Elliott H. Levitas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elliott H. Levitas
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 4th district |
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| In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Benjamin B. Blackburn |
| Succeeded by | Pat Swindall |
| Member of the Georgia House of Representatives | |
| In office 1965 – January 1975 |
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| Preceded by | multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | John Hawkins |
| Constituency | 118th district, Post 4 (1965-1969) 77th district, Post 4 (1969-1973) 50th district (1973-1975) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Elliott Harris Levitas
December 26, 1930 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | December 16, 2022 (aged 91) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residences | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Education | Emory University (BA, JD) University of Oxford (LLM) |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1955-1958 |
Elliott Harris Levitas (December 26, 1930 – December 16, 2022) was an American politician and lawyer from Georgia. He served as a U.S. Representative for Georgia's 4th congressional district for five terms, from 1975 to 1985. He was also the first Jewish person elected to Congress from Georgia.
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Early Life and Education
Elliott Levitas was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1930. He finished high school in Atlanta in 1948. He then went to Emory University in Atlanta.
He earned a law degree from Emory University School of Law in 1956. He was also a Rhodes scholar, which is a special scholarship to study at the University of Oxford in England. There, he earned another law degree in 1958. Before that, he studied law at the University of Michigan for a year.
After his studies, Levitas became a lawyer in Atlanta in 1955. He was also active in the local Jewish community and worked with the Anti-Defamation League, a group that fights against hate. From 1955 to 1958, he served in the United States Air Force.
Political Career
Elliott Levitas was involved in politics from a young age. In 1964, he was a delegate at the 1964 Democratic National Convention. This was a big meeting where the Democratic Party chose its candidates for president and vice president.
Serving in Georgia
Levitas was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1964. He served there from 1965 to 1974. Early in his time, he became known for supporting Julian Bond, a civil rights leader. Bond was trying to take his seat in the legislature, and Levitas was one of only five white lawmakers who voted for him.
Later, in 1966, there was a very close election for governor in Georgia. Levitas was one of the Democrats who voted for the Republican candidate, Bo Callaway, instead of the Democratic candidate, Lester Maddox. Maddox was known for supporting segregation, which meant keeping people of different races separate. Even though Callaway got more votes, the legislature chose Maddox as governor. Levitas served five terms in the state legislature.
Time in Congress
In 1974, Elliott Levitas was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He represented Georgia's 4th congressional district. He served five terms in Congress, from 1975 to 1985.
His district was mainly in DeKalb County, just northeast of Atlanta. Before him, a Republican had represented the area. Levitas was elected during a time when many new members came to Congress. He quickly became a leader in environmental issues. He even became the head of a committee that looked after environmental matters.
In 1984, Levitas tried to get re-elected but lost to a Republican, Pat Swindall. This happened during a time when Ronald Reagan was very popular and won many votes in that district.
Later Life and Legacy
After leaving Congress, Levitas became a partner at a law firm called Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton. He worked on a very important case called Cobell v. Norton. This case was about the U.S. government owing money to the Blackfeet tribe for using their land. Levitas helped the tribe win $3.4 billion, which was the largest amount ever awarded in a class-action lawsuit against the U.S. government at that time.
Elliott Levitas passed away on December 16, 2022, at the age of 91. He is buried at Arlington Memorial Park near Atlanta. To honor him, Emory University, his old school, gives an award each year. This award goes to the best graduating student who studies political science.
See also
- List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
