Morris Michael Edelstein
Morris Michael Edelstein | |
|---|---|
 M. Michael Edelstein, Congressman from New York | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's14thdistrict | |
| In office February 6, 1940 – June 4, 1941 | |
| Preceded by | William I. Sirovich |
| Succeeded by | Arthur G. Klein |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Morris Michael Edelstein February 5, 1888 Meseritz (Międzyrzec Podlaski),Poland |
| Died | June 4, 1941(aged 53) Washington, D.C.,United States |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | St. Lawrence University |
| Occupation | lawyer |
Morris Michael Edelstein(February 5, 1888 – June 4, 1941) was aPolish-bornCongressionalRepresentativeand lawyer from the state ofNew York,serving from 1940 to 1941.
Biography
[edit]Edelstein was born inMeseritz (Międzyrzec Podlaski),Poland.At three years of age immigrated to theUnited Stateswith his parents, who settled inNew York City.He attended public schools andCooper Union Collegein New York. He graduated from theBrooklyn Law SchoolofSt. Lawrence University,in 1909, and was admitted to the bar in 1910 and practiced law in New York.
Edelstein lived with his mother until the end of his life, having never married.[1]His mother was 85 at the time of his death.
Congress
[edit]Edelstein was elected as aDemocratto theSeventy-sixth Congressto fill the vacancy caused by the death ofWilliam I. Sirovich.He was reelected to theSeventy-seventh Congressand served from February 6, 1940, until his death on June 4, 1941, in the cloakroom of the House of Representatives,Washington, D.C.,after completing the delivery of a speech on the floor of the House.
Death on June 4, 1941
[edit]Edelstein's last speech was a response toMississippiRepresentativeJohn Elliott Rankin,widely described as ananti-Semitewho advocated peace withNazi Germany.Rankin had just delivered a House floor speech accusing "international Jewish brethren" of trying to drag America intoWorld War II.
In response, Edelstein, who was Jewish said: "Hitlerstarted out by speaking about 'Jewish brethren.' It is becoming the play and the work of those people who want to demagogue to speak about their 'Jewish brethren' and 'international bankers.'... I deplore the idea that... men in this House... attempt to use the Jews as their scapegoat. I say it is unfair and I say it is un-American.... All men are created equal, regardless of race, creed or color, and whether a man be Jew orGentile,he may think what he deems fit. "Edelstein then walked out of the House. He collapsed and died shortly afterwards in the House cloakroom.[2][3]
He is buried inMount Zion Cemetery,Maspeth,New York.[4]15,000 mourners attended his funeral.[1]
Legacy
[edit]TheSSM. Michael Edelstein,aWorld War IIliberty ship,was named in his honor.
See also
[edit]- List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
- List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)
References
[edit]- ^abHarpaz, Beth (2022-06-03)."He denounced antisemitism in Congress, then dropped dead".The Forward.Retrieved2022-10-19.
- ^"Edelstein Dies After Clash with Rankin in House over Anti-jewish Speech".Jewish Telegraphic Agency.5 June 1941. Archived fromthe originalon 6 June 2012.Retrieved4 June2012.
- ^"Edelstein Dies After House Talk — New Yorker Makes a Reply to Rankin's Charges on Jews and Collapses in Lobby — Heart Attack Is Cause — He Is Praised by Colleagues — Lived All But First Three Years in Own District".New York Times.June 5, 1941. p. 24.Retrieved23 April2017.
- ^"Edelstein Funeral Today".New York Times.June 6, 1941. p. 20.Retrieved23 April2017.
External links
[edit]- United States Congress."Morris Michael Edelstein (id: E000041)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
| People | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
- 1888 births
- 1941 deaths
- 19th-century American Jews
- 20th-century American Jews
- 20th-century American legislators
- Brooklyn Law School alumni
- Cooper Union alumni
- Jewish members of the United States House of Representatives
- American people of Polish-Jewish descent
- Emigrants from Congress Poland to the United States
- Burials at Mount Zion Cemetery (New York City)
- Death in Washington, D.C.
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)
- People from Międzyrzec Podlaski