Howard Metzenbaum, right, with Norman Dorsen, then president of the national ACLU (photo taken around 1978).
Howard Metzenbaum died March 12, 2008 at age 90. Metzenbaum represented the state of Ohio in the U.S. Senate from 1976 to 1995 plus a year as an appointee (1974). In addition, he served in the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate (1943-1951).
Metzenbaum supported civil liberties and the ACLU throughout his career. A tireless advocate for consumers and workers, he introduced bills on nutrition labeling, safe infant formula, assault weapons restrictions, a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases and 60 days’ advance notice for employees at factories about to close.
He was equally proud of his role in blocking bad bills: school prayer, abortion limits, flag burning, and opening the National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. He was a master at using the filibuster in such situations.
Read Howard Metzenbaum's biography on the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website.
Read Howard Metzenbaum's biography on the Ohio History Central website.
To join us in memorializing Howard Metzenbaum by making a gift to the ACLU of Ohio Foundation, please click here.
