Metzenbaum, Howard M.

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Howard Morton Metzenbaum was an Ohio Democrat who served in the United States Senate for one appointed term in 1974 and three consecutive elected terms from 1976 to 1995.

From the description of Howard M. Metzenbaum photographs, ca. 1960s-1994 [graphic]. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 434850292

Howard Morton Metzenbaum (1917-2008) was an Ohio Democrat who served in the U.S. Senate for one appointed term in 1974 and for three consecutive elected terms from 1976 to 1995. Metzenbaum was born on June 4, 1917, in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from Glenville High School in Cleveland, Howard Metzenbaum attended Ohio State University, where he earned both his B.A. and L.L.D. Soon after graduating from law school, Metzenbaum founded his own law firm, Metzenbaum, Gaines, Finley, and Stern, in Cleveland. Howard Metzenbaum entered politics at the age of 26, serving in the Ohio House of Representatives from1943 to 1947 and in the Ohio State Senate from 1947 to 1950. He went on to become Ohio Senator Stephen M. Young's campaign manager in 1958. Meanwhile, he had also founded the Airport Parking Company of America (APCOA) with his business partner Alva "Ted" Bonda, who would remain an important associate throughout Metzenbaum's career. Metzenbaum ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 1970, losing to Robert Taft, Jr. In 1974, however, he was appointed to the Senate by Ohio governor John Gilligan to replace William Saxbe, who had been appointed to the position of U.S. attorney general. Metzenbaum sought the Senate seat himself in the 1974 Democratic primary but lost to John Glenn. Metzenbaum later ran against incumbent Republican Robert A. Taft, Jr., in 1976, and won. In 1982 he handily won reelection against moderate Republican state senator Paul Pfeifer, and again in 1988 when he was opposed by Cleveland mayor George Voinovich, who ran a mostly negative campaign that accused Metzenbaum of being soft on child pornography. Metzenbaum chose not to run for reelection in 1994, instead supporting his son-in-law Joel Hyatt's ultimately unsuccessful campaign. Howard Metzenbaum's legacy in the U.S. Senate was as an ardent liberal. He quickly earned a reputation as a champion of consumer rights in 1977 when he and Senator James Abourezk (D-SD) embarked on a 14-day filibuster against the deregulation of natural gas; later, he spearheaded other important consumer legislation such as the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1989, and was also involved in food safety investigations involving artificial sweeteners, dietary supplements, and poultry processing. Metzenbaum was also responsible for significant legislation in the area of workers' rights, particularly the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which required companies employing 100 or more people to provide at least 60 days' advance notice to employees in the event of a plant closing or mass layoffs. Other legislative priorities included environmental protection, funding for Alzheimer's disease, support for Israel, and gun control. Metzenbaum introduced the Brady Bill in the Senate beginning in 1986 until it was finally signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993. Senator Metzenbaum also became known for his "filibuster-by-amendment" technique, in which he would delay passage of a bill by attaching as many as several dozen amendments. He was a particular critic of earmark-laden "pork barrel" bills, which he believed wasted taxpayers' money (and which he blocked at every opportunity, to the irritation of many of his colleagues). During his three elected terms, Metzenbaum was a member of the Indian Affairs committee, Budget committee, and Judiciary committee. He also served on the Subcommittee on Citizens and Shareholders Rights and Remedies and the Labor and Human Resources subcommittee. He served as the chairman of the Antitrust, Monopoly, and Business Rights subcommittee. As a member of the Judiciary committee, he investigated the savings and loan and insurance scandals of the 1980s, helped to block President Ronald Reagan's nomination of conservative judge Robert Bork to the U.S. Supreme Court, and unsuccessfully attempted to block confirmation of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court. Married to his wife Shirley (Turoff) Metzenbaum in 1946, Howard Metzenbaum had four daughters: Barbara, Susan, Shelley, and Amy. He died on March 12, 2008, at age 90.

From the description of Howard M. Metzenbaum Congressional papers, 1928-1995, 1974-1994. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 746566140

Howard Morton Metzenbaum (1917-2008) was an Ohio Democrat who served in the United States Senate for one appointed term in 1974 and for three consecutive elected terms from 1976 to 1995. Metzenbaum was born on June 4, 1917, in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from Glenville High School in Cleveland, Howard Metzenbaum attended Ohio State University, where he earned both his B.A. and L.L.D. Soon after graduating from law school, Metzenbaum founded his own law firm, Metzenbaum, Gaines, Finley, and Stern, in Cleveland. Howard Metzenbaum entered politics at the age of 26, serving in the Ohio House of Representatives from1943 to 1947 and in the Ohio State Senate from 1947 to 1950. He went on to become Ohio Senator Stephen M. Young's campaign manager in 1958. Meanwhile, he had also founded the Airport Parking Company of America (APCOA) with his business partner Alva "Ted" Bonda, who would remain an important associate throughout Metzenbaum's career.

Metzenbaum ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 1970, losing to Robert Taft, Jr. In 1974, however, he was appointed to the Senate by Ohio governor John Gilligan to replace William Saxbe, who had been appointed to the position of United States attorney general. Metzenbaum sought the Senate seat himself in the 1974 Democratic primary but lost to John Glenn. Metzenbaum later ran against incumbent Republican Robert A. Taft, Jr., in 1976, and won. In 1982 he handily won reelection against moderate Republican state senator Paul Pfeifer, and again in 1988 when he was opposed by Cleveland mayor George Voinovich, who ran a mostly negative campaign that accused Metzenbaum of being soft on child pornography. Metzenbaum chose not to run for reelection in 1994, instead supporting his son-in-law Joel Hyatt's ultimately unsuccessful campaign.

Howard Metzenbaum's legacy in the United States Senate was as an ardent liberal. He quickly earned a reputation as a champion of consumer rights in 1977 when he and Senator James Abourezk (D-SD) embarked on a 14-day filibuster against the deregulation of natural gas; later, he spearheaded other important consumer legislation such as the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1989, and was also involved in food safety investigations involving artificial sweeteners, dietary supplements, and poultry processing. Metzenbaum was also responsible for significant legislation in the area of workers' rights, particularly the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which required companies employing 100 or more people to provide at least 60 days' advance notice to employees in the event of a plant closing or mass layoffs. Other legislative priorities included environmental protection, funding for Alzheimer's disease, support for Israel, and gun control. Metzenbaum introduced the Brady Bill in the Senate beginning in 1986 until it was finally signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993. Senator Metzenbaum also became known for his "filibuster-by-amendment" technique, in which he would delay passage of a bill by attaching as many as several dozen amendments. He was a particular critic of earmark-laden "pork barrel" bills, which he believed wasted taxpayers' money (and which he blocked at every opportunity, to the irritation of many of his colleagues). During his three elected terms, Metzenbaum was a member of the Indian Affairs committee, Budget committee, and Judiciary committee. He also served on the Subcommittee on Citizens and Shareholders Rights and Remedies and the Labor and Human Resources subcommittee. He served as the chairman of the Antitrust, Monopoly, and Business Rights subcommittee. As a member of the Judiciary committee, he investigated the savings and loan and insurance scandals of the 1980s, helped to block President Ronald Reagan's nomination of conservative judge Robert Bork to the U.S. Supreme Court, and unsuccessfully attempted to block confirmation of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court. Married to his wife Shirley (Turoff) Metzenbaum in 1946, Howard Metzenbaum had four daughters: Barbara, Susan, Shelley, and Amy. He died on March 12, 2008, at age 90.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Howard M. Metzenbaum

From the guide to the Howard M. Metzenbaum Congressional Papers, Record Group 1, 1972-1976, 1974, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

Howard Morton Metzenbaum (1917-2008) was an Ohio Democrat who served in the U.S. Senate for one appointed term in 1974 and for three consecutive elected terms from 1976 to 1995.

Metzenbaum was born on June 4, 1917, in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from Glenville High School in Cleveland, Howard Metzenbaum attended Ohio State University, where he earned both his B.A. and L.L.D. Soon after graduating from law school, Metzenbaum founded his own law firm, Metzenbaum, Gaines, Finley, and Stern, in Cleveland.

Howard Metzenbaum entered politics at the age of 26, serving in the Ohio House of Representatives from1943 to 1947 and in the Ohio State Senate from 1947 to 1950. He went on to become Ohio Senator Stephen M. Young's campaign manager in 1958. Meanwhile, he had also founded the Airport Parking Company of America (APCOA) with his business partner Alva "Ted" Bonda, who would remain an important associate throughout Metzenbaum's career.

Metzenbaum ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 1970, losing to Robert Taft, Jr. In 1974, however, he was appointed to the Senate by Ohio governor John Gilligan to replace William Saxbe, who had been appointed to the position of U.S. attorney general. Metzenbaum sought the Senate seat himself in the 1974 Democratic primary but lost to John Glenn. Metzenbaum later ran against incumbent Republican Robert A. Taft, Jr., in 1976, and won. In 1982 he handily won reelection against moderate Republican state senator Paul Pfeifer, and again in 1988 when he was opposed by Cleveland mayor George Voinovich, who ran a mostly negative campaign that accused Metzenbaum of being soft on child pornography. Metzenbaum chose not to run for reelection in 1994, instead supporting his son-in-law Joel Hyatt's ultimately unsuccessful campaign.

Howard Metzenbaum's legacy in the U.S. Senate was as an ardent liberal. He quickly earned a reputation as a champion of consumer rights in 1977 when he and Senator James Abourezk (D-SD) embarked on a 14-day filibuster against the deregulation of natural gas; later, he spearheaded other important consumer legislation such as the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1989, and was also involved in food safety investigations involving artificial sweeteners, dietary supplements, and poultry processing. Metzenbaum was also responsible for significant legislation in the area of workers' rights, particularly the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which required companies employing 100 or more people to provide at least 60 days' advance notice to employees in the event of a plant closing or mass layoffs. Other legislative priorities included environmental protection, funding for Alzheimer's disease, support for Israel, and gun control. Metzenbaum introduced the Brady Bill in the Senate beginning in 1986 until it was finally signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993.

Senator Metzenbaum also became known for his "filibuster-by-amendment" technique, in which he would delay passage of a bill by attaching as many as several dozen amendments. He was a particular critic of earmark-laden "pork barrel" bills, which he believed wasted taxpayers' money (and which he blocked at every opportunity, to the irritation of many of his colleagues).

During his three elected terms, Metzenbaum was a member of the Indian Affairs committee, Budget committee, and Judiciary committee. He also served on the Subcommittee on Citizens and Shareholders Rights and Remedies and the Labor and Human Resources subcommittee. He served as the chairman of the Antitrust, Monopoly, and Business Rights subcommittee. As a member of the Judiciary committee, he investigated the savings and loan and insurance scandals of the 1980s, helped to block President Ronald Reagan's nomination of conservative judge Robert Bork to the U.S. Supreme Court, and unsuccessfully attempted to block confirmation of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Married to his wife Shirley (Turoff) Metzenbaum in 1946, Howard Metzenbaum had four daughters: Barbara, Susan, Shelley, and Amy. He died on March 12, 2008, at age 90.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Howard Morton Metzenbaum

From the guide to the Howard M. Metzenbaum Photographs, 1960-1994, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

Howard Morton Metzenbaum (1917-2008) was an Ohio Democrat who served in the United States Senate for one appointed term in 1974 and for three consecutive elected terms from 1976 to 1995.

Metzenbaum was born on June 4, 1917, in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from Glenville High School in Cleveland, Howard Metzenbaum attended Ohio State University, where he earned both his B.A. and L.L.D. Soon after graduating from law school, Metzenbaum founded his own law firm, Metzenbaum, Gaines, Finley, and Stern, in Cleveland.

Howard Metzenbaum entered politics at the age of 26, serving in the Ohio House of Representatives from1943 to 1947 and in the Ohio State Senate from 1947 to 1950. He went on to become Ohio Senator Stephen M. Young's campaign manager in 1958. Meanwhile, he had also founded the Airport Parking Company of America (APCOA) with his business partner Alva "Ted" Bonda, who would remain an important associate throughout Metzenbaum's career.

Metzenbaum ran unsuccessfully for United States Senate in 1970, losing to Robert Taft, Jr. In 1974, however, he was appointed to the Senate by Ohio governor John Gilligan to replace William Saxbe, who had been appointed to the position of United States attorney general. Metzenbaum sought the Senate seat himself in the 1974 Democratic primary but lost to John Glenn. Metzenbaum later ran against incumbent Republican Robert A. Taft, Jr., in 1976, and won. In 1982 he handily won reelection against moderate Republican state senator Paul Pfeifer, and again in 1988 when he was opposed by Cleveland mayor George Voinovich, who ran a mostly negative campaign that accused Metzenbaum of being soft on child pornography. Metzenbaum chose not to run for reelection in 1994, instead supporting his son-in-law Joel Hyatt's ultimately unsuccessful campaign.

Howard Metzenbaum's legacy in the United States Senate was as an ardent liberal. He quickly earned a reputation as a champion of consumer rights in 1977 when he and Senator James Abourezk (D-SD) embarked on a 14-day filibuster against the deregulation of natural gas; later, he spearheaded other important consumer legislation such as the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1989, and was also involved in food safety investigations involving artificial sweeteners, dietary supplements, and poultry processing. Metzenbaum was also responsible for significant legislation in the area of workers' rights, particularly the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which required companies employing 100 or more people to provide at least 60 days' advance notice to employees in the event of a plant closing or mass layoffs. Other legislative priorities included environmental protection, funding for Alzheimer's disease, support for Israel, and gun control. Metzenbaum introduced the Brady Bill in the Senate beginning in 1986 until it was finally signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993.

Senator Metzenbaum also became known for his "filibuster-by-amendment" technique, in which he would delay passage of a bill by attaching as many as several dozen amendments. He was a particular critic of earmark-laden "pork barrel" bills, which he believed wasted taxpayers' money (and which he blocked at every opportunity, to the irritation of many of his colleagues).

During his three elected terms, Metzenbaum was a member of the Indian Affairs committee, Budget committee, and Judiciary committee. He also served on the Subcommittee on Citizens and Shareholders Rights and Remedies and the Labor and Human Resources subcommittee. He served as the chairman of the Antitrust, Monopoly, and Business Rights subcommittee. As a member of the Judiciary committee, he investigated the savings and loan and insurance scandals of the 1980s, helped to block President Ronald Reagan's nomination of conservative judge Robert Bork to the United States Supreme Court, and unsuccessfully attempted to block confirmation of Clarence Thomas to the United States Supreme Court.

Married to his wife Shirley (Turoff) Metzenbaum in 1946, Howard Metzenbaum had four daughters: Barbara, Susan, Shelley, and Amy. He died on March 12, 2008, at age 90.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Howard M. Metzenbaum

From the guide to the Howard M. Metzenbaum Congressional Papers, Record Group 2, 1928-1995, 1974-1994, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

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
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
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
associatedWith 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
Place Name Admin Code Country
Ohio
Ohio
United States
Erie, Lake
United States
Ohio--Cleveland
Ohio--Cleveland
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
Activity

Person

Birth 1917-06-04

Death 2008-03-12

Active 1947

Active 1959

English

Information

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