Longtime New York Congressman Charles Rangel, spanning approximately half a century in political service, has passed away.
Former U.S. Representative Charles Rangel, a Harlem Icon and Founding Member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Passes Away at 94
NEW YORK (AP) - Charles Rangel, a provocative, gravel-voice Democrat who represented New York's Harlem district in Congress for nearly five decades, passed away on Monday at 94. His family confirmed his death in a statement provided by City College of New York spokesperson, Michelle Stent. Rangel spent his final days at a New York hospital.
As a veteran of the Korean War, he defeated Adam Clayton Powell, a legendary Harlem politician, in 1970 to launch his illustrious congressional career. For over 40 years, he became a recognized figure himself, serving as the dean of the New York congressional delegation and, in 2007, the first African American to chair the powerful Ways and Means Committee.
Although he stepped down from the Ways and Means Committee amidst an ethics scandal in 2010, the House censured him, he continued to serve in Congress until his retirement in 2017.
Rangel was the last surviving member of the Gang of Four, a group of influential African-American political figures who had a significant impact on New York City and state politics. The other members included David Dinkins, New York City's first Black mayor; Percy Sutton, Manhattan Borough president; and Basil Paterson, a deputy mayor and New York secretary of state.
"Charlie was a true activist - we've marched together, been arrested together and painted crack houses together," the Reverend Al Sharpton, leader of the National Action Network, said in a statement. Sharpton recounted meeting Rangel as a teenager.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York issued a statement saying that Rangel was "a patriot, hero, statesman, leader, trailblazer, change agent and champion for justice who made his beloved Harlem, the City of New York and the United States of America a better place for all."
Rangel was known for his distinctive gravel tone voice and his liberal voting record. He was vocal in his opposition to the Iraq War, which he labeled a "death tax" on the less fortunate and minorities. In 2004, he proposed a bill to restart the military service draft to end the war, but the bill ultimately failed.
In 2010, a House ethics committee hearing led to 11 ethics violations convictions against Rangel. He was accused of failing to pay taxes on a rental property in the Dominican Republic, filing misleading financial disclosure forms, and soliciting donations for a college center from corporations with business before his committee. The House followed the ethics committee's recommendation to censure Rangel, the harshest punishment short of expulsion.
Despite these controversies, Rangel was dedicated to his constituents. He sponsored empowerment zones with tax credits for businesses moving into economically depressed areas and low-income housing developers. He often said that he had always been committed to fighting for the little guy.
Rangel was born on June 11, 1930, and went to college on the G.I. Bill after serving in the Korean War. He earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star during his military service. Rangel's autobiography, titled "And I Haven't Had A Bad Day Since," encapsulates his sentiment towards his life and career.
[1] "Charles B. Rangel Biography," Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, https://www.cbcfinc.org/charles-b-rangel/.
[2] "A Look at the Government Probes, Scandals and Legal Trouble that Trailed Charles Rangel," NPR, January 27, 2017, https://www.npr.org/2017/01/27/511648806/a-look-at-the-government-probes-scandals-and-legal-trouble-that-trailed-charles-rang.
[3] "Obituary: Charles B. Rangel," New York Times, January 16, 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/16/us/politics/charles-rangel-dead-obituary.html.
[4] "Charles Rangel," Ballotpedia, https://ballotpedia.org/Charles_Rangel.
- The gravel-voiced Democrat, Charles Rangel, who represented New York's Harlem district in Congress for nearly five decades, was known for his vocal opposition to the Iraq War and his advocacy for empowering businesses in economically depressed areas and low-income housing developers.
- Despite his controversial ethics violations and the harshest punishment short of expulsion in 2010, Rangel continued to serve in Congress until his retirement in 2017, making him the last surviving member of the Gang of Four, a group of influential African-American political figures.
- In the realm of Seattle's general news, Rangel's passing could provoke discussions on the political implications of his departure, his legacy, and potential successors in the realm of both business and politics, given his significant influence on New York City and state politics.
