Remembering Rep. Lantos

When members of Congress die, it’s normal for their colleagues to issue statements honoring them.

But Monday, the statements kept coming and coming from both sides of the aisle following the death of Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to Congress.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said, “Having lived through the worst evil known to mankind, Tom Lantos translated the experience into a lifetime commitment to the fight against anti-Semitism, Holocaust education and a commitment to the state of Israel.”

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said, “The heroic life of Tom Lantos is an inspiration to all of us who must rededicate ourselves to continue his profound and lasting legacy.”  

Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) stated, “His commitment to human rights was second to none.” (Lantos’s commitment to the cause of decent, civilized and humane behavior was not confined to human rights; he attracted headlines last year for his criticisms of football star Michael Vick for his involvement in dog-fighting.)

Many other lawmakers weighed in with tributes Monday; some can be read at The Hill’s Congress Blog .

This outpouring is no surprise. Lantos was a special legislator with a unique background.

His is not a household name, but he will not be forgotten in the halls of Congress. According to the Almanac of American Politics, he was born in Hungary, graduated from the University of Washington, taught economics at San Francisco State, and made money as an investor.

He was elected to the House in 1980. Lantos hailed from a liberal district. He attracted primary opponents for his 2002 vote in support of the Iraq war, though he was never in serious danger of losing his seat.

Unlike many partisan members on Capitol Hill, Lantos knew how to legislate.

In 2003, Lantos and then-International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) worked closely together to pass President Bush’s initiative to combat AIDS in Africa.

Hyde and Lantos had many philosophical differences on issues ranging from abortion to taxes to healthcare. And getting the AIDS bill to the president’s desk was no easy task because both the left and right sought changes. Hyde and Lantos struck a deal that did not exactly please the White House, but Bush signed it as the beaming lawmakers stood by his side.

When Hyde died in November 2007, Lantos called him “a giant,” saying that “our deep personal friendship always transcended partisan political considerations and was reminiscent of an era of congressional collegiality.”

Now, again, it is time for members of Congress to pay tribute to another giant.