Norman F. Lent
Encyclopedia
Norman Frederick Lent is a former Republican
-Conservative
member of the United States House of Representatives
from New York
.
Lent was born in Oceanside
, Long Island, New York. He graduated from Malverne
High School in 1948, from Hofstra University
in 1952, and from Cornell University Law School
in 1957. Lent served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1954, during and immediately after the Korean War
, achieving the rank of Lieutenant.
After his military service, Lent worked as a lawyer
in private practice in Lynbrook, New York
beginning in 1957, and served as an Associate Police Justice in East Rockaway
in 1959-60. He then worked as the Confidential Law Secretary (law clerk
) to New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas P. Farley from 1960 to 1962.
In 1962, Lent was elected to the New York State Senate
from Nassau County
, and served from 1963 until 1970. In 1970, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In addition to serving as a Congressman, Lent was selected as a delegate or alternate delegate to the 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, and 1992 Republican National Convention
s.
, by 9,300 votes in a hotly contested election. One of his campaign slogans was the play on words, "Let's vote out Lowenstein for Lent." The election was viewed nationwide as a referendum on President
Richard Nixon
's conduct of the Vietnam War
. Lent supported Nixon's policy of gradually withdrawing American Forces from Vietnam while turning the fighting over to the South Vietnam
ese Army.
After first being elected in 1970, Lent was reelected to Congress ten times, serving as a member of the 92nd to 102nd Congresses, from January 3, 1971 to January 3, 1993.
As a U.S. Representative, Lent was endorsed several times by Long Island's largest newspaper, Newsday
, whose editors called Lent a "key player in environmental and energy legislation". He was most active as a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and of the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, ultimately becoming the ranking minority member
of both committees.
Lent worked on drafting and handled floor debate for the Republican minority on some of the most sweeping environmental, energy, telecommunications and transportation legislation enacted during his tenure. These included the Clean Air Act
Amendments of 1990, National Energy Policy Act of 1992, Cable Television Act, Legislation ending the 1992 National Rail Strike, the Superfund Hazardous Waste Cleanup Act (CERCLA), Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA), Toxic Substances Control Act (TOSCA), the Conrail Privatization Act, and the Insider Trading and Securities Fraud, Enforcement Act.
Lent holds Honorary Doctor of Laws Degrees from Hofstra University (1988) and Molloy College
(1985) and is the recipient of the Prime Minister's Medal, State of Israel (1977), Distinguished Achievement Medal, Holland Society of New York (1987) and the George Estabrook achievement Award, Hofstra University (1967), along with many other awards.
Lent retired undefeated from Congress in 1992, not seeking renomination to the 103rd Congress.
He was the founding partner of the Washington, DC consulting firm of Lent Scrivner Roth, LLC, which dissolved following his retirement in July, 2008.
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...
-Conservative
Conservative Party of New York
The Conservative Party of New York State is an American political party active in the state of New York. It is not part of any nationwide party, nor is it affiliated with the American Conservative Party, which it predates by over 40 years....
member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Lent was born in Oceanside
Oceanside, New York
Oceanside is a hamlet located in the south part of the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York. The population was 32,109 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Long Island, New York. He graduated from Malverne
Malverne, New York
Malverne is a village in the town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 8,514 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land.-History:...
High School in 1948, from Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
in 1952, and from Cornell University Law School
Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School, located in Ithaca, New York, is a graduate school of Cornell University and one of the five Ivy League law schools. The school confers three law degrees...
in 1957. Lent served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1954, during and immediately after the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, achieving the rank of Lieutenant.
After his military service, Lent worked as a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in private practice in Lynbrook, New York
Lynbrook, New York
Lynbrook is a village in Nassau County, New York, USA. The population was 19,427 at the 2010 census. The Village of Lynbrook is inside the Town of Hempstead. The Village of Lynbrook's current mayor is William Hendrick....
beginning in 1957, and served as an Associate Police Justice in East Rockaway
East Rockaway, New York
East Rockaway is a village in Nassau County, New York, in the United States. The population was 9,818 at the 2010 census.The Incorporated Village of East Rockaway is in the town Hempstead, adjacent to Lynbrook, Hewlett and Oceanside. The primary ethnicities are mainly Italian and Irish...
in 1959-60. He then worked as the Confidential Law Secretary (law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
) to New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas P. Farley from 1960 to 1962.
In 1962, Lent was elected to the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
from Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
, and served from 1963 until 1970. In 1970, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In addition to serving as a Congressman, Lent was selected as a delegate or alternate delegate to the 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, and 1992 Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
s.
1970 House election
Lent entered Congress by defeating an incumbent, the controversial Democratic representative Allard K. LowensteinAllard K. Lowenstein
Allard Kenneth Lowenstein, , was a liberal Democratic politician, a one-term congressman representing the 5th District in Nassau County, New York from 1969 until 1971. His work on civil rights and the antiwar movement has been cited as an inspiration by public figures including Congressmen, John...
, by 9,300 votes in a hotly contested election. One of his campaign slogans was the play on words, "Let's vote out Lowenstein for Lent." The election was viewed nationwide as a referendum on President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
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...
's conduct of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Lent supported Nixon's policy of gradually withdrawing American Forces from Vietnam while turning the fighting over to the South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
ese Army.
After first being elected in 1970, Lent was reelected to Congress ten times, serving as a member of the 92nd to 102nd Congresses, from January 3, 1971 to January 3, 1993.
As a U.S. Representative, Lent was endorsed several times by Long Island's largest newspaper, Newsday
Newsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
, whose editors called Lent a "key player in environmental and energy legislation". He was most active as a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and of the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, ultimately becoming the ranking minority member
Ranking minority member
In United States politics, the term ranking minority member refers to the most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the minority party. This position is sometimes referred to as ranking member. On many committees the ranking minority member, along with the chairman,...
of both committees.
Lent worked on drafting and handled floor debate for the Republican minority on some of the most sweeping environmental, energy, telecommunications and transportation legislation enacted during his tenure. These included the Clean Air Act
Clean Air Act
A Clean Air Act is one of a number of pieces of legislation relating to the reduction of airborne contaminants, smog and air pollution in general. The use by governments to enforce clean air standards has contributed to an improvement in human health and longer life spans...
Amendments of 1990, National Energy Policy Act of 1992, Cable Television Act, Legislation ending the 1992 National Rail Strike, the Superfund Hazardous Waste Cleanup Act (CERCLA), Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA), Toxic Substances Control Act (TOSCA), the Conrail Privatization Act, and the Insider Trading and Securities Fraud, Enforcement Act.
Lent holds Honorary Doctor of Laws Degrees from Hofstra University (1988) and Molloy College
Molloy College
Molloy College is located in Rockville Centre, New York, a Nassau County community on Long Island, in the United States. with a brand new, state-of-the art residential facility. It also has a new 550 seat performing arts facility-- The Madison Theatre...
(1985) and is the recipient of the Prime Minister's Medal, State of Israel (1977), Distinguished Achievement Medal, Holland Society of New York (1987) and the George Estabrook achievement Award, Hofstra University (1967), along with many other awards.
Lent retired undefeated from Congress in 1992, not seeking renomination to the 103rd Congress.
He was the founding partner of the Washington, DC consulting firm of Lent Scrivner Roth, LLC, which dissolved following his retirement in July, 2008.