Peter A. Peyser facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter A. Peyser
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(1973)
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York |
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| In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1977 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Ottinger |
| Succeeded by | Bruce F. Caputo |
| Constituency | 25th district (1971–1973) 23rd district (1973–1977) |
| In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1983 |
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| Preceded by | Bruce F. Caputo |
| Succeeded by | Samuel S. Stratton (redistricting) |
| Constituency | 23rd district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 7, 1921 Cedarhurst, New York |
| Died | October 9, 2014 (aged 93) Irvington, New York |
| Political party | Republican (until 1977) Democratic (1977–2014) |
| Spouse | Marguerite Richards |
| Children | 5, including Penny |
| Alma mater | Colgate University |
Peter A. Peyser (September 7, 1921 – October 9, 2014) was an important American politician. He served as a U.S. Representative for New York State. He was a member of the Republican Party from 1971 to 1977. Later, he became a member of the Democratic Party and served from 1979 to 1983.
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Peter A. Peyser's Journey in Politics
Peter Peyser started his political journey in 1962. He ran for Mayor of Irvington, New York. Irvington was a small town with about 5,000 people. The mayor's job was part-time and paid very little.
Running for Congress
In 1969, Peyser decided to run for Congress as a Republican. At first, he was not expected to win. The current Congressman, Richard L. Ottinger, was a popular Democrat. However, Ottinger decided to run for the U.S. Senate instead.
After Ottinger's decision, three other Republicans joined the race. They were more well-known than Peyser. But Peyser surprised everyone by winning the Republican primary election in June. He then won the main election against William Dretzin. His campaign slogan was "Nixon Picks Him."
Serving in Congress
After the 1970 census, the voting districts were redrawn. Peyser's district was now called the 23rd. It included parts of the Bronx, Yonkers, and towns along the Hudson River. In 1972, Peyser won re-election by a very small number of votes. He beat Richard L. Ottinger, who was trying to return to Congress.
During his time as a Republican in the House, Peyser became known as a consumer activist. He worked on the Committee on Agriculture. This was unusual for a New York representative. He also helped create the ERISA law. This law helps protect employee benefits and retirement plans. Peyser supported President Nixon for a long time. He only called for Nixon's impeachment a few days before the President resigned.
In 1976, Peyser tried to run for the U.S. Senate. He wanted to win the Republican nomination from Senator James Buckley. Buckley had won his Senate seat as a Conservative Party member. However, he worked with the Republicans. Peyser faced challenges getting support from his own party. Even though his petition signatures were approved, Buckley won the primary election easily.
Changing Political Parties
In early 1977, Peyser felt let down by the Republican Party. He announced that he was becoming a Democrat. Soon after, the Governor of New York, Hugh Carey, nominated Peyser for a big job. He was nominated to be Chairman of the New York Public Service Commission. This job regulated important services in New York.
However, the State Senate, which was controlled by Republicans, did not agree with the nomination. They said Peyser did not have enough experience in regulating utilities. Peyser tried to get their approval. But after The New York Times wrote against his nomination, he decided to withdraw.
In 1978, the Republican Congressman who had replaced Peyser, Bruce Caputo, left his seat. He decided to run for Lieutenant Governor of New York. Peyser entered the Democratic primary election and won easily. He then won the general election in 1978 and again in 1980.
As a Democrat in Congress, Peyser worked closely with Speaker Tip O'Neill.
After the 1980 census, New York lost five congressional seats. The Republican Senate in Albany redrew Peyser's district. They split it into three parts. This made it very hard for him to win re-election. He had to run against his friend, Republican Rep. Benjamin Gilman. The new district was very different from what Peyser had represented before. It was much longer and covered many new areas. Only 20% of the voters in the new district knew Peyser. Gilman won the election comfortably.
Peyser tried to make a comeback in 1984. He ran in a Democratic primary in a nearby district. However, he did not win.
Peter A. Peyser's Family Life
Peter Peyser was born in Cedarhurst, New York. His parents were Rubye Bentley (Hoeflich) and Percy Asher Peyser. On December 23, 1949, he married Marguerite Richards. She was from Louisiana and Maryland. She had moved to New York City to study design.
In 1951, the Peysers moved to Irvington, New York. They had five children: Penelope (born 1951), Safi (born 1952), Peter (born 1954), James (born 1956), and Thomas (born 1962). Their daughter Penelope, known as Penny, became an actress.
Peter Peyser passed away on October 9, 2014, at the age of 93. He had Parkinson's disease. His wife, Marguerite Peyser, died on May 11, 2020, at age 89 from COVID-19.
