Acting
Tom Lantos
Thomas Peter Lantos, originally named Tamás Péter Lantos, was born on February 1, 1928, in Hungary and became a significant American political figure after emigrating. He served as a U.S. Representative for California from 1981 until his passing on February 11, 2008. A dedicated member of the Democratic Party, Lantos represented California's 11th congressional district until 1993 and subsequently the 12th district, covering the northern two-thirds of San Mateo County and parts of southwestern San Francisco following redistricting.
During his final term, he held the prominent position of Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. In January 2008, Lantos announced that he would not seek re-election due to a diagnosis of esophageal cancer, ultimately passing away before completing his term. Notably, Lantos was the only Holocaust survivor to serve in Congress, having escaped the genocide with the aid of Raoul Wallenberg. Following his death, Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised his commitment to illuminating oppression, while U2's Bono recognized him as a "prizefighter" for human rights.
In honor of his legacy, the Congressional Human Rights Caucus he founded in 1983 was renamed the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. Additionally, the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice was established to continue his advocacy work, and in 2011, the Tom Lantos Institute was created in Budapest to advance tolerance and minority rights in Central and Eastern Europe and beyond.
