James George Abourezk (born February 24, 1931) is a former Democratic United States Representative and United States Senator, and was the first Arab-American to serve in the United States Senate. He represented South Dakota in the U.S. Senate from 1973 until 1979.
Born to Christian Lebanese parents, who had emigrated from the southern Lebanese village of EI-Kfeir, Abourezk was born in Wood and lived in South Dakota most of his life. Between 1948 ...
more
James George Abourezk (born February 24, 1931) is a former Democratic United States Representative and United States Senator, and was the first Arab-American to serve in the United States Senate. He represented South Dakota in the U.S. Senate from 1973 until 1979.
Born to Christian Lebanese parents, who had emigrated from the southern Lebanese village of EI-Kfeir, Abourezk was born in Wood and lived in South Dakota most of his life. Between 1948 and 1952, he served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. Back in the U.S., he received a degree in civil engineering from South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid City in 1961, and then earned an advanced degree from University of South Dakota School of Law in Vermillion in 1966. He passed the bar, and began a legal practice in Rapid City.
He was elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives, and served from 1971 to 1973. He then was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served until 1979.
As a senator, he criticized the Office...
less
