First it was Adam Clayton Powell...
and now Charlie Rangel.
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. (November 29, 1908 – April 4, 1972) was an
American politician and pastor who represented the
Harlem section of
Manhattan in
New York City in the
United States House of Representatives between 1945 and 1971. He was the first African-American elected to Congress from New York. He became chairman of the
Education and Labor Committee in 1961. As committee chairman he supported the passage of important social legislation, but was eventually
removed from his seat by the Democratic members-elect of the 90th Congress following allegations of corruption.
Charles B. Rangel (June 11, 1930 - ___) is an
American politician. He has been a
Democratic member of the
United States House of Representatives since 1971, representing the
Fifteenth Congressional District of
New York, and is the most senior member of that state's congressional delegation. He is a founding member of the
Congressional Black Caucus. In January 2007, Rangel became chairman of the powerful
House Ways and Means Committee, the first
African-American to do so. He earned a
Purple Heart and a
Bronze Star for his service in the
United States Army during the
Korean War, where he led a group of soldiers out of a deadly
Chinese Army encirclement during the
Battle of Kunu-ri in 1950. Rangel graduated from
New York University in 1957 and
St. John's University School of Law in 1960, then worked as a private lawyer,
Assistant U.S. Attorney, and legal counsel during the early-mid 1960s. He served two terms in the
New York State Assembly from 1967 to 1970, then defeated longtime incumbent Congressman
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. in a primary challenge on his way to being elected to the House of Representatives.
Representative Rangel is now taking a leave of absence from his chairmanship. He is under investigation for many things including failure to report assets, income, etc. as required by House rules or by law as well as improperly using his official funds/office resources to raise funds improperly.
I remember the brouha surrounding Adam Clayton Powell (and his name was always so repeated) and how members of his own party expressed that his illicit activities weren't a surprise. I remember Charlie Rangel running against Powell to clean up Congress. Ironic, isn't it?
Labels: Criminals in Power
