Gerry Solomon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of theHouse Rules Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Joe Moakley |
| Succeeded by | David Dreier |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York | |
| In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Edward W. Pattison |
| Succeeded by | John E. Sweeney |
| Constituency | 29th district (1979–1983) 24th district (1983–1993) 22nd district (1993–1999) |
| Member of theNew York State Assembly from the110th district | |
| In office January 1, 1973 – December 31, 1978 | |
| Preceded by | K. Daniel Haley |
| Succeeded by | Joan B. Hague |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gerald Brooks Hunt (1930-08-14)August 14, 1930 Okeechobee,Florida, U.S. |
| Died | October 26, 2001(2001-10-26) (aged 71) Queensbury, New York, U.S. |
| Resting place | Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery |
| Party | Republican (before 1960, 1968–2001) Democratic (1960–1968) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | Siena College St. Lawrence University |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Marine Corps United States Marine Corps Reserve |
| Years of service | 1951–1952 (Marines) 1952–1959 (Reserve) |
| Rank | Lance Corporal |
| Unit | 2nd Marine Division |
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 theUnited States House of Representatives fromNew York.
A veteran of theUnited States Marine Corps and theMarine Corps Reserve, and a successful insurance and investment broker, Solomon entered politics as aDemocrat when he was electedtown supervisor ofQueensbury in 1968. He became aRepublican in his first term, and won election to theNew 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 hisSolomon 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 challengedNewt Gingrich for Speaker, but withdrew when it became clear that Gingrich had the support of a majority of the Republican caucus. Solomon became chairman of theHouse Rules Committee, a post he held from 1995 until retiring from the House in 1999. He was succeeded by fellow RepublicanJohn 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 inSchuylerville, New York; he had spearheaded efforts to create the facility,which was named in his honor after his death.
Solomon was born inOkeechobee, 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 andDelmar, New York, and graduated from Delmar'sBethlehem Central High School in 1948.[2][3] He attendedSiena College from 1949 to 1950 andSt. Lawrence University from 1953 to 1954.[1]
Solomon attempted to join the 1st Engineer Company of theUnited States Marine Corps Reserve inAlbany, New York during theKorean War in 1950, but was deemed ineligible because of a childhood illness.[1] He tried to enlist again in 1951 and was accepted.[1] From 1951 to 1952, Solomon was a radio operator[4] assigned to the2nd Marine Division and stationed aboard the helicopter carrier USSSiboney in theAtlantic Ocean, and he attained the rank ofprivate first class.[1][5] He remained in theMarine Corps Reserve until 1959, and attained the rank oflance corporal.[1][6]
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 theGlens Falls chamber of commerce.[7] He was active in theJaycees and theBoy Scouts, and was also involved in several charitable and civic causes.[7] In addition, his fraternal memberships included theMarine Corps League,Masons,Shriners, andAmerican Legion.[7] The name recognition derived from his business and civic accomplishments provided Solomon with an entrée into local politics and government.[7]
Originally aDemocrat, In 1967, Solomon defeated incumbent John O. Webster to become Queensbury'sTown Supervisor, which also made him a member of theWarren County Board of Supervisors.[9][10] He was reelected in 1971 and served from January 1968 to December 1972, when he was succeeded by John A. DeLong Jr.[11][12][13] In February 1968 he switched his party affiliation toRepublican,[9] arguing that he had been a Republican prior to the election ofJohn 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 thatLyndon B. Johnson's presidency had moved too far from Kennedy's agenda.[14] He was a member of theNew York State Assembly from 1973 to 1978, sitting in the180th,181st and182nd New York State Legislatures.[15] As a fiscal conservative and advocate for limited government, Solomon was often at odds with the Assembly's Democratic majority.[15]
In November 1978, Solomon was elected to theHouse of Representatives.[9][16] In 1980, he was an early and avid supporter ofRonald Reagan's presidential campaign, and remained a Reagan stalwart, supporting his efforts to reduce taxes, revive the economy, halt Soviet expansionism and rebuild America's defenses.[9] Solomon supported theline-item veto, a constitutional amendment to banflag burning, a repeal of theFederal Assault Weapons Ban, and amendments that strengthened theSelective Service System.[9] He was such an opponent of gun control that he once challenged fellow RepresentativePatrick J. Kennedy ofRhode Island to "step outside" to settle a dispute over the issue.[17] Solomon attempted to run forSpeaker of the House in 1994 but withdrew in favor ofNewt Gingrich.[18]
Solomon also supported creation of the Saratoga National Cemetery, which was named theGerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in his honor following his death.[1] In addition, he was a longtime advocate of elevating the Veterans Administration to cabinet status, which resulted in creation of theUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs.[1] Solomon was also a leader of former Marines in Congress who fought the construction of theUnited States Air Force Memorial through litigation and legislation at a site they considered to be too close to theUSMC War Memorial.[19] (The Air Force Memorial was ultimately constructed at a different location, on the grounds ofFort Myer nearArlington National Cemetery.)[20]
Solomon was also the originator and sponsor of theSolomon Amendment, a controversial amendment toUnited States Code that precluded the receipt of federal government funds by colleges and universities unless they provided equal access tomilitary recruiters as they did private employers.[9] The policy was a response to rules at many Americanlaw schools which excluded employers who discriminated based on categories such assexual orientation.[21] The Amendment was subject to extensive litigation in 2003 by plaintiffs; theForum for Academic and Institutional Rights (FAIR) and the Society of American Law Teachers.[21] This litigation includedFAIR v. Rumsfeld, 390 F.3d 219 (3rd Cir. 2004).[21] On March 6, 2006, theUnited States Supreme Court ruled in favor of the military and upheld the Solomon Amendment.[21]
Solomon was named ranking Republican of theHouse Rules Committee in 1991.[22] Even thoughJimmy Quillen of Tennessee had far more seniority, the other Republicans on the committee thought Solomon was a more accomplished legislator.[22] 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.[22] He served as chairman from 1995 to 1999, when he retired.[22]
In his district, which ran from the Hudson Valley near Poughkeepsie into the Adirondacks, including Lake Placid, he was a popular and respected figure.[23] In the later years of his tenure he consistently drew the highest total vote of any member of the New York delegation.[23] 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.[23]
After leaving Congress he formed the Solomon Group, a Washington consulting and lobbying business.[9]
On October 26, 2001, Solomon died ofcongestive heart failure at his home in Queensbury at the age of 71.[24] His ability to maintain friendships across political lines resulted in several Democratic members of Congress attending his funeral, including RepresentativeCharles Rangel, a fellow veteran.[25] Solomon was buried at the national cemetery which is named for him.[1][5]
In 1955 Solomon married Freda Parker ofMonongahela, 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.[26]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 29th congressional district 1979–1983 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 24th congressional district 1983–1993 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Ranking Member of theHouse Veterans' Affairs Committee 1987–1989 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Ranking Member of theHouse Rules Committee 1991–1995 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 22nd congressional district 1993–1999 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theHouse Rules Committee 1995–1999 | Succeeded by |
Chairs of theU.S. House Committee on Rules (1880–present) | ||
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| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
