Dingell, John David, Jr.
Dingell, John David, Jr.,
1928–2019, American congressman, b. Colorado Springs, Colo.; grad. Georgetown Univ. (B.S., 1949; J.D., 1952). He served in the Army (1944–46) and after a brief career in private practice, working for a circuit judge, and as the assistant prosecuting attorney of Wayne Co., Mich., he was elected (1955) to the U.S. House of Representatives. He filled the seat of his late father, John David Dingell, Sr. 1894–1955, a 23-year Michigan congressman. The elder Dingell was a key proponent of the Social Security Act (1935) and an advocate of national health-care legislation. A Democrat like his father, the son presided over the passage of MedicareMedicare,national health insurance program in the United States for persons aged 65 and over and the disabled. It was established in 1965 with passage of the Social Security Amendments and is now run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
..... Click the link for more information. in 1965. For many years the younger Dingell chaired the powerful energy and commerce committee. Reelected to the House 29 times, he became the longest serving member of Congress in 2013 (with more than 57 years of service), surpassing the tenure of West Virginia's Robert C. ByrdByrd, Robert Carlyle,
1917–2010, U.S. senator from West Virginia (1959–2010), b. North Wilkesboro, N.C., as Cornelius Calvin Sale, Jr. A Democrat, he served (1947–52) in the West Virginia legislature and (1953–59) in the U.S.
..... Click the link for more information. . His wife, Deborah Insley Dingell, 1953–, b. Detroit, a descendant of one of the founders of Fisher Body, was elected to succeed him when he chose not to run in 2014. She was reelected in 2016 and 2018.