. Representative from Georgia's 4th Congressional District.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Levitas graduated from Grady High School in 1948. He attended Emory University
, where he was a member of the secret honor society D.V.S.
He earned a J.D. from the Emory University School of Law
in 1956. A Rhodes scholar, he received a masters of law degree from Oxford University, England, in 1958.
He conducted additional study in law at the University of Michigan from 1954 to 1955. He was admitted to the Georgia bar in 1955 and commenced practice in Atlanta. He was in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1958. He served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1965 to 1974. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention, 1964.
Levitas was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fourth
and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1975-January 3, 1985). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Ninety-ninth
Congress in 1984. He is a resident of Atlanta, Georgia.
Levitas represented mostly DeKalb County
in the U.S. House. For four terms prior to his election, Benjamin Blackburn, a Republican
, represented the area, largely due to suburban voters fleeing Atlanta's school desegregation efforts and the rise of African-American political influence. However, some liberal whites in the Decatur
and Emory University areas of the district (and a few disgruntled Republicans elsewhere) turned against Blackburn in 1974 for his support of President Richard Nixon
in the Watergate scandal, enabling Levitas to get elected. Levitas composed a mostly moderate record in the House, carefully balancing liberal and conservative interests. However, redistricting in the 1980s brought more Republican voters into Levitas' territory, and he succumbed in 1984 to Pat Swindall
, who was later convicted of felony perjury charges. Most of Levitas' district at the time is now solidly Democratic territory, thanks to white flight
turning many older DeKalb County suburbs into desirable residences for middle-class African-Americans.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Levitas graduated from Grady High School in 1948. He attended Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
, where he was a member of the secret honor society D.V.S.
He earned a J.D. from the Emory University School of Law
Emory University School of Law
Emory University School of Law is a first-tier US law school that is part of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. It is ranked #30 among ABA-approved law schools by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report...
in 1956. A Rhodes scholar, he received a masters of law degree from Oxford University, England, in 1958.
He conducted additional study in law at the University of Michigan from 1954 to 1955. He was admitted to the Georgia bar in 1955 and commenced practice in Atlanta. He was in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1958. He served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1965 to 1974. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention, 1964.
Levitas was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fourth
94th United States Congress
The Ninety-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1975 to January 3, 1977, during the administration...
and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1975-January 3, 1985). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Ninety-ninth
99th United States Congress
The Ninety-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1985 to January 3, 1987, during the fifth and sixth...
Congress in 1984. He is a resident of Atlanta, Georgia.
Levitas represented mostly DeKalb County
DeKalb County, Georgia
DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population of the county was 691,893 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is the city of Decatur. It is bordered to the west by Fulton County and contains roughly 10% of the city of Atlanta...
in the U.S. House. For four terms prior to his election, Benjamin Blackburn, a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, represented the area, largely due to suburban voters fleeing Atlanta's school desegregation efforts and the rise of African-American political influence. However, some liberal whites in the Decatur
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
and Emory University areas of the district (and a few disgruntled Republicans elsewhere) turned against Blackburn in 1974 for his support of President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
in the Watergate scandal, enabling Levitas to get elected. Levitas composed a mostly moderate record in the House, carefully balancing liberal and conservative interests. However, redistricting in the 1980s brought more Republican voters into Levitas' territory, and he succumbed in 1984 to Pat Swindall
Pat Swindall
Patrick Lynn Swindall Sr. is an American politician.Swindall was born in Gadsden, Alabama. He graduated from Briarcliff High School and with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Georgia in 1972 and also obtained his J.D...
, who was later convicted of felony perjury charges. Most of Levitas' district at the time is now solidly Democratic territory, thanks to white flight
White flight
White flight has been a term that originated in the United States, starting in the mid-20th century, and applied to the large-scale migration of whites of various European ancestries from racially mixed urban regions to more racially homogeneous suburban or exurban regions. It was first seen as...
turning many older DeKalb County suburbs into desirable residences for middle-class African-Americans.