Frank Lautenberg

Frank Lautenberg
Name	Frank Lautenberg
Caption	Official portrait, 2009
State	New Jersey
Jr/sr	United States Senator
Term start	January 3, 2003
Term end	June 3, 2013
Predecessor	Robert Torricelli
Successor	Jeffrey Chiesa
Term start1	December 27, 1982
Term end1	January 3, 2001
Predecessor1	Nicholas F. Brady
Successor1	Jon Corzine
Office2	Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
Term start2	January 3, 2007
Term end2	January 3, 2009
Predecessor2	James Inhofe
Successor2	Barbara Boxer
Birth date	23 January 1924
Birth place	Paterson, New Jersey
Death date	3 June 2013
Death place	New York City, New York
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Lois Levenson (m. 1956; div. 1988), Bonnie S. Englebardt (m. 2004)
Education	Columbia University (BS)
Branch	United States Army
Serviceyears	1942–1946
Unit	Signal Corps
Battles	World War II

Frank Lautenberg was an American businessman and politician who served as a United States Senator from New Jersey for nearly three decades. A member of the Democratic Party, he was known as a staunch liberal and a prolific author of legislation focused on public health, transportation safety, and environmental protection. His career was marked by his advocacy for banning smoking on airplanes, raising the national drinking age, and securing funding for the Amtrak Northeast Corridor.

Early life and education

He was born in Paterson, New Jersey, to Jewish immigrants from Poland and Russia. After graduating from Nutley High School, he served in the United States Army Signal Corps during World War II, utilizing the G.I. Bill to finance his education. He subsequently earned a degree in economics from the Columbia University School of General Studies, which laid the foundation for his future career in business and public service.

Business career

Following his graduation from Columbia University, he joined the payroll services company Automatic Data Processing (ADP) as one of its first employees. He rose through the ranks to become chairman and chief executive officer of the company, helping to grow it into a Fortune 500 corporation. His success in the private sector provided him with the financial resources and managerial experience that later informed his legislative work on economic issues.

U.S. Senate career

He was first elected to the United States Senate in 1982, defeating Republican Millicent Fenwick. He won re-election in 1988 and 1994, retiring in 2000 but returning to the chamber in 2002 after winning a special election following the withdrawal of Senator Robert Torricelli. During his tenure, he served on influential committees including the Committee on Appropriations and chaired the Committee on Environment and Public Works. He did not seek re-election in 2014 and was succeeded by Cory Booker.

Political positions and legislation

A liberal Democrat, he was a leading voice on health and safety issues. He authored the law that banned smoking on domestic airline flights, co-wrote the legislation that established 21 as the national minimum drinking age, and championed the "Lautenberg Amendment" restricting firearm access for individuals convicted of domestic violence. He was a key supporter of the Violence Against Women Act, the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, and numerous environmental bills, while consistently advocating for robust funding for Amtrak and New Jersey Transit.

Personal life and death

He was married twice, first to Lois Levenson and later to Bonnie Englebardt, and was the father of four children. An avid supporter of the Anti-Defamation League and other philanthropic causes, he maintained residences in Cliffside Park and Manhattan. He died at NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital in New York City in 2013 from complications of viral pneumonia. His funeral was held at Park Avenue Synagogue and he was interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

Legacy and honors

His legacy is cemented by the many public health and safety laws that bear his influence. Major transportation hubs have been named in his honor, including Frank R. Lautenberg Rail Station in Secaucus Junction and the Frank R. Lautenberg Post Office and Courthouse in Newark. He posthumously received the Congressional Gold Medal, and institutions like the Secaucus station and a research center at Rutgers University continue to carry his name, reflecting his enduring impact on New Jersey and national policy.

Category:1924 births Category:2013 deaths Category:United States senators from New Jersey Category:American businesspeople