John Miller (Washington politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Miller
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington's 1st district |
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| In office January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Joel Pritchard |
| Succeeded by | Maria Cantwell |
| President of the Seattle City Council | |
| In office August 14, 1978 – January 3, 1980 |
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| Preceded by | Phyllis Lamphere |
| Succeeded by | Paul Kraabel |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Ripin Miller
May 23, 1938 New York City, New York |
| Died | October 4, 2017 (aged 79) Corte Madera, California |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Bucknell University Yale Law School |
John Ripin Miller (May 23, 1938 – October 4, 2017) was an American politician. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1985 to 1993. He represented the 1st congressional district of Washington. Miller was a member of the Republican party. While in Congress, he strongly supported human rights. He worked to help people in countries like the Soviet Union, China, and South Africa.
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Early Life and Education
John Miller was born in New York City on May 23, 1938. He studied at Bucknell University, earning a bachelor's degree in 1959. He then went to Yale Law School and also got a master's degree in economics from Yale in 1964. After college, he served as an officer in the U.S. Army. He was on active duty in 1960 and later in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Serving Seattle and Washington
Before becoming a congressman, John Miller worked in state and city government. He was an assistant attorney general for Washington state. He also served on the Seattle City Council from 1972 to 1979.
Saving Pike Place Market
One of Miller's first big projects was helping to save the Pike Place Market. This famous market is a popular spot in Seattle. While on the City Council, he helped make sure the market was fixed up and kept alive.
Starting P-Patch Gardens
Miller also started Seattle's urban P-Patch program. This program creates community gardens where people can grow their own food. It was the first program of its kind in the United States. As of 2016, there were at least 90 P-Patch gardens in Seattle.
Important City Decisions
He also led the City Council in making a big decision about nuclear power plants. The Council decided not to join a project for nuclear plants 4 and 5. This project later went bankrupt. Miller also tried to get the Alaska Way Viaduct taken down. This was a highway that separated downtown Seattle from its waterfront.
Work in Human Rights
From 2002 to 2006, Miller worked for the United States Department of State. He was the director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. He held the rank of Ambassador-at-Large. In this role, he worked to stop modern-day slavery. He wanted to make more people aware of this issue. He also aimed to build a worldwide movement against slavery, with the United States leading the way.
Later Career and Passing
Miller left his role at the State Department in 2006. He then joined the faculty at George Washington University. Later, he taught at Yale University. He was also a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley. Miller worked as a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute, focusing on international affairs and human rights. Before his time at the State Department, he had been the chair of this institute. He also taught English at Northwest Yeshiva High School in Mercer Island, Washington.
John Miller passed away on October 4, 2017. He died in Corte Madera, California, from cancer at the age of 79.
See also
- List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
