James H. Scheuer

James Haas (Jim) Scheuer (February 6, 1920 – August 30, 2005) was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York. He was also affiliated with the Liberal Party of New York.

Scheuer was born and raised in New York City where he attended the Ethical Culture Fieldston School. He received a Bachelor's degree from Swarthmore College in 1942, a Masters degree from Harvard Business School in 1943, and a law degree from Columbia University Law School in 1948. Scheuer served in the United States Army from 1943 until 1945. After returning home, he was hired by the Foreign Economic Administration, and in 1951 he became employed by the Office of Price Stabilization. In 1957, he left this job to become a trial lawyer and speechwriter.

After an unsuccessful run for the House in 1962, Scheuer was elected to Congress in 1964. He originally served from January 3, 1965 until January 3, 1973. He also headed the National Housing Conference. He was an early and outspoken opponent of the Vietnam War and opposed governmental interference in private matters such as contraception and abortion.

Scheuer ran for Mayor of New York City in 1969, but finished last in a field of five in the Democratic primary.

Population loss in the Bronx and redistricting in 1970 and again in 1972 pitted Scheuer against two other incumbent Congressmen in succession. In 1970 he defeated Representative Jacob H. Gilbert, but two years later he was defeated by Representative Jonathan Bingham.

Scheuer ran for Congress once again in 1975, moving to Neponsit, Queens in a different New York City district to succeed retiring Democrat Frank J. Brasco, who represented parts of south Queens and Brooklyn. He served his second stint as Representative from January 3, 1975 until January 3, 1993. In the 1980 Census his district was once again eliminated and he again moved to an open seat, this time based in Northeast Queens. Following his retirement, he served as the United States Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development from 1994 until 1996.

His brothers are film critic Steven H. Scheuer and documentary-maker Walter Scheuer. He was married in 1948 to interior designer Emily Malino (1925-2007) and had four children. Scheuer died of natural causes at age 85.

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