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==Political career== ==Political career==
Yatron started his career in public service as a member of the ] from 1955 to 1961. In 1956, He was elected as a member of the ] until 1960. He then ran, and was elected as a member of the ] from 1960 to 1968. Campaigning as a moderate, who stood for fiscal responsibility and opposition to the further escalation of the ], Yatron was elected, in 1969, as a Democrat to the ], representing the ] of ]. In entering office, Yatron immediately made a name for himself as a workhorse for his constituents at home. His first major legislation, in 1971, was to expand ] benefits and extend eligibility to afflicted miners, their widows and children. In 1973, Yatron travelled to Europe to deliver a speech to the ] in France, advocating NATO countries to take more initiative in absorbing the costs of defending Europe. As a Greek-American, Yatron found personal hardship in the conflict that took shape during the ] in 1974. Being one of the few Greek-Americans in the U.S. Congress, he took leadership in implementing U.S. assistance to helping ultimately secure a cease-fire in the region. Yatron sponsored legislation, signed into law in 1975, which would set up a committee to review the amount of paper wasted in U.S. federal bureaucracy and make recommendations that would reduce the waste. After its investigation, the Paperwork Commission made recommendations that saved $3.5 billion, as a result. As a member of the ], Yatron became a passionate advocate for establishing human rights as a cornerstone to U.S. foreign policy. He travelled to international regions afflicted with poor human rights records to push for adequate reforms. Yatron, subsequently, took the chairmanship of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Inter-American Affairs in 1979 and began investigations into the ]. In 1983, Yatron switched chairmanships, to become the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight. After serving 24 years in the ], Yatron retired in 1992. Yatron started his career in public service on the ] from 1955 to 1961. He served in the ] from 1956 until 1960, when he was elected to the ]. In 1968, Campaigning as a moderate in support of fiscal responsibility and opposition to further military involvement in the ], Yatron was elected to the ], representing the ] of ]. Upon entering office, Yatron quick made a name for himself as a workhorse for his constituency. His first major legislation, in 1971, expanded ] benefits and extended eligibility requirements for afflicted miners, their widows and children. Yatron sponsored legislation, signed into law in 1975, which set up a committee to review the volume of paper wasted in U.S. federal government and offer recommendations to reduce that waste. After its investigation, the Paperwork Commission made recommendations that resulted in savings of $3.5 billion. As a Greek-American, Yatron found personal hardship during the 1974 ]. As one in a few Greek-Americans in the U.S. Congress, he took leadership in implementing U.S. assistance that ultimately led to a cease-fire in the region. In 1973, Yatron traveled to Europe derlivering a speech to the ] in France, urging NATO countries to take more initiative in absorbing the costs of defending Europe. As a member of the ], Yatron became a passionate advocate for centering human rights as the cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. He took the chairmanship of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Inter-American Affairs in 1979 and began investigations into the ]. In 1983, Yatron become the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight. After serving 24 years in the ], Yatron retired in 1992.


==See also== ==See also==

Revision as of 14:21, 30 August 2012

Gus Yatron
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 6th district
In office
January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1993
Preceded byGeorge Rhodes
Succeeded byTim Holden
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 11th district
In office
January 3, 1961 – November 30, 1968
Preceded byFrank Ruth
Succeeded byRobert Gerhart
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the Berks County district
In office
January 1, 1957 – November 30, 1959
Personal details
Born(1927-10-16)October 16, 1927
Reading, Pennsylvania
DiedMarch 13, 2003(2003-03-13) (aged 75)
Fairfax Station, Virginia
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMildred L. Yatron
Alma materKutztown University
ProfessionLegislator, Businessman, Boxer

Constantine "Gus" Yatron (October 16, 1927 – March 13, 2003) was an American politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, Yatron represented the 6th congressional district of Pennsylvania for twelve terms, from 1969 until his retirement in 1993.

Early Life & Family

Gus Yatron was born in Reading, PA, to George H. and Theano Lazo Yatron, working-class Greek immigrants from the Greek city of Mytilene, of the island Lesbos. His father, George, was a carpenter and his mother, Theano, worked as a maid. Yatron graduated from Reading High School, serving as class president during his senior year. Following high school, Yatron received his bachelor’s degree at Kutztown University in Kutztown, PA in 1950, where he also met his wife to be, Mildred L. Yatron. While attending Kutztown University, Yatron played college football for the Golden Bears, and was later inducted into the Kutztown University Athletic Hall of Fame. During his college years, he also took up boxing, becoming a heavyweight division professional boxer in 1947, with a professional career record of 13-2-1, nine of which were TKO. After graduating from college, Yatron ran 'Yatron Ice Cream,' the business he founded with his father and built it into a local success in his home town, Reading, PA, eventually expanding the business with an additional hardware store. In 1968, he sold 'Yatron Ice Cream' to a local competitor and began to focus on his career in political public service.

Political career

Yatron started his career in public service on the Reading School Board from 1955 to 1961. He served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1956 until 1960, when he was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate. In 1968, Campaigning as a moderate in support of fiscal responsibility and opposition to further military involvement in the Vietnam War, Yatron was elected to the 91st United States Congress, representing the 6th congressional district of Pennsylvania. Upon entering office, Yatron quick made a name for himself as a workhorse for his constituency. His first major legislation, in 1971, expanded black lung benefits and extended eligibility requirements for afflicted miners, their widows and children. Yatron sponsored legislation, signed into law in 1975, which set up a committee to review the volume of paper wasted in U.S. federal government and offer recommendations to reduce that waste. After its investigation, the Paperwork Commission made recommendations that resulted in savings of $3.5 billion. As a Greek-American, Yatron found personal hardship during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus. As one in a few Greek-Americans in the U.S. Congress, he took leadership in implementing U.S. assistance that ultimately led to a cease-fire in the region. In 1973, Yatron traveled to Europe derlivering a speech to the European Parliament in France, urging NATO countries to take more initiative in absorbing the costs of defending Europe. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Yatron became a passionate advocate for centering human rights as the cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. He took the chairmanship of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Inter-American Affairs in 1979 and began investigations into the Iran-Contra affair. In 1983, Yatron become the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight. After serving 24 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Yatron retired in 1992.

See also

Sources

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