Benjamin Gilman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benjamin Gilman
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| Chair of the House International Relations Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Lee H. Hamilton |
| Succeeded by | Henry Hyde |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York |
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| In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Ogden Reid |
| Succeeded by | John E. Sweeney |
| Constituency | 26th district (1973–1983) 22th district (1983–1993) 20th district (1993–2003) |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 95th district | |
| In office January 1, 1967 – December 31, 1972 |
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| Preceded by | Benjamin Altman |
| Succeeded by | Eugene Levy |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Benjamin Arthur Gilman
December 6, 1922 Poughkeepsie, New York |
| Died | December 17, 2016 (aged 94) Wappingers Falls, New York |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | Jane Prizant (divorced, 1954–1978; 5 children) Rita Kelhofer (divorced; 1984–1997) Georgia Tingus (1997-2016; his death) |
| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania (BS) New York Law School (LLB) |
Benjamin Arthur Gilman (December 6, 1922 – December 17, 2016) was an American politician. He was a member of the Republican Party. He served in the United States House of Representatives for New York. He was a representative from January 3, 1973, to January 3, 2003.
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Growing Up and Education
Benjamin Arthur Gilman was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, on December 6, 1922. His parents, Esther and Harry Gilman, were immigrants from Austria. He went to Middletown High School. He graduated in 1941.
After high school, he studied at the Wharton School of Business. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1946. Later, he also got a law degree from New York Law School.
Serving in the Military
During World War II, Benjamin Gilman joined the United States Army Air Corps. He served from 1942 to 1945. He was a pilot and flew 35 missions over Japan. For his bravery, he received special awards. These included the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.
Starting His Career
After finishing law school in 1950, Gilman began his career in public service. From 1953 to 1955, he worked as an assistant attorney general for New York State. An attorney general is the main lawyer for the state government.
After this, he worked as a private lawyer in his hometown of Middletown, New York.
Before joining the U.S. Congress, Gilman was a member of the New York State Assembly. This is part of New York's state government. He served there from 1967 to 1972.
Time in Congress
Benjamin Gilman was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1972. He represented New York's 26th congressional district. He served in Congress for 30 years, from January 3, 1973, to January 3, 2003.
During his time in Congress, he became a very important leader. From 1995 to 2001, he was the chairman of the House Committee on International Relations. This committee deals with how the U.S. interacts with other countries.
Gilman was known as a moderate Republican. This means he often worked with people from different political views. He cared a lot about foreign affairs. He was a delegate to the United Nations, helping represent the U.S. on global issues. He also worked on issues like world hunger. He helped create a special commission to fight hunger.
He was very involved in helping Prisoners of War (POWs) and those Missing in Action (MIAs) from the Southeast Asia conflict. He worked hard to find answers for their families.
As chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, he worked to build stronger ties between the U.S. and India. He believed this was important for peace in Asia. He also spoke out for Tibet, supporting their efforts to regain freedom. For his work in strengthening U.S.-India relations, he received India's second-highest civilian honor, the Padma Vibhushan, in 2001.
Congressman Gilman also helped pass the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000. This law created exchange programs for American students to study abroad. A scholarship program, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, is named after him. It helps college students with financial needs study or intern in other countries.
Gilman retired from Congress in 2003. This was because the areas he represented were changed due to new population numbers. At the time, he was one of the oldest members serving in the House of Representatives. In 2003, the Dalai Lama gave him the Light of Truth Award. This award recognized his support for Tibet.
In 2008, the Gilman Center for International Education opened in his hometown. It is located at SUNY Orange, a college in Middletown, New York. This center helps students learn about international studies. It also holds many of Gilman's important papers and photos from his long career.
Family Life
Benjamin Gilman was married three times. He had five children from his first marriage. His children were Jonathan, Susan, Harrison, David, and Ellen. David and Ellen passed away before him. After he retired, he continued to live in Middletown, New York.
His Passing
Benjamin Gilman passed away on December 17, 2016. He was 94 years old. He died from complications after surgery. He was survived by his third wife, Georgia, and three of his children: Jonathan, Harrison, and Susan. He also had stepchildren and grandchildren.
See also
- List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
