Dante Fascell

Dante Fascell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 19th district
In office
January 3, 1983  January 3, 1993
Preceded by District created
Succeeded by Harry Johnston
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 15th district
In office
January 3, 1973  January 3, 1983
Preceded by District created
Succeeded by E. Clay Shaw, Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 12th district
In office
January 3, 1967  January 3, 1973
Preceded by William C. Cramer
Succeeded by J. Herbert Burke
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 4th district
In office
January 3, 1955  January 3, 1967
Preceded by William C. Lantaff
Succeeded by Albert S. Herlong, Jr.
Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
In office
December 3, 1983  January 3, 1993
Preceded by Clement John Zablocki
Succeeded by Lee H. Hamilton
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
In office
1951–1955
Personal details
Born March 9, 1917
Bridgehampton, New York
Died November 28, 1998(1998-11-28) (aged 81)
Clearwater, Florida
Political party Democratic

Dante Bruno Fascell (March 9, 1917 – November 28, 1998) served as an American politician from the state of Florida.

Early life

Dante Fascell was born in Bridgehampton, New York. In 1925, his family moved to Florida. In 1938, he graduated from the University of Miami School of Law. Fascell was a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity and the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. While a University of Miami law student, Fascell was inducted into its Iron Arrow Honor Society, the University of Miami's highest honor.

Fascell served in the Florida National Guard during World War II, serving in the African, Sicilian, and Italian Campaigns.

Political career

Fascell's constituents elected him to the Florida House of Representatives in 1950. In 1954 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat in a district representing Dade County, Florida. Fascell refused to sign the Southern Manifesto in 1956. Fascell began as a supporter of the Vietnam War, but he soon spoke out against the war. Fascell cosponsored the War Powers Act of 1973 and he won aid for Cuban-Americans who had settled in his district. He served as the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs from 1984 to 1993.[1] He worked to repeal the Clark Amendment, allowing the U.S. government to send aid to UNITA rebels in Angola, as a partner in the Black, Manafort, Stone and Kelly lobbying firm.[2]

Fascell worked to champion the creation of Biscayne National Park, south of Miami. It was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968. The visitor center in the park is named after Representative Fascell. Similarly, a public park located in South Miami is named for him.[3] The Dante B. Fascell North-South Center Act of 1991 established the prestigious think-tank at the University of Miami.

During the time between 1981 and 1988, Shirley Mae Albertus was Fascell's administrative assistant.

Fascell retired from the House after his 19th term ended in 1993. When President Bill Clinton took office he proposed to nominate Fascell as the United States Ambassador to Italy, however Fascell declined for family reasons as he had developed colorectal cancer.[4] On October 29, 1998 Fascell was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Clinton.[5] He died the following month from colorectal cancer, at the age of 81.

Works or publications

References

Further reading

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
William C. Lantaff
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 4th congressional district

1955–1967
Succeeded by
Albert S. Herlong, Jr.
Preceded by
William C. Cramer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 12th congressional district

1967–1973
Succeeded by
J. Herbert Burke
Preceded by
District Created
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 15th congressional district

1973–1983
Succeeded by
E. Clay Shaw, Jr.
Preceded by
District Created
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 19th congressional district

1983–1993
Succeeded by
Harry Johnston
Political offices
Preceded by
Clement J. Zablocki
Wisconsin
Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee
1983–1993
Succeeded by
Lee H. Hamilton
Indiana
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