Abraham A. Ribicoff

Abraham Alexander Ribicoff ( born April 9, 1910 in New Britain, Connecticut; † 22 February 1998 in New York City ) was an American politician (Democratic Party). He was a member of the cabinet of President John F. Kennedy as health, education and welfare minister. He was also governor and senator of the U.S. state of Connecticut.

Early years and political rise

Ribicoff, the son of Jewish immigrants, attended the New York University, received a law degree in 1933 and graduated cum laude from the University of Chicago 1928-1929. A few years later he decided to pursue a political career. He ran in 1938 for a seat in the House of Representatives from Connecticut, where he remained following his successful election until 1942. He was also from 1941 to 1943 and from 1945 to 1947 Judge of the Municipal Court Hartford He was subsequently 1949-1953 deputy in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Governor and Minister

Ribicoff won the 1954 Governor Democratic nomination and was elected governor of Connecticut a short time later. He was reelected in 1958. During his tenure, he restructured the judicial system, eliminating an outdated Countyregierung. He also endorsed an education and decent welfare program. On January 21, 1961 Ribicoff resigned from his position to accept the appointment as Minister in the Cabinet Kennedy.

U.S. Senator

He stepped back from that post in 1962 to run for the U.S. Senate, in which he was also elected. 1968 and 1974 he succeeded each re-election. During his tenure, he presided over the Committee on Government Operations and the Committee on Governmental Affairs. At the Democratic National Convention in 1968, he supported the candidacy of George McGovern and reached into his speech, the Chicago Police Department and Mayor Richard J. Daley to thus, blaming them for Gestapo methods.

After an acclaimed Senate career, he declined due to his poor health in retirement. Abraham Ribicoff died in February 1998 in New York and was buried in Cornwall, Connecticut. He was married to Ruth Siegel. The couple had two children together.

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