Lester L. Wolff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lester L. Wolff
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Wolff in 1975
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York |
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| In office January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1981 |
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| Preceded by | Steven B. Derounian |
| Succeeded by | John LeBoutillier |
| Constituency | 3rd district (1965–1973) 6th district (1973–1981) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lester Lionel Wolff
January 4, 1919 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | May 11, 2021 (aged 102) Syosset, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Blanche Silvers
(m. 1940; died 1997) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | New York University Stern School of Business |
| Profession | Consultant |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Air Force |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Unit | Civil Air Patrol |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Lester Lionel Wolff (January 4, 1919 – May 11, 2021) was an American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party. He served in the United States House of Representatives for New York.
Wolff was also the president of the International Trade and Development Agency. He was an expert on Asian affairs. He wrote many books about foreign policy. He also hosted a TV show called Ask Congress on PBS.
In 2014, Wolff accepted the Congressional Gold Medal. This is the highest award for civilians in the United States. He received it for the World War II members of the Civil Air Patrol. At the time of his death in 2021, he was the oldest living former member of Congress. He was also the last living member born in the 1910s.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Lester Lionel Wolff was born in Manhattan, New York, on January 4, 1919. His family was Jewish. His father, Samuel Wolff, worked in marketing.
Lester Wolff went to George Washington High School. He graduated in 1935. He then studied at New York University, finishing in 1939.
Early Career and Service
Wolff taught at New York University from 1939 to 1941. Later, he became a department head at the City College of New York.
During World War II, Wolff was part of the Civil Air Patrol. He was a squadron commander. He also worked for newspapers like the Long Island Press.
Later, Wolff started his own business. It focused on the food industry. He also produced and hosted a local TV show called Between the Lines. He helped with charity work for groups like the United Jewish Appeal.
Serving in Congress
In 1957, Wolff became chairman of an advisory committee for the U.S. House of Representatives. He was first a Republican. However, he later switched to the Democratic Party. This was because he felt the Republican Party was becoming too conservative.
Wolff was elected to Congress in 1964. He served from January 3, 1965, to January 3, 1981. He first represented New York's 3rd district. Later, after changes to district maps, he represented the 6th district. He also led the Congressional Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. There, he reached the rank of colonel.
In Congress, Wolff supported President Lyndon B. Johnson's plans. He voted for important laws like the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He also supported creating Medicare and Medicaid. These programs help people with healthcare. He was active in the Civil Rights Movement, which worked for equal rights. He even attended the funeral of Martin Luther King Jr..
Wolff was known for traveling a lot while in Congress. He often went abroad on "fact-finding" trips. In 1978, he visited China. He met with Deng Xiaoping, a very important leader there. Their talk was important for the United States and China to become official diplomatic partners. Wolff also wrote the Taiwan Relations Act. This law helps protect U.S. interests in Taiwan.
Wolff worked to help bring peace talks between Israel and Arab states. He also played a part in the Camp David Accords. These were peace agreements between Israel and Egypt.
In 1980, Wolff lost his reelection bid to John LeBoutillier.
After Congress
After leaving Congress, Wolff became president of the International Trade and Development Agency. He also directed the Pacific Community Institute at Touro College. He continued to write books about foreign policy. He hosted his weekly PBS show, Ask Congress, for many years.
Because of his knowledge of Asian cultures, Wolff was a popular consultant. In 2014, he received the Congressional Gold Medal. This was for the volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol who served during World War II.
Wolff became the oldest living former member of Congress in 2017. He turned 100 years old in January 2019. He stayed active online and continued to write until he passed away.
In 2019, Wolff gave his congressional papers to Adelphi University. In 2020, the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge was renamed the Congressman Lester Wolff Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge in his honor.
Personal Life and Death
Lester Wolff married Blanche Silvers in 1940. She passed away in 1997. Wolff was a religious Jew and prayed daily.
Lester Wolff died on May 11, 2021, in Syosset, New York. He was 102 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Lester L. Wolff para niños
- List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
