Joshua Eilberg
Encyclopedia
Joshua Eilberg was a Democratic
member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
.
. He graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
and Temple University
School of Law, both in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
, 1964
and 1968
, and the Democratic ward leader, fifty-fourth ward, city of Philadelphia. He was elected in 1966
as a Democrat to the 90th
and to the five succeeding Congresses. In 1974
, Eilberg defeated Chris Matthews
, now host of MSNBC
's Hardball with Chris Matthews
, in the Democratic primary. In 1978, he defeated Mark B. Cohen
in the Democratic primary, before losing to Charles F. Dougherty
. While in office, he served as the Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and International Law.
investigated Eilberg for money he received in connection with a federal grant to Hahnemann University Hospital
in Philadelphia. Eilberg contacted the Carter White House, and Marston was later fired. Eilberg lost his 1978 reelection bid, and, three months later, pleaded guilty to conflict of interest charges. He was sentenced to five years of probation and a $10,000 fine.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Early life and education
Eilburg was born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. He graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
and Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
School of Law, both in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Legal and political career
He entered the United States Naval Reserve. He entered private practice as a lawyer. He became assistant district attorney of the city of Philadelphia from 1952 to 1954. He was elected as a member of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, serving from 1954 to 1966. He was the majority leader of this body in 1965-1966. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 19601960 Democratic National Convention
The 1960 Democratic National Convention was held in Los Angeles. In the end, the Kennedy-Johnson ticket was assembled and went on to secure an electoral college victory and a narrow popular vote plurality in the fall over the Republican candidates Richard M...
, 1964
1964 Democratic National Convention
The 1964 Democratic National Convention was the 1964 presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party. It took place at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey from August 24 to 27, 1964. Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson -- who had been Vice President under...
and 1968
1968 Democratic National Convention
The 1968 Democratic National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois, from August 26 to August 29, 1968. Because Democratic President Lyndon Johnson had announced he would not seek a second term, the purpose of the convention was to...
, and the Democratic ward leader, fifty-fourth ward, city of Philadelphia. He was elected in 1966
United States House election, 1966
The U.S. House election, 1966 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1966 which occurred in the middle of President Lyndon Johnson's second term...
as a Democrat to the 90th
90th United States Congress
The Ninetieth 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, 1967 to January 3, 1969, during the last two years of...
and to the five succeeding Congresses. In 1974
United States House election, 1974
The U.S. House election, 1974 was an election for the United States House of Representatives in 1974 that occurred in the wake of the Watergate scandal, which had forced President Richard M. Nixon to resign in favor of Gerald Ford...
, Eilberg defeated Chris Matthews
Chris Matthews
Christopher John "Chris" Matthews is an American news anchor and political commentator, known for his nightly hour-long talk show, Hardball with Chris Matthews, which is televised on the American cable television channel MSNBC...
, now host of MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
's Hardball with Chris Matthews
Hardball with Chris Matthews
Hardball with Chris Matthews is a talk show on MSNBC, broadcast weekdays at 5 and 7 PM hosted by Chris Matthews. It originally aired on now-defunct America's Talking and later CNBC. The current title was derived from a book Matthews wrote in 1988, Hardball: How Politics Is Played Told by One Who...
, in the Democratic primary. In 1978, he defeated Mark B. Cohen
Mark B. Cohen
Mark B. Cohen is a Democratic politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Succeeding Eugene Gelfand, he has represented Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 202 in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since June 10, 1974, making him the most senior member in the Pennsylvania...
in the Democratic primary, before losing to Charles F. Dougherty
Charles F. Dougherty
Charles Francis Dougherty is a former Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Charles F. Dougherty was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, 1957-1977 . He graduated from St...
. While in office, he served as the Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and International Law.
Controversy, indictment and guilty plea
In 1978, then-U.S. Attorney David W. MarstonDavid W. Marston
David Weese "Dave" Marston, Sr. , is a Philadelphia lawyer and author removed from his position as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 1978 by U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Marston was an appointee of Carter's predecessor, Gerald R. Ford, Jr...
investigated Eilberg for money he received in connection with a federal grant to Hahnemann University Hospital
Hahnemann University Hospital
Hahnemann University Hospital, established in 1885 and named after Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, is a hospital in Center City, Philadelphia. It is affiliated with Drexel University College of Medicine and serves as its Center City Hahnemann campus.-History:In 1993 Hahnemann...
in Philadelphia. Eilberg contacted the Carter White House, and Marston was later fired. Eilberg lost his 1978 reelection bid, and, three months later, pleaded guilty to conflict of interest charges. He was sentenced to five years of probation and a $10,000 fine.