Metzenbaum, Howard M. (Howard Morton), 1917-2008

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Howard Morton Metzenbaum (June 4, 1917 – March 12, 2008) was an American politician and businessman. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a U.S. Senator from Ohio from January to December 1974 and from December 1976 to January 1995.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he attended Glenville High School there before earning B.A. and LL.B. degrees from Ohio State University. Adter earning his law degree, Metzenbaum found his Jewish faith prevented potential law firms from hiring him. Facing bitter anti-Semitism, Metzenbaum returned to Cleveland and found employment representing more open minded labor union. Metzenbaum represented and filed tax returns for the Communications Workers of America and the International Association of Machinists before entering politics in 1943 by winning a seat in the Ohio House as a Democrat. Metzenbaum used his success to catapult him into the Ohio Senate in 1947, but left politics in 1950 to pursue wealth in private enterprise.

Metzenbaum and lifelong friend Alva T. (Ted) Bonda founded Airport Parking Company of America (APCOA) in 1949. In 1951 they secured a contract to operate at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport, inaugurating the airport parking industry. Metzenbaum earned his fortune through APCOA, eventually selling the business to International Telephone & Telegraph (ITT) in 1966. In 1958, Metzenbaum earned political capital as the campaign manager for Stephen M. Young's successful challenge to Republican Senator and former Vice-Presidential candidate (1944) John Bricker. Metzenbaum returned as Young's campaign manager, successfully earning his candidate re-election in 1964. When Young announced he would not seek a third term, Metzenbaum readied his own candidacy for the 1970 election. Although he narrowly defeated astronaut John Glenn in the primary, Metzenbaum lost the general election to Republican candidate Robert Taft, Jr., heir to the Taft political family.

Undaunted, Metzenbaum returned to private business in Cleveland, where he and David Skylar purchased the suburban Cleveland chain Sun Newspapers. Fate handed Metzenbaum a US Senate seat in 1974, when Ohio's Democratic Governor, Jack Gilligan, appointed Metzenbaum to fill the seat vacated by Senator William B. Saxbe, who had accepted Richard Nixon's offer to serve as US Attorney General. Forced to defend his seat mere months later, Metzenbaum lost the Democratic primary to Glenn who would go on to win the general election.

In 1976, Metzenbaum sought a rematch against Taft. The race was close again, but this time he won, riding on Jimmy Carter's coattails. Taft resigned the seat a few days before his term ended, allowing Metzenbaum to be sworn in a few days early and hence have a small edge in seniority over other senators newly elected in 1976. He was re-elected in 1982 and 1988. While in the Senate, Metzenbaum was a powerful liberal. He was known as "Senator No" (a nickname shared by Republican Jesse Helms of North Carolina) and "Headline Howard" and a "headline hog" due to his ability to filibuster bills by offering scores of amendments as well as blocking hidden special-interest legislation. Metzenbaum took a particular interest in antitrust and consumer protection issues, often threatening to repeal the antitrust law exemption given to Major League Baseball. Since his retirement, the issue has gone largely unaddressed. Metzenbaum became well known for his service on the Senate Judiciary Committee, particularly because of his efforts to keep stringent antitrust laws and his pro-choice stance on abortion.

Metzenbaum announced he would not seek a fourth term, making way for a run by his son-in-law, Joel Hyatt, who lost the general election to Republican Mike DeWine. Metzenbaum remained active during his retirement from elected office, serving as a part-time president of the non-profit Consumer Federation of America. He also served as a board member of the American Cancer Society, Northern Ohio Children's Performing Music Foundation, Inc., and acted as a fellow at Brandeis University. He also spent much of his retirement with his family playing tennis, swimming, and travelling. He died at his family home in Aventury, Florida, on March 12, 2008. He was interred in Mayfield Cemetery in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Vonnegut mss., 1941-2007 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
creatorOf Lindower, Howard Nelson, 1933-. Papers. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
creatorOf Metzenbaum, Howard M. Howard M. Metzenbaum : commercials, 1970-1988. University of Oklahoma, Political Community Archives
referencedIn Sanford, Terry, 1917-1998. Terry Sanford Papers, 1926-1996 (bulk 1986-1992) David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
creatorOf O'Neill, C. William, 1916-1978. Papers 1947-1959. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
referencedIn Papers, 1884-1998 (inclusive), 1929-1988 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Metzenbaum, Howard M. Howard M. Metzenbaum photographs, ca. 1960s-1994 [graphic]. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
referencedIn Papers of, Sonia Pressman Fuentes, (inclusive), (bulk), ca.1929-2009, 1955-2009 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf New Democratic Coalition of Ohio. Records 1969-1976. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
creatorOf Howard M. Metzenbaum Congressional Papers, Record Group 2, 1928-1995, 1974-1994 Western Reserve Historical Society
referencedIn Peterson, Esther, 1906-1997. Papers, 1884-1998 (inclusive), 1929-1998 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Metzenbaum, Howard M. Howard M. Metzenbaum Congressional papers, 1928-1995, 1974-1994. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
creatorOf Records of the U.S. Senate. 1789 - 2015. Committee Papers. 1816 - 2011. Legislative Files of Senator Howard M. Metzenbaum of the Subcommittee on Antitrust and Monopoly of the Committee on the Judiciary from the 95th-98th Congresses Center for Legislative Archives
referencedIn Photographs of the White House Photograph Office (Clinton Administration). 1/20/1993 - 1/20/2001. Photographs Relating to the Clinton Administration. 1/20/1993 - 1/20/2001. Photograph of President William J. Clinton Signing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act on the South Lawn at the White House William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
creatorOf Howard M. Metzenbaum Congressional Papers, Record Group 1, 1972-1976, 1974 Western Reserve Historical Society
creatorOf Howard M. Metzenbaum Photographs, 1960-1994 Western Reserve Historical Society
referencedIn Vincent, Sidney Z. Sidney Z. Vincent papers, 1940-1982. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Celeste, Richard F. person
associatedWith Communist Party of the United States of America. corporateBody
leaderOf Consumer Federation of America corporateBody
associatedWith Democratic Party (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith ESTHER (EGGERTSEN) PETERSON, 1906-1997 person
associatedWith Glenn, John, 1921- person
associatedWith Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. corporateBody
associatedWith Kucinich, Dennis J., 1946- person
associatedWith Lindower, Howard Nelson, 1933- person
associatedWith New Democratic Coalition of Ohio. corporateBody
memberOf Ohio. General Assembly. House of Representatives corporateBody
memberOf Ohio. General Assembly. Senate corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Ohio state university corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Ohio state university, College of law corporateBody
associatedWith O'Neill, C. William, 1916-1978. person
associatedWith Peterson, Esther, 1906-1997. person
correspondedWith Sanford, Terry, 1917-1998 person
associatedWith Sonia Pressman Fuentes person
associatedWith Taft, Robert, 1917-1993. person
associatedWith Tower City Center (Cleveland, Ohio) corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. Senate. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Oklahoma. Political Commercial Archive. corporateBody
associatedWith Vincent, Sidney Z. person
associatedWith Voinovich, George V., 1936- person
associatedWith Vonnegut, Kurt person
associatedWith Young, Stephen M. (Stephen Marvin), 1889-1984 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Aventura FL US
Columbus OH US
Cleveland OH US
Subject
United States
United States
United States
United States
United States
Abortion
Abortion
Advertising, political
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Automobile industry and trade
Automobile industry and trade
Political campaigns
Political campaigns
Political campaigns
Political campaigns
Political campaigns
Political campaigns
Celebrities
Celebrities
Celeste, Richard F
Community development
Community development
Consumer protection
Consumer protection
Democratic Party (U.S.)
Democratic Party (U.S.)
Demonstrations
Demonstrations
Employee rights
Employee rights
Energy policy
Energy policy
Environmental protection
Environmental protection
Environmental protection
Firearms
Firearms
Food adulteration and inspection
Food adulteration and inspection
Glenn, John, 1921-
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
Gun control
Gun control
Jewish legislators
Jewish legislators
Jewish legislators
Jewish legislators
Jews
Jews
Jews
Jews
Jews, Soviet
Kucinich, Dennis J., 1946-
Labor laws and legislation
Labor laws and legislation
Legislators
Legislators
Legislators
Legislators
Metzenbaum, Howard M.
Metzenbaum, Howard M.
Metzenbaum, Howard M.
Ohio
Public works
Public works
Radio advertising
Savings and Loan Bailout, 1989-1995
Steel industry and trade
Steel industry and trade
Taft, Robert, 1917-1993
Television advertising
Tower City Center (Cleveland, Ohio)
Voinovich, George V., 1936-
Watergate Affair, 1972-1974
Working class
Working class
Occupation
Businessmen
Campaign managers
Lawyers
Real estate investors
Salesmen
Senators, U.S. Congress
State Representative
State Senator
Activity

Person

Birth 1917-06-04

Death 2008-03-12

Male

Americans

English

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