Abraham Ribicoff facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Abe Ribicoff
Chair of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee
In office December 31, 1974 – January 3, 1981
Preceded by	Sam Ervin
Succeeded by	William Roth
United States Senator from Connecticut
In office January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1981
Preceded by	Prescott Bush
Succeeded by	Chris Dodd
4th United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare
In office January 21, 1961 – July 13, 1962
President	John F. Kennedy
Preceded by	Arthur Flemming
Succeeded by	Anthony J. Celebrezze
80th Governor of Connecticut
In office January 5, 1955 – January 21, 1961
Lieutenant	Charles Jewett John Dempsey
Preceded by	John Davis Lodge
Succeeded by	John Dempsey
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's 1st district
In office January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1953
Preceded by	William J. Miller
Succeeded by	Thomas J. Dodd
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from the Hartford district
In office 1938–1942 Serving with Albert Carignan (1938–1940), Ernest Racicot (1940–1942)
Preceded by	Ernest Racicot Thomas Leavy
Succeeded by	Harold Conroy Rene Dupuis
Personal details
Born	Abraham Alexander Ribicoff (1910-04-09)April 9, 1910 New Britain, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	February 22, 1998(1998-02-22) (aged 87) New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Ruth Siegel ​ ​ (m. 1931; died 1972)​ Casey Mell ​ (m. 1972)​
Education	New York University University of Chicago (LLB)

Abraham Alexander Ribicoff (April 9, 1910 – February 22, 1998) was an American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party from Connecticut. Ribicoff served in the United States House of Representatives and the Senate. He was also the 80th Governor of Connecticut. Later, he became Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare for President John F. Kennedy. He was the first and only Jewish governor of Connecticut.

Early Life and Education

Abraham Ribicoff was born in New Britain, Connecticut. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Poland. They worked hard in factories. His parents believed education was very important. They made sure he saved all his earnings for school.

After high school, he worked at a zipper factory. This helped him earn money for college. He started at New York University in 1928. Later, he moved to University of Chicago when his job transferred him. He even started law school before finishing his first degree.

In 1931, he married Ruth Siegel. They had two children. Ribicoff graduated from the University of Chicago Law School in 1933. He became a lawyer in Connecticut that same year. He opened his own law office in Hartford.

Starting His Political Journey

Ribicoff became interested in politics early on. He served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1938 to 1942. He also worked as a judge for the Hartford Police Court. During these years, he was mentored by John Moran Bailey. Bailey was a powerful leader of the Democratic Party of Connecticut.

Serving in the U.S. House

Ribicoff was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He served two terms, from 1949 to 1953. He was on the Foreign Affairs Committee. This was a big deal for a new member. He usually supported President Harry S. Truman's plans.

He was generally a liberal thinker. But he once surprised many by opposing money for a dam. He felt the money was better spent on military needs. He also thought it should go to foreign aid programs like the Marshall Plan. In 1952, he tried to become a U.S. Senator but lost.

Governor of Connecticut

Ribicoff as governor.

After practicing law for two years, Ribicoff ran for governor. He won the election in 1954 by a very small number of votes. As governor (1955–1961), he faced a big challenge. Devastating floods hit Connecticut in 1955. He worked with both political parties to help the damaged areas.

Ribicoff also pushed for more state money for schools. He supported welfare programs too. He was easily reelected in 1958. By then, he was becoming well-known nationally. He was a good friend of Senator John F. Kennedy from Massachusetts. Ribicoff supported Kennedy's run for president.

Cabinet Role: Secretary of HEW

When Kennedy became president in 1961, he offered Ribicoff a cabinet job. Ribicoff chose to be Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW). This department handled health, education, and social programs.

He helped change the Social Security Act. This made it easier for families to get help. However, he struggled to get approval for Medicare. He also couldn't get school aid bills passed. He found the department too big and hard to manage. Ribicoff felt that health and welfare issues overshadowed education during his time.

Serving in the U.S. Senate

Ribicoff was elected to the United States Senate in 1962. He served there from 1963 to 1981. This was a long and important part of his career.

When Lyndon B. Johnson became president, Ribicoff first supported him. But he later disagreed with the Vietnam War. He believed the war took too many resources away. He felt these resources were needed for programs at home.

Ribicoff worked with consumer advocate Ralph Nader. They helped create the Motor Vehicle Highway Safety Act of 1966. This law led to the creation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This agency set many new safety rules for cars. Ribicoff believed that even if drivers made mistakes, cars should be safer.

At the 1968 Democratic National Convention, Ribicoff gave a speech. He spoke about the police actions during anti-war protests in Chicago. He said that with George McGovern as president, such actions wouldn't happen. Many people applauded him.

During his Senate career, Ribicoff fought for important issues. These included school integration and welfare reform. He also worked on tax reform and consumer protection.

In 1972, presidential candidate George McGovern offered Ribicoff the Vice-Presidential spot. Ribicoff turned it down. He said he had no desire for higher office. Later that year, his first wife passed away. Ribicoff then married Lois Mell Mathes, known as "Casey."

Ribicoff chaired important Senate committees. These included the United States Senate Committee on Government Operations. He retired from the Senate in 1981.

Later Life

After leaving the Senate, Ribicoff worked as a special counsel. He joined a law firm in New York. He split his time between homes in Connecticut and New York City. He also helped with a commission that decided which military bases to close.

In his later years, he suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Abraham Ribicoff passed away in 1998 in New York City. He was buried in Cornwall, Connecticut.

See Also

• List of Jewish members of the United States Congress