Theodore S. Weiss
Encyclopedia
Theodore S. "Ted" Weiss (September 17, 1927–September 14, 1992) was a Democratic
member of the United States House of Representatives
from New York
.
Weiss was born in Gáva
, Hungary
and emigrated to the United States in 1938 as his family fled the Nazi invasion of Hungary. He grew up in Perth Amboy, New Jersey
. Weiss served in the United States Army
from 1946 until 1947. He graduated from Syracuse University
in 1951, earning a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law
in 1952. In 1953, Weiss became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Between 1955 and 1959, he served as assistant New York County, New York (Manhattan
) district attorney, before leaving the position to return to private practice.
From 1962 until 1976, Weiss was a member of the New York City Council
. He was a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention
. Weiss was elected to Congress in 1976, representing most of Manhattan's West Side
, and served from January 3, 1977, until his death. Weiss was known for his avid support of liberal causes, including civil rights
, open government, and the arts. He served on the House Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs, the House Committee on Government Operations, and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. In 1985 Weiss headed a committee that found 90 percent of the twenty to thirty thousand new drugs used on farm animals had not been approved by the FDA in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
. They also found that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) failed to remove several drugs already known to be carcinogens.
Weiss died three days before the state's Democratic primary election. Due to the Congressman's ailing health, five Democrats appeared on the ballot to challenge him. Nonetheless, Weiss posthumously won the primary by a huge margin. State Assemblyman
Jerry Nadler was named to replace Weiss on the ballot and was handily elected in November; Nadler still holds the seat.
A federal office building located at 290 Broadway
in Lower Manhattan
, adjacent to the African Burial Ground National Monument
, has been named in Weiss' honor.
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 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...
.
Weiss was born in Gáva
Gávavencsello
Gávavencsellő is a village in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of and has a population of 3938 people .-Leaders:...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and emigrated to the United States in 1938 as his family fled the Nazi invasion of Hungary. He grew up in Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Perth Amboy is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The City of Perth Amboy is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 50,814. Perth Amboy is known as the "City by the Bay", referring to Raritan Bay.-Name:The Lenape...
. Weiss served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1946 until 1947. He graduated from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in 1951, earning a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law
Syracuse University College of Law
Syracuse University College of Law , founded in 1895, is a Juris Doctor degree-granting law school of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. It is one of only four law schools in Upstate New York Syracuse University College of Law (SUCOL), founded in 1895, is a Juris Doctor degree-granting law...
in 1952. In 1953, Weiss became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Between 1955 and 1959, he served as assistant New York County, New York (Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
) district attorney, before leaving the position to return to private practice.
From 1962 until 1976, Weiss was a member of the New York City Council
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
. He was a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention
1972 Democratic National Convention
The 1972 Democratic National Convention was the presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party for the 1972 presidential election. It was held at Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida on July 10–13, 1972....
. Weiss was elected to Congress in 1976, representing most of Manhattan's West Side
West Side (Manhattan)
The West Side of Manhattan refers to the side of Manhattan Island which abuts the Hudson River and faces New Jersey. Fifth Avenue, Central Park, and lower Broadway separate it from the East Side. The major neighborhoods on the West Side are West Harlem, Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley, Upper...
, and served from January 3, 1977, until his death. Weiss was known for his avid support of liberal causes, including civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
, open government, and the arts. He served on the House Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs, the House Committee on Government Operations, and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. In 1985 Weiss headed a committee that found 90 percent of the twenty to thirty thousand new drugs used on farm animals had not been approved by the FDA in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
The United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act , is a set of laws passed by Congress in 1938 giving authority to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to oversee the safety of food, drugs, and cosmetics. A principal author of this law was Royal S. Copeland, a three-term U.S. Senator from...
. They also found that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) failed to remove several drugs already known to be carcinogens.
Weiss died three days before the state's Democratic primary election. Due to the Congressman's ailing health, five Democrats appeared on the ballot to challenge him. Nonetheless, Weiss posthumously won the primary by a huge margin. State Assemblyman
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
Jerry Nadler was named to replace Weiss on the ballot and was handily elected in November; Nadler still holds the seat.
A federal office building located at 290 Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
in Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
, adjacent to the African Burial Ground National Monument
African Burial Ground National Monument
African Burial Ground National Monument at Duane Street and African Burial Ground Way in Lower Manhattan preserves a site containing the remains of more than 400 Africans buried during the 17th and 18th centuries. Historians estimate there may have been 15,000-20,000 burials there...
, has been named in Weiss' honor.