Charles Rangel

Charles Rangel
Color photograph of Representative Rangel as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee
Official portrait, 2013
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from New York
In office
January 3, 1971 – January 3, 2017
Preceded byAdam Clayton Powell Jr.
Succeeded byAdriano Espaillat
Constituency
Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee
In office
January 3, 2007 – March 3, 2010
Preceded byBill Thomas
Succeeded bySander Levin
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 72nd district
In office
January 1, 1967 – December 31, 1970
Preceded byBill Green
Succeeded byGeorge Miller
Personal details
Born
Charles Bernard Rangel

(1930-06-11)June 11, 1930
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 26, 2025(2025-05-26) (aged 94)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Alma Carter
​
​
(m. 1964; died 2024)​
Children2
Education
Signature
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch United States Army
Service years1948–1952
RankStaff Sergeant
Unit503rd Artillery Battalion,
2nd Infantry Division
Battles/wars
Template:Tree list end
Awards
Rangel's voice
Rangel speaks on his bipartisan friendships with retiring members of the 109th United States Congress.
Recorded December 6, 2006

Charles Bernard "Charlie" Rangel (/ˈræŋɡəl/; June 11, 1930 – May 26, 2025) was an American politician. He served as the U.S. Representative for New York's 13th congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the second-longest serving member of the House of Representatives. He served from 1971 to 2017.

Rangel was born in Harlem in Upper Manhattan. He earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service in the United States Army during the Korean War.

Rangel graduated from New York University in 1957 and St. John's University School of Law in 1960. He worked as a private lawyer, assistant U.S. attorney, and legal counsel during the early-mid-1960s. He was in the New York State Assembly from 1967 to 1971 and beat long-time incumbent Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr. in a primary challenge on his way to being elected to the House of Representatives.

In 2007, Rangel became the first African-American Chair of the important House Ways and Means Committee. He was also a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

He was a strong critic of the George W. Bush administration and the Iraq War.

Rangel did not run for re-election in the 2016 election. Rangel left office at the expiration of his term on January 3, 2017.

In 2020, Rangel endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president during the 2020 presidential election.

Rangel died at a hospital in New York City on May 26, 2025, at the age of 94.

References

  1. ↑ "Black Lawmakers in Congress". Ebony. February 1, 1971. p. 122.
  2. 1 2 3 Roberts, Sam (May 26, 2025). "Charles B. Rangel, Longtime Harlem Congressman, Dies at 94". The New York Times. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  3. ↑ Neuman, William (June 29, 2016). "Adriano Espaillat Is in Position to Replace Rangel and Become First Dominican in Congress". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ Joseph, Cameron (January 3, 2017). "New York's newest Congressman Adriano Espaillat to make history". New York Daily News.
  5. ↑ "Who Are Prominent New Yorkers Endorsing for President?". City & State. January 29, 2020. Archived from the original on April 16, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Charles B. Rangel (1930 – 2025), war hero, history-making Congressman, and longtime friend of CCNY". City College of New York. May 26, 2025. Retrieved May 26, 2025.

Other websites

Media related to Charles B. Rangel at Wikimedia Commons Quotations related to Charles Rangel at Wikiquote