Phillip Burton

Infobox_Congressman
name= Phillip Burton


width= 200
state= California
district= 8th
party= Democratic
term= 1964–1983
preceded= John Shelley
succeeded= Sala Burton
date of birth= birth date|1926|6|1|mf=y
place of birth= Cincinnati, Ohio
date of death= death date and age|1983|4|10|1926|6|1|mf=y
place of death= San Francisco, California
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 instrumental in creating the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Burton was one of the first members of Congress to acknowledge the need for AIDS research and introduce an AIDS bill. 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 from 1957 to 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 from 1968 to 1982. He was also a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1968 and 1970. He was elected as a Democrat to the 88th 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). In the early 1980's, he worked with gay liaison Bill Kraus to create legislation and funding for AIDS research in the San Francisco area.

He died on April 10 1983 in San Francisco at age 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. His brother, John L. Burton, also served as a member of Congress.

Burton's House seat is currently held by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who won a special election in 1987 upon Sala Burton's death.

ee also

References

*CongBio|B001156 Retrieved on 2008-07-20
* [http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/sontag/burton.htm] NPS biography

Bibliography

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