- Jay K. Katzen
Jay Kenneth Katzen (born
August 23 ,1936 inBrooklyn, New York ) is a Republican politician from the state ofVirginia . He is a graduate ofPrinceton University (1958) andYale University (1959) and served presidentsDwight D. Eisenhower throughGeorge H.W. Bush . His positions have includedWhite House translator and U.S. representative to theUnited Nations .Before elective office, Katzen also worked in the White House, notably as a translator for Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon, but served all presidents from Eisenhower to Bush I, in some capacity. He served as a Republican member of the
Virginia House of Delegates from 1994 to 2001. Katzen attempted to repeal Virginia's law allowingmedical marijuana , but the bill was defeated following a lobbying campaign byVirginians Against Drug Violence and similar groups. Katzen also unsuccessfully attempted to block the appointment of Jeffrey W. Parker to a Circuit Court Judgeship. In 2001, Katzen ran for lieutenant governor against LibertarianGary Reams and DemocratTim Kaine . Katzen criticized Reams for supporting marijuana legalization and accused Kaine of supporting gay marriage. Kaine won the election with 50.4% of the vote to Katzen's 48%. Tim Kaine went on to be electedGovernor of Virginia in 2005. In 2002, Katzen ran for Congress in the 9th House District against long-time incumbent Democrat Rep.Rick Boucher , and was defeated by an almost 2-to-1 margin.Katzen is currently a regional director of the
Peace Corps , overseeing the organization's affairs in Europe, the Mediterranean, and Asia. He is also president of the Victims of Communism Memorial Fund inWashington, DC .Katzen is a devout Episcopalian who converted from Judaism.
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