Gus Yatron
Encyclopedia
Constantine "Gus" Yatron (October 16, 1927 – March 13, 2003) was an American politician
who was a member of the United States House of Representatives
. A member of the Democratic Party
, Yatron represented the 6th congressional district
of Pennsylvania
for twelve terms, from 1969 until his retirement in 1993. The 6th district
, based in Reading, included Berks County and Schuylkill County, before being redrawn in 2002.
immigrants from the Greek city of Mytilene, of the island Lesbos. His father, George, was a carpenter and his mother, Theano, worked as a maid. Yatron graduated from Reading High School, serving as Class President during his senior year. Following high school, Yatron received his bachelor’s degree at Kutztown University in Kutztown, PA in 1950, where he also met his wife to be, Mildred L. Yatron. While attending Kutztown University, Yatron played college football for the Golden Bears, and was later inducted into the Kutztown University Athletic Hall of Fame. During his college years, he also took up boxing, becoming a heavyweight division professional boxer in 1947, with a professional career record of 13-2-1, nine of which were TKO. After graduating from college, Yatron ran 'Yatron Ice Cream,' the business he founded with his father and built it into a local success in his home town, Reading, PA, eventually expanding the business with an additional hardware store. In 1968, he sold 'Yatron Ice Cream' to a local competitor and began to focus on his career in political public service.
until 1960. He then ran, and was elected as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
from 1960 to 1968. Campaigning as a moderate, who stood for fiscal responsibility and opposition to the further escalation of the Vietnam War
, Yatron was elected, in 1969, as a Democrat to the 91st United States Congress
, representing the 6th congressional district
of Pennsylvania
. In entering office, Yatron immediately made a name for himself as a workhorse for his constituents at home. His first major legislation, in 1971, was to expand black lung benefits and extend eligibility to afflicted miners, their widows and children. In 1973, Yatron travelled to Europe to deliver a speech to the European Parliament
in France, advocating NATO countries to take more initiative in absorbing the costs of defending Europe. As a Greek-American, Yatron found personal hardship in the conflict that took shape during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus
in 1974. Being one of the few Greek-Americans in the U.S. Congress, he took leadership in implementing U.S. assistance to helping ultimately secure a cease-fire in the region. Yatron sponsored legislation, signed into law in 1975, which would set up a committee to review the amount of paper wasted in U.S. federal bureaucracy and make recommendations that would reduce the waste. After its investigation, the Paperwork Commission made recommendations that saved $3.5 billion, as a result. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Yatron became a passionate advocate for establishing human rights as a cornerstone to U.S. foreign policy. He travelled to international regions afflicted with poor human rights records to push for adequate reforms. Yatron, subsequently, took the chairmanship of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Inter-American Affairs in 1979 and began investigations into the Iran-Contra affair
. In 1983, Yatron switched chairmanships, to become the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight. After serving 24 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Yatron retired in 1992.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
who was a member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. A member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Yatron represented the 6th congressional district
Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district
Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District was substantially redrawn in 2002. Its strange shape brought charges of gerrymandering by Democrats who argued it "looms like a dragon descending on Philadelphia from the west, splitting up towns and communities throughout Montgomery and Berks Counties." ...
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
for twelve terms, from 1969 until his retirement in 1993. The 6th district
Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district
Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District was substantially redrawn in 2002. Its strange shape brought charges of gerrymandering by Democrats who argued it "looms like a dragon descending on Philadelphia from the west, splitting up towns and communities throughout Montgomery and Berks Counties." ...
, based in Reading, included Berks County and Schuylkill County, before being redrawn in 2002.
Early Life & Family
Gus Yatron was born in Reading, PA, to George H. and Theano Lazo Yatron, working-class GreekGreeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
immigrants from the Greek city of Mytilene, of the island Lesbos. His father, George, was a carpenter and his mother, Theano, worked as a maid. Yatron graduated from Reading High School, serving as Class President during his senior year. Following high school, Yatron received his bachelor’s degree at Kutztown University in Kutztown, PA in 1950, where he also met his wife to be, Mildred L. Yatron. While attending Kutztown University, Yatron played college football for the Golden Bears, and was later inducted into the Kutztown University Athletic Hall of Fame. During his college years, he also took up boxing, becoming a heavyweight division professional boxer in 1947, with a professional career record of 13-2-1, nine of which were TKO. After graduating from college, Yatron ran 'Yatron Ice Cream,' the business he founded with his father and built it into a local success in his home town, Reading, PA, eventually expanding the business with an additional hardware store. In 1968, he sold 'Yatron Ice Cream' to a local competitor and began to focus on his career in political public service.
Political career
Yatron started his career in public service as a member of the Reading School Board from 1955 to 1961. In 1956, He was elected as a member of the Pennsylvania House of RepresentativesPennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
until 1960. He then ran, and was elected as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
from 1960 to 1968. Campaigning as a moderate, who stood for fiscal responsibility and opposition to the further escalation of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, Yatron was elected, in 1969, as a Democrat to the 91st United States Congress
91st United States Congress
The Ninety-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1969 to January 3, 1971, during the first two years...
, representing the 6th congressional district
Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district
Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District was substantially redrawn in 2002. Its strange shape brought charges of gerrymandering by Democrats who argued it "looms like a dragon descending on Philadelphia from the west, splitting up towns and communities throughout Montgomery and Berks Counties." ...
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. In entering office, Yatron immediately made a name for himself as a workhorse for his constituents at home. His first major legislation, in 1971, was to expand black lung benefits and extend eligibility to afflicted miners, their widows and children. In 1973, Yatron travelled to Europe to deliver a speech to the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
in France, advocating NATO countries to take more initiative in absorbing the costs of defending Europe. As a Greek-American, Yatron found personal hardship in the conflict that took shape during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
The Turkish invasion of Cyprus, launched on 20 July 1974, was a Turkish military invasion in response to a Greek military junta backed coup in Cyprus...
in 1974. Being one of the few Greek-Americans in the U.S. Congress, he took leadership in implementing U.S. assistance to helping ultimately secure a cease-fire in the region. Yatron sponsored legislation, signed into law in 1975, which would set up a committee to review the amount of paper wasted in U.S. federal bureaucracy and make recommendations that would reduce the waste. After its investigation, the Paperwork Commission made recommendations that saved $3.5 billion, as a result. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Yatron became a passionate advocate for establishing human rights as a cornerstone to U.S. foreign policy. He travelled to international regions afflicted with poor human rights records to push for adequate reforms. Yatron, subsequently, took the chairmanship of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Inter-American Affairs in 1979 and began investigations into the Iran-Contra affair
Iran-Contra Affair
The Iran–Contra affair , also referred to as Irangate, Contragate or Iran-Contra-Gate, was a political scandal in the United States that came to light in November 1986. During the Reagan administration, senior Reagan administration officials and President Reagan secretly facilitated the sale of...
. In 1983, Yatron switched chairmanships, to become the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight. After serving 24 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Yatron retired in 1992.
See also
- Black Lung Benefits Act of 1973Black Lung Benefits Act of 1973The Black Lung Benefits Act is a U.S. government program. It provides monthly payments and medical benefits to coal miners totally disabled from pneumoconiosis arising from employment in or around the nation's coal mines...