Lucien Nedzi | |
|---|---|
.jpeg) Nedzi from the Congressional pictorial directory, 1979 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMichigan | |
| In office November 7, 1961 – January 3, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Thaddeus M. Machrowicz |
| Succeeded by | Dennis Hertel |
| Constituency | 1st district (1961–1965) 14th district (1965–1981) |
| Public Administrator of Wayne County, Michigan | |
| In office January 1, 1955 – November 7, 1961[1] | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lucien Norbert Nedzi (1925-05-28)May 28, 1925 Hamtramck, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | June 9, 2025(2025-06-09) (aged 100) Reston, Virginia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | [2] |
| Children | 5[3] |
| Education | University of Michigan (AB) University of Michigan (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch | |
| Service years | 1944–1946 (active) 1946–1953 (reserve) |
| Conflicts | World War II Korean War |
Lucien Norbert Nedzi (May 28, 1925 – June 9, 2025) was an American attorney and politician fromMichigan who served as public administrator ofWayne County, Michigan from 1955 to 1961 and a member of theUnited States House of Representatives from 1961 to 1981. He was a member of theDemocratic Party. After serving in theUnited States Army, he was elected as a U.S. representative representingMichigan's 1st congressional district from 1961 to 1965 andMichigan's 14th congressional district from 1965 to 1981. He chaired the HouseSelect Committee on Intelligence, initially known as the Nedzi Committee after him, in 1975. Nedzi also served as chair of theUnited States Congressional Joint Committee on the Library and theUnited States House Committee on House Administration.
Nedzi was born to Polish immigrants Aleksander Nedzi and Stephania (Wojszko) Nedzi in the town ofHamtramck, Michigan, an exclave ofDetroit.[4] He graduated fromHamtramck High School, and enrolled in theUniversity of Michigan, graduating in 1943 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.[5][6] In 1951, he earned aJuris Doctor from theUniversity of Michigan Law School. He was admitted to the Michiganbar in January 1952. He later graduated from theNational War College andNaval War College.[6]
From 1944 to 1946, he served in theUnited States Army duringWorld War II as an infantryman in thePhilippines, and in theUnited States Army Corps of Engineers inOccupied Japan. From 1946 to 1953, he was in the activeUnited States Army Reserve, during which time he served in theKorean War.[5]
Nedzi served as the public administrator ofWayne County, Michigan, from 1955 to 1961.[6][7]
Nedzi was elected as a U.S. representative fromMichigan's 1st congressional district to the87th United States Congress in a special election in 1961 to fill the vacancy left by resigning U.S. representativeThaddeus M. Machrowicz. He was re-elected in the1962 election and two years later he was elected fromMichigan's 14th congressional district and every two years after that until he declined to seek re-election in the1980 election. In all, he served from November 7, 1961, to January 3, 1981.[5] Nedzi voted in favor of theCivil Rights Act of 1964.[8]
Nedzi chaired the HouseSelect Committee on Intelligence, known as the Nedzi Committee, from February 1975 until he controversially resigned in June.[5] Its purpose was to increase congressional oversight of theCentral Intelligence Agency after a series of scandals. The committee's work was continued by thePike Committee.[9] His resignation came afterThe New York Times reported that Nedzi was aware of the Central Intelligence Agency being possibly involved in "assassination plans and domestic law violations", but did not notify theUnited States House of Representatives or open an investigation into the matter.[5][10]
In addition, Nedzi chaired theUnited States Congressional Joint Committee on the Library from 1973 to 1979 and theUnited States House Committee on House Administration from 1979 to 1981.[5]
Nedzi married the former Margaret Kathleen "Peggy" Garvey on January 28, 1952 inLaredo, Texas, after they met on a blind date during her dietetic internship atHenry Ford Hospital inDetroit. Together, they had five children and nine grandchildren. For the rest of their marriage, they lived inMcLean, Virginia.[11] Peggy Nedzi died on November 1, 2020[12][2] at age 95 while recovering fromrheumatoid vasculitis.[2]
Nedzi died inReston, Virginia on June 9, 2025, one week and five days after his100th birthday.[4][5] He was interred atArlington National Cemetery.[5]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMichigan's 1st congressional district November 7, 1961 – January 3, 1965 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMichigan's 14th congressional district January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1981 | Succeeded by |
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i - Select Committee chairs | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
