Benjamin Stanley Rosenthal

Benjamin Stanley Rosenthal (June 8, 1923 – January 4, 1983) was an American Democratic Party politician from New York who represented the northern portion of Queens, New York City during twelve Congressional terms, from 1962 until his death. Upon his death at age 60, he was the third-most senior Representative in the New York delegation.

Benjamin Stanley Rosenthal
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from New York
In office
February 20, 1962 – January 4, 1983
Preceded byLester Holtzman
Succeeded byGary Ackerman
Constituency6th district (1962–63)
8th district (1963–83)
7th district (1983)
Personal details
Born(1923-06-08)June 8, 1923
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedJanuary 4, 1983(1983-01-04) (aged 59)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Cause of deathCancer
Resting placeBeth David Cemetery, Elmont, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materNew York University

Biography

Born in New York City, Rosenthal attended public schools (including Stuyvesant High School), Long Island University, and City College. He served in the United States Army from 1943–46, and received his LL.B. from Brooklyn Law School (1949)[1] as well as an LL.M. from New York University, 1952. He was admitted to the New York bar in 1949 and commenced practice in New York City.

Rosenthal was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-seventh United States Congress, filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of Representative Lester Holtzman. Taking office on February 20, 1962, he was re-elected that fall, and then again to ten succeeding Congresses.

Rosenthal was elected as a "regular" or machine Democrat, but compiled a liberal record, opposing the Vietnam War early on and working on consumer protection issues. [2]

On May 17, 1962, Rosenthal read a statement into the Congressional Record praising the magazine Mad on its tenth anniversary.[3] (Rosenthal's district, NY-8, included the part of Manhattan where Mad's offices were.) "Mad Magazine...for the last 10 years has humorously pointed out the laughable foibles of business, labor, advertising, television, sports and entertainment – to say nothing of politics," Rosenthal said.

Death and legacy

Rosenthal was re-elected again in 1982, but died of cancer in Washington, D.C. on January 4, 1983, just one day after the 98th United States Congress met for the first time.[4] On March 1, Gary Ackerman was elected to the seat and held it through 2013.

Rosenthal is buried in Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, New York.

The Benjamin S. Rosenthal Library at Queens College, City University of New York, is named in his honor.[5] Rosenthal's papers are held by the library's Department of Special Collections and Archives.[6][7]

See also

References
  1. United States Congress. "Benjamin Stanley Rosenthal (id: R000442)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  2. https://www.nytimes.com/1983/01/05/obituaries/benjamin-rosenthal-congressman-from-queens-for-2-decades-dies.html
  3. Mad, October 1962, p. 5
  4. "Benjamin Rosenthal, Congressman from Queens for 2 Decades, Dies". New York Times. January 5, 1983.
  5. Bloomfield, Douglas (2007). "Benjamin S. Rosenthal." Encyclopaedia Judaica. 2nd ed. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA. Retrieved via Biography In Context database, May 4. 2018. Also available via Encyclopedia.com.
  6. "Rosenthal, Benjamin Stanley, 1923-1983: Guide to Research Collections. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  7. "The Benjamin Rosenthal Collection". Special Collections and Archives, Queens College, City University of New York. archives.qc.cuny.edu. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Lester Holtzman		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 6th congressional district
1962–1963		 Succeeded by
Seymour Halpern
Preceded by
Victor L. Anfuso		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 8th congressional district
1963–1983		 Succeeded by
James H. Scheuer
Preceded by
Joseph P. Addabbo		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 7th congressional district
1983		 Succeeded by
Gary Ackerman
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