Scheuer, James H. (James Haas), 1920-2005

James Haas "Jim" Scheuer (February 6, 1920 – August 30, 2005) was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the U.S. Representative from New York's 21st (1965-1973), 11th (1975-1983), and 8th (1983-1993) districts.

Born in New York City, he graduated from the Fieldston School before earning an A.B. from Swarthmore College, an I.A. from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, and an LL.B. from Columbia University. Scheuer served in the United States Army from 1943 until 1945. After returning home, he was hired by the Foreign Economic Administration, working there from 1945 to 1946. From 1951 to 1957, he became employed by the Office of Price Stabilization.

After an unsuccessful run for the House in 1962, Scheuer was elected to Congress in 1964, serving from 1965 until 1973. Scheuer was an early and outspoken opponent of the Vietnam War and opposed governmental interference in private matters such as contraception and abortion. A strong liberal, he supported legislation for the Head Start early education program, environmental protection and automotive safety. He also was a staunch supporter of Israel and the cause of Soviet Jews. He introduced a bill (HR 10638) to "provide for the establishment of the Negro History Museum Commission."

Population loss in the Bronx and redistricting in 1970 and again in 1972 pitted Scheuer against two other incumbent Congressmen in succession. In 1970 he defeated Representative Jacob H. Gilbert but two years later he was defeated by Representative Jonathan Bingham. Scheuer ran for Congress once again in 1974, moving to Neponsit, Queens in a different New York City district to succeed retiring Democrat Frank J. Brasco, who represented parts of south Queens and Brooklyn. He served his second stint as Representative from January 3, 1975 until January 3, 1993. In the 1980 Census his district was once again eliminated and he again moved to an open seat, this time based in Northeast Queens.

Following his retirement, he served as the United States Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development from 1994 until 1996. He died in Washington, D.C. and was buried in Mount Hebron Cemetery in Flushing, Queens.