James Abourezk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Abourezk
|
|
|---|---|
Abourezk in 1977
|
|
| Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1979 |
|
| Preceded by | Joseph C. O'Mahoney (1947) |
| Succeeded by | John Melcher |
| United States Senator from South Dakota |
|
| In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1979 |
|
| Preceded by | Karl E. Mundt |
| Succeeded by | Larry Pressler |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota's 2nd district |
|
| In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1973 |
|
| Preceded by | Ellis Yarnal Berry |
| Succeeded by | James Abdnor |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James George Abourezk
February 24, 1931 Wood, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Died | February 24, 2023 (aged 92) Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education |
|
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1948–1952 |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
James George Abourezk (ab-UR-esk; February 24, 1931 – February 24, 2023) was an American lawyer and politician from South Dakota. He was a member of the Democratic Party.
Abourezk served one term as a U.S. Senator and one term as a U.S. Representative. He was the first Arab American to serve in the U.S. Senate. He also started the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
He was the first Greek Orthodox Christian of Lebanese descent to serve in the U.S. Senate. He often disagreed with U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, especially concerning Palestine and Israel.
Abourezk represented South Dakota in the U.S. Senate from 1973 to 1979. He wrote the Indian Child Welfare Act. This law was passed in 1978 to help keep Native American families and their culture together. It made sure Native American children were placed in homes within their own cultures. It also helped reunite children with their families.
Contents
Early Life and Education
James George Abourezk was born in Wood, South Dakota. His parents, Lena and Charles Abourezk, were immigrants from Lebanon. His father owned two general stores. James was one of five children.
He grew up on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. At home, he only spoke Arabic and did not learn English until he started elementary school. When he was 16, he was expelled from school for a prank. He then left home to live with his brother. He finished high school in 1948.
From 1948 to 1952, Abourezk served in the United States Navy. This was before and during the Korean War. He went to Electricians' Mates School. After that, he helped support Navy ships in Japan.
After his time in the military, Abourezk worked in different jobs. He worked on a ranch, in a casino, and as a judo instructor. In 1961, he earned a degree in civil engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid City. He worked as a civil engineer in California. Later, he returned to South Dakota to work on Minuteman missile silos.
At 32, he decided to study law. He earned a law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law in Vermillion in 1966.
Political Career
Abourezk started his law practice in Rapid City, South Dakota. He joined the Democratic Party. In 1968, he ran for Attorney General of South Dakota but did not win.
In 1970, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He served from 1971 to 1973. He represented the state's second Congressional district.
In 1972, Abourezk was elected to the U.S. Senate. He served from 1973 to 1979. He decided not to run for a second term. He became the first chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. In 1974, TIME magazine named him one of the "200 Faces for the Future."
Important Laws He Helped Pass
As a Senator, James Abourezk helped pass several important laws. These laws aimed to improve the lives of Native Americans.
His most important law was the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in 1978. This law was created to protect Native American children and their families. Before this law, many Native American children were taken from their families by state agencies. They were often placed in foster care or adopted by non-Native American families. This meant children lost their culture and tribes faced survival challenges. The ICWA made sure Native American children were raised within their own cultures. It also gave tribal courts more power in decisions about Native American children.
He also wrote and helped pass the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. This law gave Native American tribes more control over their own affairs. It allowed them to manage contracts and funds. This helped tribes control their own future and reduced the direct influence of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Abourezk also spoke out against a program called the Office of Public Safety (OPS). This program trained foreign police forces and was involved in human rights problems. Abourezk introduced a law that led to the banning of overseas police assistance in 1974. The OPS was closed in 1975.
Other Efforts
After becoming a Senator, Abourezk often met with people discussing the Middle East. In 1973, he visited Beirut, Lebanon. He met with Arab leaders to talk about a possible peace agreement. He tried to arrange a truce.
In 1973, Senators Abourezk and George McGovern tried to help end the Wounded Knee Occupation. This was a standoff between Native American leaders and federal law enforcement. The leaders were demanding that the government honor its treaties with the Oglala Sioux nation.
After the occupation, Abourezk created the American Indian Policy Review Commission. He was its chairman. This commission studied Native American policies.
Abourezk supported the idea of a national initiative. This would allow people to vote directly on federal laws. In 1977, he proposed a constitutional amendment for this. It would let voters put laws on the national election ballot if enough people signed a petition. He believed in the "wisdom of the American people."
In 1977, Senators Abourezk and McGovern visited Cuba. They went with a group of basketball players from the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State. The players played against the Cuban national basketball team.
In 1978, Abourezk decided not to run for re-election. Larry Pressler became the next Senator.
His Work After the Senate
After leaving the Senate, Abourezk worked as a lawyer and writer. He was a legal advisor for the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington, D.C.
In 1980, Abourezk started the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. This is a group that works for civil rights. In 1989, he published his book, Advise and Dissent: Memoirs of South Dakota and the U.S. Senate. He also co-wrote another book called Through Different Eyes in 1987.
He continued to support Native American tribes and their culture. In 2015, he spoke out against a lawsuit trying to overturn the Indian Child Welfare Act. He believed this law was very important for protecting Native American children and families.
Personal Life and Death
James Abourezk was married three times. His first marriage was to Mary Ann Houlton in 1952. They had three children. This marriage ended in 1981. He later married Margaret Bethea, and then Sanaa Dieb in 1991. He and Sanaa were together until his death.
Abourezk lived in South Dakota for most of his life. He passed away at his home in Sioux Falls on February 24, 2023. It was his 92nd birthday.
See Also
In Spanish: James Abourezk para niños
