Gerald Solomon

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Gerald Solomon
Town Supervisor of Queensbury, New York
In office
1968–1972
Preceded byJohn O. Webster
Succeeded byJohn D. Austin
Personal details
Born
Gerald Brooks Hunt

August 14, 1930
Okeechobee, Florida, U.S.
DiedOctober 26, 2001(2001-10-26) (aged 71)
Queensbury, New York, U.S.
Resting placeGerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery
Political partyRepublican (before 1960, 1968–2001)
Other political
affiliations		Democratic (1960-1968)
Spouse
Freda Parker
​
(m. 1955)​
Children5
Military service
Allegiance
2nd Marine Division
Gerald Solomon's voice
Gerald Solomon speaks on the importance of the U.S. military
Recorded December 15, 1995

Gerald Brooks Hunt Solomon (August 14, 1930 – October 26, 2001) was an American businessman and politician most notable for his long service as a member of the United States House of Representatives in New York.

A veteran of the

town supervisor of Queensbury in 1968. He became a Republican in his first term, and won election to the New York State Assembly
as a Republican in 1972.

After three terms in the Assembly, Solomon won election to the U.S. House. He became a high-profile advocate on defense and veterans' issues, and was best known for passage of his Solomon Amendment, which prohibited federal funding to colleges and universities that banned military recruiters from their campuses. After Republicans won control of the House in the 1994 elections, Solomon challenged Newt Gingrich for Speaker, but withdrew when it became clear that Gingrich had the support of majority of the Republican caucus. Solomon became chairman of the House Rules Committee, a post he held from 1995 until retiring from the House in 1999. He was succeeded by fellow Republican John E. Sweeney.

After leaving Congress, Solomon operated a lobbying and strategic consulting firm. He died in Queensbury on October 26, 2001. He was buried at the national veteran's cemetery in Schuylerville, New York; he had spearheaded efforts to create the facility, which was named in his honor after his death.

Early life

Solomon was born in Okeechobee, Florida, the son of Eugenia and Daniel Hunt.[1] He was raised by his mother and stepfather, Seymour Solomon, and his family moved to New York when he was 15.[1] He attended school in Florida and Delmar, New York, and graduated from Delmar's Bethlehem Central High School in 1948.[2][3] He attended Siena College from 1949 to 1950 and St. Lawrence University from 1953 to 1954.[1]

Start of career

Military service

Solomon attempted to join the 1st Engineer Company of the

Atlantic ocean, and he attained the rank of private first class.[1][5] He remained in the Marine Corps Reserve until 1959, and attained the rank of lance corporal.[1][6]

Businessman

In the 1950s and 1960s Solomon was involved with M. Solomon, the women's clothing business owned by his stepfather.[7] In the mid-1960s, he became a partner in the Associates of Glens Falls insurance company, as well as a partner in the Anchor Realty real estate brokerage.[7] In addition he was president of Solomon, Veysey, Dixon, Gohn Associates, an investment brokerage.[8] He also served as president of Queensbury's merchants association, and a member of the board of directors of the Glens Falls chamber of commerce.[7] He was active in the Jaycees and the Boy Scouts, and was also involved in several charitable and civic causes.[7] In addition, his fraternal memberships included the Marine Corps League, Masons, Shriners, and American Legion.[7] The name recognition derived from his business and civic accomplishments provided Solomon with an entrée into local politics and government.[7]

Early political career

Originally a

Town Supervisor, which also made him a member of the Warren County Board of Supervisors.[9] In February 1968 he switched his party affiliation to Republican,[9] arguing that he had been a Republican prior to the election of John F. Kennedy, that he joined the Democrats because he was inspired by Kennedy's goals and vision, but that he was returning to the Republicans because he perceived that Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency had moved too far from Kennedy's agenda.[10] He was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1973 to 1978, sitting in the 180th, 181st and 182nd New York State Legislatures.[11] As a fiscal conservative and advocate for limited government, Solomon was often at odds with the Assembly's Democratic majority.[11]

U.S. House of Representatives

In November 1978, Solomon was elected to the

flag burning, a repeal of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, and amendments that strengthened the Selective Service System.[9] He was such an opponent of gun control that he once challenged fellow Representative Patrick J. Kennedy of Rhode Island to "step outside" to settle a dispute over the issue.[12] Solomon attempted to run for Speaker of the House in 1994 but withdrew in favor of Newt Gingrich.[13]

Solomon also supported creation of the Saratoga National Cemetery, which was named the

USMC War Memorial.[14] (The Air Force Memorial was ultimately constructed at a different location, on the grounds of Fort Myer near Arlington National Cemetery.)[15]

Solomon Amendment

Solomon was also the originator and sponsor of the

FAIR v. Rumsfeld, 390 F.3d 219 (3rd Cir. 2004).[16] On March 6, 2006, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of the military and upheld the Solomon Amendment.[16]

Rules Committee Chair

Solomon was named ranking Republican of the

House Rules Committee in 1991.[17] Even though Jimmy Quillen of Tennessee had far more seniority, the other Republicans on the committee thought Solomon was a more accomplished legislator.[17] When he lost his bid for the Speakership in 1995, he became chairman of the Rules Committee, thus making him one of the three or four most powerful members of the House.[17] He served as chairman from 1995 to 1999, when he retired.[17]

In his district, which ran from the Hudson Valley near Poughkeepsie into the Adirondacks, including Lake Placid, he was a popular and respected figure.[18] In the later years of his tenure he consistently drew the highest total vote of any member of the New York delegation.[18] He was well known for his strong constituent work, and for facilitating federal investment in his mostly rural district, including dozens of housing projects for low income elderly.[18]

After leaving Congress he formed the Solomon Group, a Washington consulting and lobbying business.[9]

Death and burial

On October 26, 2001, Solomon died of congestive heart failure at his home in Queensbury at the age of 71.[19] His ability to maintain friendships across political lines resulted in several Democratic members of Congress attending his funeral, including Representative Charles Rangel, a fellow veteran.[20] Solomon was buried at the national cemetery which is named for him.[1][5]

Family

In 1955 Solomon married Freda Parker of Monongahela, Pennsylvania.[1] They were the parents of five children, Susan, Daniel, Robert, Linda and Jeffrey.[1][3] In addition to his wife and children, Solomon was survived by six grandchildren and his brother Richard.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "U.S. Rep. Gerald Solomon Honored as Deceased Veteran of the Month".
  2. ^ "Obituaries for Deceased Graduates of Bethlehem Central High School".
  3. ^ a b Official Congressional Directory, p. 132.
  4. ^ Marine Corps Muster Rolls 1952.
  5. ^ a b "Nationwide Gravesite Locator Entry, Gerald Brooks Hunt Solomon".
  6. ^ Marine Corps Muster Rolls 1954.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Seeks Election as Supervisor", p. 2.
  8. ^ "Initial Meeting Scheduled Today", p. 23.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "A Career In Public Service".
  10. ^ "Supervisor Solomon Deserts Democrats; Enrolls in GOP", p. 3.
  11. ^ a b "UAlbany Libraries Acquire U.S. Representative Gerald Solomon Papers".
  12. ^ "House votes to repeal assault weapons ban", p. 2A.
  13. ^ "Gerald Solomon, 71; Spurred Conservative Causes in House", p. D7.
  14. ^ "Marines Object To Site Of Air Force Memorial".
  15. ^ "Air Force Memorial Foundation".
  16. ^ a b c d "Court upholds “Solomon Amendment”".
  17. ^ a b c d How Congress Works, p. 151.
  18. ^ a b c "Gerald Solomon, longtime local congressman, dead at 71".
  19. ^ "Rep. Gerald Solomon Dies".
  20. ^ "Jerry Solomon laid to rest".
  21. ^ "Gerald Brooks Hunt 'Jerry' Solomon, 1930-2001".

Sources

Newspapers

  • "Seeks Election as Supervisor". Glens Falls Post-Star. Glens Falls, NY. May 11, 1967 – via
    Newspapers.com
    .
  • "Supervisor Solomon Deserts Democrats; Enrolls in GOP". Glens Falls Post-Star. Glens Falls, NY. February 28, 1968 – via
    Newspapers.com
    .
  • "Initial Meeting Scheduled Today". Glens Falls Post-Star. Glens Falls, NY. November 17, 1971 – via
    Newspapers.com
    .
  • "House votes to repeal assault weapons ban". The Times Recorder. Zanesville, OH. Associated Press. March 23, 1996. Retrieved January 4, 2017 – via
    Newspapers.com
    .
  • Isackson, Noah (September 18, 1997). "Marines Object To Site Of Air Force Memorial". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, IL.
  • LEGI-SLATE News Service staff (April 24, 1998). "Key Player: Gerald B.H. Solomon". The Washington Post. Washington, DC.
  • Pearson, Richard (October 28, 2001). "Rep. Gerald Solomon Dies". The Washington Post. Washington, DC.
  • "Gerald B. Solomon - A Career In Public Service". The Post-Star. Glens Falls, NY. October 27, 2001.
  • Marquis, Christopher (October 27, 2001). "Gerald Solomon, 71; Spurred Conservative Causes in House".
    TimesMachine
    .
  • "Gerald Solomon, longtime local congressman, dead at 71". Daily Freeman. Kingston, NY. October 27, 2001.
  • "Gerald Brooks Hunt 'Jerry' Solomon, 1930–2001". The Post-Star. Glens Falls, NY. October 28, 2001.
  • Randall, Thom (November 1, 2001). "Jerry Solomon laid to rest". The Post-Star. Glens Falls, NY.
  • "U.S. Rep. Gerald Solomon Honored as Deceased Veteran of the Month". Glens Falls Post-Star. Glens Falls, NY. November 30, 2002.
  • Denniston, Lyle (March 6, 2006). "Court upholds "Solomon Amendment"". SCOTUSblog. Washington, DC.

Internet

Books

External links
New York State Assembly
Preceded by New York State Assembly
110th District
1973–1978 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 29th congressional district
1979–1983 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 24th congressional district
1983–1993 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Ben Gilman
 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 22nd congressional district
1993–1999 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
Jimmy Quillen
Tennessee
 Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee
1991–1995 		Succeeded by
Joe Moakley
Massachusetts
Preceded by
Joe Moakley
Massachusetts
 Chairman of the House Rules Committee
1995–1999 		Succeeded by
David Dreier
California
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