Don Edwards, Congressman Who Championed Civil Rights, Dies at 100

[alp227]

Source: NY Times

Don Edwards, a former president of the California Young Republicans who became one of the most liberal Democrats in Congress, drafting every civil rights bill in the House for two decades, died on Thursday in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif. He was 100.

His son Leonard confirmed his death.

Mr. Edwards, an F.B.I. agent in the 1940s, was also an early opponent of the Vietnam War and a champion of civil liberties who took on the F.B.I. on domestic surveillance and budget issues.

He entered Congress in 1963, in time to vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. After becoming chairman of the Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on civil and constitutional rights, he managed the Equal Rights Amendment on the House floor in 1971 and was the floor manager for all other civil rights bills.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/03/us/politics/don-edwards-congressman-who-championed-civil-rights-dies-at-100.html

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San Jose Mercury News: Former Rep. Don Edwards: 1915-2015

[Recursion]

1. Oh man. I worked for him in college

His eyesight was going and he put an ad out in my college newspaper looking for somebody to read newspapers to him and help him type up his memoirs. I hope he finished them; they were incredibly interesting.

First House member to vote against HUAC.

RIP, Mr. Edwards!

[avaistheone1]

4. A friend of mine worked in his Congressional office for years.

A good man...RIP

[RobertEarl]

2. Republican party left him

Way back then, believe it or not, some republicans made a great deal of sense and earned a modicum of respect. Today's R party is just a clown car.

[TygrBright]

3. A life very well lived, indeed. Pass gently, Sir. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

5. May he rest in peace. He was an exceptional person. n/t

[NBachers]

6. There are worse places to die than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Thank you Mr Edwards & sympathy to your family

[SusanaMontana41]

7. Thanks for the introduction, alp227,

and thank you for your service, Mr. Edwards.