Anthony C. Beilenson
Encyclopedia
Anthony Charles Beilenson (born October 26, 1932) is a former Democratic
Congressman
from Southern California
who served in the United States House of Representatives
from 1977 to 1997.
Tony, as he is known to his friends, was born in New Rochelle, New York
and grew up in an upscale suburb of New York City
. He attended Harvard University
, earning a Juris Doctor
. Beilenson then relocated to Los Angeles
and became a partner in a prestigious law firm that represented the film industry.
Beilenson was elected to the California State Assembly
in 1963, serving until 1967, and then served in the California State Senate
from 1967 to 1976. One of his accomplishments in the California State Legislature was the Beilenson Act, which requires public hearings whenever hospital
s close or reduce services.
The Sacramento Union
, on December 22, 1973, stated that he, representing Beverly Hills, brought pressure on state officials and had the nativity scene removed from the Capitol grounds
because it offended him and the other Jews from his district.
Beilenson then served ten terms in the U.S. House of Representative in the United States Congress, beginning in 1977 until his retirement in 1997. He served on the House Rules Committee, and chaired the House Intelligence Committee.
Numbered among his accomplishments while in the Congress was the successful enactment early in his tenure there of legislation he introduced to create the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
and the Channel Islands National Park
in California.
In tribute to his career of public service, Balboa Park in California was renamed as the "Anthony C. Beilenson Park
". It is located at 6300 Balboa Boulevard, Van Nuys, CA 91406. The park is an 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) water recreation facility, holding Balboa Lake in the center, an artificial 27 acres (109,265.2 m²) lake filled with water from the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant.
One of his sons is Maryland politician Peter Beilenson
.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Congressman
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
from Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
who served in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1977 to 1997.
Tony, as he is known to his friends, was born in New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
and grew up in an upscale suburb of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, earning a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
. Beilenson then relocated to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and became a partner in a prestigious law firm that represented the film industry.
Beilenson was elected to the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
in 1963, serving until 1967, and then served in the California State Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
from 1967 to 1976. One of his accomplishments in the California State Legislature was the Beilenson Act, which requires public hearings whenever hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s close or reduce services.
The Sacramento Union
Sacramento Union
The Sacramento Union was a daily newspaper founded in 1851 in Sacramento, California. It was the oldest daily newspaper west of the Mississippi River before it closed its doors after 143 years in January 1994, no longer able to compete with The Sacramento Bee, which was founded in 1857, just six...
, on December 22, 1973, stated that he, representing Beverly Hills, brought pressure on state officials and had the nativity scene removed from the Capitol grounds
because it offended him and the other Jews from his district.
Beilenson then served ten terms in the U.S. House of Representative in the United States Congress, beginning in 1977 until his retirement in 1997. He served on the House Rules Committee, and chaired the House Intelligence Committee.
Numbered among his accomplishments while in the Congress was the successful enactment early in his tenure there of legislation he introduced to create the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area or SMMNRA, is a United States National Recreation Area containing many individual parks and open space preserves, located primarily in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California...
and the Channel Islands National Park
Channel Islands National Park
- External links :* Official site: * *...
in California.
In tribute to his career of public service, Balboa Park in California was renamed as the "Anthony C. Beilenson Park
Balboa Park
Balboa Park is the name of several municipal parks or neighborhoods, including the following:* Balboa Park, San Diego, California, United States* Balboa Park, San Francisco, California, United States...
". It is located at 6300 Balboa Boulevard, Van Nuys, CA 91406. The park is an 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) water recreation facility, holding Balboa Lake in the center, an artificial 27 acres (109,265.2 m²) lake filled with water from the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant.
One of his sons is Maryland politician Peter Beilenson
Peter Beilenson
Peter Beilenson is a Democratic Party politician in Maryland, United States. He is the son of Congressman Tony Beilenson, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 to 1997. Beilneson is a former Health Commissioner of Baltimore, Maryland, having served for 13 years under the...
.