Charles Vanik | |
|---|---|
 Vanik in 1955 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromOhio | |
| In office January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Frances P. Bolton |
| Succeeded by | Dennis E. Eckart |
| Constituency | 22nd district |
| In office January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1969 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Crosser |
| Succeeded by | Louis Stokes |
| Constituency | 21st district |
| Member of theOhio State Senate | |
| In office 1940–1942 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Albert Vanik (1913-04-07)April 7, 1913 |
| Died | August 30, 2007(2007-08-30) (aged 94) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Case Western Reserve University CWRU School of Law |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | U.S. Naval Reserve |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Charles Albert Vanik (April 7, 1913 – August 30, 2007) was aDemocratic politician fromOhio. He served in theUnited States House of Representatives from 1955 to 1981.
Vanik was born inCleveland, Ohio, the son of Stella (née Kvasnicka) and Charles Albert Vanik, a butcher.[1] He was ofCzech ancestry.[2] His maternal grandmother, Alžběta Seberová (1868–1948), was born in villageHracholusky, southernBohemia (then part of theAustria-Hungary).[3] Vanik completed undergraduate studies and a law degree atWestern Reserve University. After serving on the Cleveland City Council from 1938 to 1939 and theOhio State Senate from 1940 to 1942, Vanik enlisted in theU.S. Naval Reserve, seeing action in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. After the war, Vanik served as a city judge from 1946 to 1954.[citation needed]
In 1954, he ran forOhio's 21st congressional district. The district, located on Cleveland's East Side, was evenly divided between African Americans, who were then solidly Republican voters, and whites, who were mostly Democrats.[4] In the Democratic primary, Vanik defeated longtime incumbent CongressmanRobert Crosser as well as African-American challenger John Holly, founder of the Negro Future Outlook League.[5][6]
In the general election, Vanik defeated African-American RepublicanFrancis E. Young, who helped organize the Cleveland branch of theNAACP.[4] Vanik shifted districts in 1968 to the neighboring22nd district, to make way forLouis Stokes whose growing political operation had challenged him in previous races, defeatingFrances P. Bolton, who had served the district since 1939. Vanik served in the district until 1981.[citation needed]
In 1974, Vanik sponsored theJackson–Vanik amendment with Sen.Henry "Scoop" Jackson, which denied normal trade relations to certain countries with non-market economies that restricted the freedom of emigration. The amendment was intended to allow refugees, particularly religious minorities, to escape from the Soviet Bloc. During this time, Vanik was the chair of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade.[citation needed]
He used to insert into theCongressional Recordwhat he called the "Annual Corporate Tax Study" in which he'd list corporations that paid little to no federal income taxes.[citation needed]
In 1982, Vanik contested for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant-governor of Ohio as running mate with Ohio Attorney General William J. Brown who was running for governor. The ticket lost toRichard F. Celeste andMyrl Shoemaker. Vanik was known for wearing black bow ties with every suit.[citation needed]
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Vanik died in his sleep on August 30, 2007, at his home inJupiter, Florida. He was 94. He was survived by his wife, Betty, one son, one daughter and two grandchildren.
In the balanced 21st district (50 per cent Negro, 50 per cent white vote), Negroes vote mostly Republican, whites Democratic.
Vanik defeated long-time Congressman ROBERT CROSSER in the Democratic Primary in 1954.
Young, active in civic affairs, will face Charles A. Vanik, a white municipal court judge, who edged out John Holly, founder of the Negro Future Outlook League, in the Democratic primary.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromOhio's 21st congressional district 1955–1969 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromOhio's 22nd congressional district 1969–1981 | Succeeded by |
| 21st district |
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|---|---|---|
| 22nd district |
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