Phillip Burton

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Phillip Burton
Phillip Burton

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 8th district
In office
1964 - 1983
Preceded by John Shelley
Succeeded by Sala Burton

Born June 1, 1926
Cincinnati, Ohio
Died April 10, 1983
San Francisco, California
Political party Democratic
Spouse Sala Burton

For the Human Nature bandmate, see Human Nature (band).

Phillip Burton (June 1, 1926 - April 10, 1983) was a United States Representative from California. A Democrat, he was known as a staunch liberal. He was the brother of California State Senator and Congressman John L. Burton.

He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio; attended Washington High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated from George Washington High School in the Richmond District of San Francisco in 1944. He earned a B.A. from the University of Southern California in 1947 and an LL.B. from Golden Gate College School of Law in 1952. He worked as a lawyer and was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court in 1956.

Burton was a member of the United States Air Force during both World War II and the Korean War. He was a member of the California state assembly, 1956-1964. He represented the United States at the Atlantic Treaty Association Conference in France, 1959. He was a delegate to the California State Democratic convention, 1968-1982. He was also a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, 1968 and 1970. He was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-eighth Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of United States Representative John F. Shelley, and reelected to the ten succeeding Congresses (February 18, 1964 - April 10, 1983).

He died on April 10, 1983, in San Francisco, California, aged 56. He was cremated and the ashes were interred in the National Cemetery of the Presidio. His wife Sala Burton won a special election to serve the remainder of his term.

This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

[edit] References

[edit] Bibliography

Jacobs, John. A Rage for Justice: The Passion and Politics of Phillip Burton. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1995.