Joshua Eilberg | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's4th district | |
| In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1979 | |
| Preceded by | Herman Toll |
| Succeeded by | Charles F. Dougherty |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joshua Eilberg (1921-02-12)February 12, 1921 Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | March 24, 2004(2004-03-24) (aged 83) Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Pennsylvania (BS) Temple University (LLB) |
Joshua Eilberg (February 12, 1921 – March 24, 2004) was aDemocratic member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania.
Eilberg was born inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated fromCentral High School (Philadelphia), theWharton School at theUniversity of Pennsylvania andTemple University School of Law, both in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He entered theUnited States Naval Reserve and became a private practice lawyer, later becoming assistant district attorney of the city of Philadelphia from 1952 to 1954. He was elected to thePennsylvania State House of Representatives, serving from 1954 to 1966, rising to the position of majority leader in 1965–1966. He was a delegate to theDemocratic National Conventions of1960,1964 and1968, and was the Democratic ward leader for the fifty-fourth ward of Philadelphia.
He was elected in1966 as a Democrat to the90th and to the five succeeding Congresses. In1974, Eilberg defeatedChris Matthews, future host ofMSNBC'sHardball with Chris Matthews, in the Democratic primary. In 1978, he defeatedMark B. Cohen in the Democratic primary, before losing toCharles F. Dougherty. While in office, he served as the Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and International Law. In that role, Representative Eilberg led a legislative veto to override the Attorney General's suspension of deportation of Jagdish Rai Chadha and five others under the Immigration and Nationality Act.[1] The Supreme Court later found the legislative veto unconstitutional inINS v. Chadha, 462 U.S. 919 (1983).
In 1978, then-U.S. Attorney David W. Marston investigated Eilberg for money he received in connection with a federal grant toHahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia. Eilberg contacted theCarter White House, and Marston was later fired.[2] Eilberg lost his 1978 reelection bid, and, three months later, pleaded guilty to conflict of interest charges. He was sentenced to five years of probation and a $10,000 fine.[3]
He was married to a social worker named Gladys. They had a daughter,Amy Eilberg,[4][5] who is the firstfemale rabbi ordained inConservative Judaism,[6]and a son, William.[4]
Eilberg died in Philadelphia on March 24, 2004, of complications of Parkinson’s Disease.[4]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 4th congressional district 1967–1979 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
