Charles S. Joelson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew Jersey's 8th district | |
| In office January 3, 1961 – September 4, 1969 | |
| Preceded by | Gordon Canfield |
| Succeeded by | Robert A. Roe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Samuel Joelson (1916-01-27)January 27, 1916 |
| Died | August 17, 1999(1999-08-17) (aged 83) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Cornell University (BA,LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1942-1945 |
| Rank | Ensign |
| Unit | Office of Naval Intelligence |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Charles Samuel Joelson (January 27, 1916 – August 17, 1999) was an Americanlawyer andpolitician. Joelson, aDemocrat, succeededGordon Canfield as theRepresentative forNew Jersey's 8th District for eight years, lasting from 1961 until his resignation on September 4, 1969, when he became a judge in theSuperior Court ofNew Jersey.[1]
Joelson was born and raised in aJewish family inPaterson, New Jersey.[2] After graduating fromMontclair Academy, he went on to college and attendedCornell University.[1] After graduatingPhi Beta Kappa with aBachelor of Arts degree in 1937,[3] Joelson went to attend the university'slaw school. He graduated with aBachelor of Laws degree in 1939, and was admitted to the bar in 1940.[1] He first started hislaw practice inPaterson, New Jersey and continued until he enlisted in theUnited States Navy in 1942.[1]
DuringWorld War II, Joelson served as an ensign in the Far Eastern Branch of theOffice of Naval Intelligence, where he learned and mastered theJapanese language.[3]
After the war, Joelson first ran for the House seat inNew Jersey's 8th congressional district against incumbentGordon Canfield. In a close election, Canfield captured 59,191 votes, just 148 more than Joelson, and was proclaimed the winner of the election.[4] Joelson then served onPaterson's city counsel from 1949 to 1952.[1]
He then served as deputyAttorney General inNew Jersey's criminal investigation division for three years, starting in 1954. That same year, he again ran for theRepresentative seat forNew Jersey's 8th District, but again lost toincumbentGordon Canfield.[5] Joelson received 45.1% of the vote, in comparison to Canfield's 54.8%.[6] Afterwards, Joelson then went on to thePassaic County's Prosecutor's Office and then became the director of the state's criminal investigation division and served that post from 1958 to 1960.[1]
He won the seat forNew Jersey's 8th District's in the November 1960 election. Canfield was not a candidate for renomination in 1960, and so Joelson was pitted against Republican Walter P. Kennedy. Joelson won the election by nearly 14,000 votes, capturing a 52%-43.8% majority.[7] He was sworn into theUnited States Congress on January 3, 1961. As Congressman, one of Joelson's achievements was a piece of legislation in 1969 that saved many school libraries. The legislation appropriated over a billion dollars for public school libraries, remedial programs and guidance counseling.[3]
After his resignation, then-state cabinet memberRobert A. Roe was elected as aDemocrat by special election on November 4, 1969, to fill the vacancy left by Joelson.[8][9] Joelson had asked the state's governor at the time,Richard J. Hughes for a seat in theNew Jersey Superior Court.[3] He served on the bench for fifteen years, spending time in theChancery Division and theAppellate Division, before retiring in 1984.[3]
A resident ofParamus, Joelson died at the age of 83 inFreehold Township, New Jersey[2] on August 17, 1999.[1]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNew Jersey's 8th congressional district 1961 - 1969 | Succeeded by |
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| National | |
| People | |
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