Benjamin Rosenthal

Benjamin Stanley Rosenthal
Benjamin S. Rosenthal, Congressman from New York
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 6th district
In office February 20, 1962 – January 3, 1963
Preceded by	Lester Holtzman
Succeeded by	Seymour Halpern
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 8th district
In office January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1983
Preceded by	Victor L. Anfuso
Succeeded by	James H. Scheuer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 7th district
In office January 3, 1983 – January 4, 1983
Preceded by	Joseph P. Addabbo
Succeeded by	Gary Ackerman
Personal details
Born	(1923-06-08)June 8, 1923 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	January 4, 1983(1983-01-04) (aged 59) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Cause of death	Cancer
Resting place	Beth David Cemetery, Elmont, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	New York University

Benjamin Stanley Rosenthal (June 8, 1923 – January 4, 1983), was a Congressman from New York, serving from 1962 until his death from cancer in Washington, D.C. in 1983.

Born in New York City, Rosenthal attended public schools (including Stuyvesant High School), Long Island University, and City College. He served in the United States Army from 1943–46, and received his LL.B. from Brooklyn Law School (1949) as well as an LL.M. from New York University, 1952. He was admitted to the New York bar in 1949 and commenced practice in New York City.

Rosenthal was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-seventh United States Congress, filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of Representative Lester Holtzman. Taking office on February 20, 1962, he was re-elected that fall, and then again to ten succeeding Congresses.

On May 17, 1962, Rosenthal read a statement into the Congressional Record praising the magazine Mad on its tenth anniversary. (Rosenthal's district, NY-8, included the part of Manhattan where Mad's offices were.) "Mad Magazine...for the last 10 years has humorously pointed out the laughable foibles of business, labor, advertising, television, sports and entertainment – to say nothing of politics," Rosenthal said.

Death and legacy

Rosenthal was re-elected again in 1982, but died of cancer in Washington, D.C. on January 4, 1983, just one day after the 98th United States Congress met for the first time. On March 1, Gary Ackerman was elected to the seat and held it through 2013.

Rosenthal is buried in Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, New York.

The Benjamin S. Rosenthal Library at Queens College, City University of New York, is named in his honor. Rosenthal's papers are held by the library's Department of Special Collections and Archives.

See also

• List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1950–99)

External links

• Guide to the Benjamin S. Rosenthal papers, at Queens College, City University of New York, including links to selected digitized items
• Benjamin Rosenthal at Find a Grave