Howard Wolpe

Howard Wolpe (1985)

Howard Eliot Wolpe (born November 3, 1939 in Los Angeles , California - † October 25, 2011 in Saugatuck , Michigan ) was an American politician . Between 1979 and 1993 he represented the state of Michigan in the US House of Representatives .

Career

Howard Wolpe first attended the public schools in his hometown of Los Angeles. In 1956 he graduated from the local University High School . He then studied at Reed College in Portland ( Oregon ) until 1960 . He finished his education in 1967 with a philosophy degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology . Between 1967 and 1972 Wolpe taught political science at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo , Michigan. From 1976 to 1978 he was on the staff of US Senator Donald W. Riegle . Politically, Wolpe joined the Democratic Party . From 1969 to 1972 he was a city councilor in Kalamazoo; between 1972 and 1976 he was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives . During this time he was also a delegate to several regional party conventions in Michigan.

In the 1978 congressional election , Wolpe was elected to the United States House of Representatives in Washington, DC in the third constituency of Michigan , where he succeeded Garry E. Brown on January 3, 1979 . After six re-elections, he was able to complete seven legislative terms in Congress by January 3, 1993 . Wolpe specialized in American foreign policy related to Africa while in Congress . He was a member of the foreign affairs committee and chaired the subcommittee on relations with the African continent. He campaigned successfully and against the will of President Ronald Reagan for sanctions against South Africa's apartheid regime .

In 1992 Wolpe renounced another congressional candidacy. Two years later he unsuccessfully applied for the office of governor of Michigan. He and his candidate for the office of lieutenant governor , Debbie Stabenow , were clearly defeated by Republicans John Engler and Connie Binsfeld with 38:61 percent of the vote. During the presidency of Bill Clinton , Wolpe led the American delegation to peace talks between the warring states Burundi and Congo . He later became a temporary advisor to the Foreign Ministry on African affairs. Howard Wolpe worked as a consultant on a book about the peace process in Burundi. He was married to Juliane Fletcher.

Web links

• Howard Wolpe in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)