Ribicoff, Abraham A. (Abraham Alexander), 1910-1998

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Abraham Alexander Ribicoff (April 9, 1910 – February 22, 1998) was an American Democratic Party politician from the state of Connecticut. He represented Connecticut in the United States House of Representatives and Senate and was the 80th Governor of Connecticut and Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in President John F. Kennedy's cabinet. He was Connecticut's first and to date only Jewish governor.

Born in New Britain, Connecticut, to Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants from Poland, Samuel Ribicoff, a factory worker, and Rose Sable Ribicoff, he attended local public schools. Ribicoff's relatively poor parents valued education and insisted that all his earnings from part-time boyhood jobs go toward his future schooling. After high school, he worked for a year at a nearby factory of the G. E. Prentice Company to earn additional funds for college. Ribicoff enrolled at New York University in 1928, then transferred to the University of Chicago after the Prentice Company made him the Chicago office manager. While in Chicago, Ribicoff coped with school and work schedules and was permitted to enter the university's law school before finishing his undergraduate degree. Still a student, he married Ruth Siegel on June 28, 1931; they had two children. Ribicoff served as editor of the University of Chicago Law Review in his third year and received an LLB cum laude in 1933, being admitted to the Connecticut bar the same year. After practicing law in the office of a Hartford lawyer, Ribicoff set up his practice, first in Kensington and later in Hartford.

Having become interested in politics, Ribicoff began as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, serving in that body from 1938 to 1942. From 1941 until 1943 and again from 1945 to 1947 he was the judge of Hartford Police Court. During his political career, Ribicoff was a protégé of John Moran Bailey, the powerful chairman of the Democratic Party of Connecticut.

He was elected as a Democrat to the 81st and 82nd Congresses, serving from 1949 until 1953. During that time he served on the Foreign Affairs Committee, a position usually reserved for members with more seniority, and was a mostly loyal supporter of the foreign and domestic policies of President Harry S. Truman's administration. Generally liberal in his outlook, he surprised many by opposing a $32 million appropriation for the construction of a dam in Enfield, Connecticut, arguing that the money was better spent on military needs and foreign policy initiatives such as the Marshall Plan.

After returning to his legal practice for two years, he ran for governor against incumbent Republican John Davis Lodge, winning the election by just over three thousand votes. As governor (1955–1961), Ribicoff soon faced the challenge of rebuilding his state in the wake of devastating floods that occurred in the late summer and fall of 1955, and he successfully led bipartisan efforts to aid damaged areas. Ribicoff then successfully argued for increased state spending on schools and welfare programs. He also supported an amendment to the state constitution that enhanced the governing powers of local municipalities. Easily reelected in 1958, Ribicoff had by now become active on the national political scene. A longtime friend of Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy, Ribicoff had nominated his fellow New Englander for vice president at the 1956 Democratic National Convention and was one of the first public officials to endorse Kennedy's presidential campaign.

When Kennedy became president in 1961, he offered Ribicoff his choice of cabinet posts in the new administration. He reportedly declined the position of attorney general, fearing that he might create needless controversy within the emerging civil rights movement because he was Jewish, and instead chose to be secretary of health, education, and welfare (HEW). Although he did manage to secure a revision of the 1935 Social Security Act that liberalized requirements for aid-to-dependent-children funds from Congress, Ribicoff was unable to gain approval for the administration's Medicare and school aid bills. Eventually, he tired of attempting to manage HEW, whose very size made it, in his opinion, unmanageable.

He was finally elected to the United States Senate in 1962, replacing retiring incumbent Prescott Bush by defeating Republican nominee Horace Seely-Brown with 51% of the vote. He served in the Senate from January 3, 1963, until January 3, 1981.

Ribicoff allied with consumer advocate Ralph Nader in creating the Motor Vehicle Highway Safety Act of 1966, which created the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency was responsible for many new safety standards on cars.

At the 1968 Democratic National Convention, during a speech nominating George McGovern, his senatorial colleague from South Dakota, he went off-script, saying, "And with George McGovern as President of the United States, we wouldn't have to have Gestapo tactics in the streets of Chicago." Many conventioneers, having been appalled by the response of the Chicago police to the simultaneously occurring anti-war demonstrations, promptly broke into ecstatic applause. Television cameras promptly focused on the indignant reaction of Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley. Ribicoff spent the remaining years of his Senate career fighting for such issues as school integration, welfare and tax reform, and consumer protection.

During the 1972 Democratic National Convention, presidential nominee George McGovern offered Ribicoff the Democratic vice-presidential nomination, but he declined it and it eventually went to Senator Thomas Eagleton. After Eagleton withdrew, McGovern asked Ribicoff (among others) to take Eagleton's place. He refused, publicly stating that he had no further ambitions for higher office. McGovern eventually chose Sargent Shriver as his running mate. Later in 1972, following the death of his wife, Ribicoff married Lois Mell Mathes, who became known as "Casey".

During his time in the Senate, Ribicoff was chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Government Operations (94th and 95th Congresses) and its successor committee, the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs (95th and 96th Congresses).

On May 3, 1979, Ribicoff announced his intention to retire at the end of his third term. President Jimmy Carter released a statement crediting Ribicoff with having "compiled a distinguished career of public service that can serve as a model of decency, compassion, and ability."

In 1981, Ribicoff fulfilled his pledge to retire from the Senate and took a position as special counsel in the New York law firm of Kaye Scholer LLP and divided his time between homes in Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut and Manhattan. He was co-chairman of the 1988 Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

Having suffered in his later years from the effects of Alzheimer's disease, he died in 1998 at the Hebrew Home for the Aged in Riverdale in The Bronx, New York City, and is interred at Cornwall Cemetery in Cornwall, Connecticut.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Ribicoff, Abraham, 1910-1998. Abraham Ribicoff : commercials, 1962-1974. University of Oklahoma, Political Community Archives
creatorOf American Medical Association. Dept. of Investigation. Records. National Congress on Medical Quackery, 1960-1969. American Medical Association,James S. Todd Memorial Library
creatorOf Rodell, Fred, 1907-1980. Fred Rodell papers, 1940-1980. Haverford College Library
referencedIn Wager, Robert, 1934-. Reminiscences of Robert Wager: oral history, 1990. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn The Benny Goodman Papers, 1910-1992, inclusive Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
creatorOf Ribicoff, Abraham, 1910-1998. Address : at the 125th Commencement Exercises, Mount Holyoke College, Sunday, June 3, 1962 ... / by Abraham Ribicoff. Mount Holyoke College, Williston & Miles-Smith Library
creatorOf Ribicoff, Abraham, 1910-1998. Correspondence to Chaim Potok, 1978. University of Pennsylvania Library
Abraham Ribicoff Papers John F. Kennedy Library
referencedIn Papers of Dorothy Rodgers, 1922-1987 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn John M. DeBell Papers, 1924-1986 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Paul A. Freund papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Connecticut State Labor Council, AFL-CIO Records, undated, 1909-1991. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn University of Connecticut, President's Office Records [Albert N. Jorgensen, 1935-1962], undated, 1935-1962. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Childs, Marquis William, 1903-. Papers, 1919-1967. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Histadruth Ivrith of America, records, undated, 1900-2005 American Jewish Historical Society
creatorOf Abraham Ribicoff Papers, 1927-1981 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Audrey Beck Papers., undated, 1930-1983. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Oval Office tape number 484 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Edgar Ansel Mowrer and Lilian T. Mowrer Papers, 1898-1978, (bulk 1933-1975) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Harvard Law School Forums Records Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Herman Wolf Papers, undated, 1926-1981. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Robert Manning papers, 1938-1993. Houghton Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 5/19/78 Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Logue, Edward J. Edward Joseph Logue papers, 1929-2001 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Abraham Ribicoff Papers, 1958-1979 Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Logue, Edward J. Edward Joseph Logue papers, 1931-2000 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. 1976 Campaign Transition File. 1977 - 1977. Foreign Policy, (10/76-11/76) [1] Jimmy Carter Library
creatorOf Ribicoff, Abraham, 1910-1998. [Letter] 1972 June 29, Washington [to] William P. Thompson, Philadelphia / Abe Ribicoff. Presbyterian Historical Society, PHS
referencedIn Ogden Rogers Reid papers, 1925-1982 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. White House telephone tape number 42 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Women's National Book Association Records, 1917-2013. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Ribicoff, Abraham, 1910-1998. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, 1959-1963. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn Publicity photographs of U.S. Senator Hugh Scott, 1958-1973. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Julius Bisno Collection, undated, 1780, 1801-1980 American Jewish Historical Society
referencedIn George W. Pray Papers, 1844-1890 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Ribicoff, Abraham, 1910-1998. Correspondence with Marian Anderson, 1958-1963. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Shecter, Louis E. Miscellaneous manuscripts, 1965. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 4/30/79 [1] Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Esselstyn, Caldwell B., 1902-1975. Caldwell B. Esselstyn papers, 1945-1964 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Margaret Bayne Price Papers, 1918-1969, 1947-1968 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Thomas J. Dodd Papers, undated, 1919-1971. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Oval Office tape number 661 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Records, 1967-1990 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, 1922-1973 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Jack Goldring Papers., undated, 1940-1981. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
creatorOf Harris, Fred R., 1930-. Papers, 1963-1976. University of Oklahoma, Bizzell Memorial Library
referencedIn Frank Kowalski Papers, 1925-1976, (bulk 1948-1963) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 11/2/77 [3] Jimmy Carter Library
creatorOf Fletcher, Genevieve Day. Correspondence with Marian Anderson, 1963-1964. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Weinerman, E. Richard (Edwin Richard), 1917-1970. Edwin Richard Weinerman papers, 1908-1970 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Elman, Philip, 1918-. Papers, 1925-1979. Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Richard Charles Lee papers, 1934-2000 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Oval Office tape number 660 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Edwin Richard Weinerman papers, 1908-1970 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn New Directions Publishing records Houghton Library
referencedIn Elman, Philip. Philip Elman papers. 1925-1979. Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Helen Paull Kirkpatrick Papers MS 103., 1930 - 1998 Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 7/8/78 Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Chester Bowles papers, 1924-1982 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Henry C. Wahl Correspondence, 1948-1970 Bancroft Library
referencedIn Connecticut Political Collections, undated, 1968, 1976, 1994. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Oval Office tape number 737 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Lawrence E. Spivak Papers, 1917-1994, (bulk 1945-1983) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Tony Schwartz collection, 1912-2008, 1950-2008 Library of Congress. Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division
referencedIn Records of the Project on the Status and Education of Women (Association of American Colleges), (inclusive), (bulk), 1969-1991, 1971-1985 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Johnston, Russell Ziebell, 1894-. Scrapbooks, 1938-1958. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Abraham Ribicoff Papers. 1960 - 1960. Campaign Files John F. Kennedy Library
referencedIn Papers of the Hamilton family, 1818-1974 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Caldwell B. Esselstyn papers, 1945-1964 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Isidore Sydney Falk papers, 1918-1984 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Kirkpatrick, Helen Paull. Papers 1930-1998. Smith College, Neilson Library
creatorOf Lewis, Mort Reis. Papers of Mort Reis Lewis, 1953-1985. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Women's National Book Association. Women's National Book Association records, 1917-1989. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Edward Joseph Logue papers, 1929-2005 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Byrd, Harry Flood, 1914-. Papers of Harry F. Byrd, Jr., [manuscript], 1924-2003. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Ribicoff, Abraham, 1910-1998. Papers of Abraham Ribicoff, 1927-1981. Library of Congress
referencedIn Falk, I. S. (Isidore Sydney), 1899-1984. Isidore Sydney Falk papers, 1918-1984 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Atkins, Julius R., 1917-. Julius Atkins photographs, 1920-1980. Milwaukee Jewish Historical Society
creatorOf Ribicoff, Abraham. Letter, 1976, to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Oval Office tape number 664 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Belle Krasne Ribicoff papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. White House telephone tape number 20 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 4/6/79 [3] Jimmy Carter Library
creatorOf Records of the U.S. Information Agency. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to U.S. Domestic and International Activities . 1982 - 1999. PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S ASSASSINATION
referencedIn University of Connecticut, Center for Oral History Interviews Collection, undated, 1967-2008. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Papers of Martha May Eliot, 1898-1975 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 5/7/79 [1] Jimmy Carter Library
creatorOf Babbitt, Irving, 1865-1933. Letters of George N. Shuster, 1928-1974. College of Charleston, Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library
referencedIn Papers of the Hamilton family, 1818-1974 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Andreĭ Sakharov papers, 1852-2002 (inclusive), 1960-1990 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Chester Bowles papers, 1924-1982 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Lee, Richard C. (Richard Charles), 1916-. Richard Charles Lee papers, 1934-2000 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Lee, Maurice du Pont, 1885-1974. Papers, 1900-1973 (bulk 1952-1972). Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Switzer, Mary Elizabeth, 1900-. Papers, 1922-1973 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Papers of Julian Bond 1897-2006 University of Virginia. Small Special Collections Library
creatorOf Ribicoff, Abraham, 1910-. Miscellaneous papers. Jacksonville University, Carl S. Swisher Library
creatorOf Connecticut. Governor (1955-1961 : Ribicoff). [Proclamations, 1955-1960]. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn New York Times Company records. Arthur Hays Sulzberger papers, 1823-1999 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Connecticut Citizens Action Group Records., undated, 1964-2002 Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith AFL-CIO Connecticut State Labor Council. corporateBody
associatedWith American Medical Association. Dept. of Investigation. corporateBody
associatedWith Atkins, Julius R., 1917- person
associatedWith Beck, Audrey Phillips, 1931-1983 person
associatedWith Bisno, Julius, 1911- person
associatedWith Bond, Julian, 1940- person
associatedWith Bowles, Chester, 1901-1986. person
associatedWith Byrd, Harry Flood, 1914- person
associatedWith Center for Oral History. corporateBody
associatedWith Childs, Marquis William, 1903- person
associatedWith Connecticut Citizens Action Group. corporateBody
associatedWith Connecticut. Governor (1955-1961 : Ribicoff) corporateBody
associatedWith DeBell, John M. person
correspondedWith Dodd, Thomas J. (Thomas Joseph), 1907-1971 person
associatedWith Dorothy (Feiner) Rodgers, 1909- person
associatedWith Eliot, Martha M. (Martha May), 1891-1978 person
associatedWith Elman, Philip, 1918- person
associatedWith Esselstyn, Caldwell B., 1902-1975. person
associatedWith Falk, I. S. (Isidore Sydney), 1899-1984. person
associatedWith Fletcher, Genevieve Day. person
associatedWith Freund, Paul Abraham, 1908-1992 person
associatedWith Goldring, Jack. person
associatedWith Goodman, Benny, 1909- person
associatedWith Hamilton (Family : Ft. Wayne, Ind.) family
associatedWith Harris, Fred R., 1930- person
correspondedWith Harvard Law School Forum corporateBody
associatedWith Histadruth Ivrith of America person
associatedWith Johnston, Russell Ziebell, 1894- person
associatedWith Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 person
correspondedWith Kirkpatrick, Helen Paull person
correspondedWith Kowalski, Frank, 1907-1974. person
associatedWith Lee, Maurice du Pont, 1885-1974. person
associatedWith Lee, Richard C. (Richard Charles), 1916- person
associatedWith Lewis, Mort Reis. person
associatedWith Logue, Edward J. person
associatedWith Manning, Robert, 1919- person
associatedWith Mount Holyoke College corporateBody
correspondedWith Mowrer, Edgar Ansel, 1892-1977. person
correspondedWith Mowrer, Lilian T. (Lilian Thomson). Edgar Ansel Mowrer and Lilian T. Mowrer papers. 1910-1970 person
associatedWith New Directions Publishing Corp. corporateBody
associatedWith New York Times Company corporateBody
associatedWith Pray, George Washington, 1825-1890 person
associatedWith Price, Margaret Bayne, 1912-1968 person
associatedWith Project on the Status and Education of Women (Association of American Colleges) person
associatedWith Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961 person
associatedWith Reid, Ogden R. (Ogden Rogers), 1925- person
sibling-in-law of Ribicoff, Belle Krasne, 1924- person
associatedWith Rodgers, Dorothy F., 1909- person
associatedWith Sakharov, Andreĭ, 1921-1989 person
associatedWith Schwartz, Tony person
associatedWith Shecter, Louis E. person
associatedWith Spivak, Lawrence E. (Lawrence Edmund), 1900-1994. person
associatedWith Switzer, Mary Elizabeth, 1900-1971 person
associatedWith United States. Congress corporateBody
associatedWith University of Connecticut. corporateBody
correspondedWith University of Connecticut. President's Office. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Oklahoma. Political Commercial Archive. corporateBody
associatedWith Wager, Robert, 1934- person
correspondedWith Wahl, Henry C. person
associatedWith Weinerman, E. Richard (Edwin Richard), 1917-1970. person
associatedWith Wolf, Herman. person
correspondedWith Women's Equity Action League corporateBody
associatedWith Women's National Book Association. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York City NY US
Washington, D. C. DC US
Connecticut CT US
New Britain CT US
Subject
Advertising, political
Education
Education
Arms control
Civil rights
Civil service
Consumer movements
Consumer protection
Corporations
Corvair automobile
Energy policy
Environmental protection
Industrial policy
International trade
Medical care
Nuclear nonproliferation
Presidents
Radio advertising
Television advertising
Traffic safety
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
Occupation
Cabinet officers
Governors
Jurists
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Senators, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1910-04-10

Death 1998-02-22

Male

Americans

English

Information

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