Charles Rangel
Charles Bernard "Charlie" Rangel (/ˈræŋɡəl/;[1] 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.
Charles Rangel | |||||||||
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 Official portrait, 2013 | |||||||||
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York | |||||||||
| In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 2017 | |||||||||
| Preceded by | Adam Clayton Powell Jr. | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Adriano Espaillat | ||||||||
| Constituency |
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| Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee | |||||||||
| In office January 3, 2007 – March 3, 2010 | |||||||||
| Preceded by | Bill Thomas | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Sander Levin | ||||||||
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 72nd district | |||||||||
| In office January 1, 1967 – December 31, 1970 | |||||||||
| Preceded by | Bill Green | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | George Miller | ||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||
| Born | Charles Bernard Rangel June 11, 1930 New York City, New York, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died | May 26, 2025 (aged 94) New York City, New York, U.S. | ||||||||
| Political party | Democratic | ||||||||
| Spouse(s) | Alma Carter
(m. 1964; died 2024) | ||||||||
| Children | 2 | ||||||||
| Education | |||||||||
| Signature |  | ||||||||
| Military service | |||||||||
| Allegiance | United States | ||||||||
| Branch |  United States Army | ||||||||
| Service years | 1948–1952 | ||||||||
| Rank | Staff Sergeant | ||||||||
| Unit | 503rd Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division | ||||||||
| Battles/wars | |||||||||
| Awards | |||||||||
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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.[2] He was also a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.[2]
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.[3] Rangel left office at the expiration of his term on January 3, 2017.[4]
In 2020, Rangel endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president during the 2020 presidential election.[5]
Rangel died at a hospital in New York City on May 26, 2025, at the age of 94.[6][2]
Charles Rangel Media
A 2nd Infantry Division unit near Rangel's, fighting a rear-guard action in the Battle of Kunu-ri, in November 1950, during the Korean War.
New York's 15th congressional district,which Rangel had represented until 2013
Rangel (second from left, top) with fellow founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971
Official congressional portrait of Charles Rangel, representative from New York.
Rangel (far left) looks on as President Ronald Reagan signs the Tax Reform Act of 1986 on the White House South Lawn.
Rangel (third from right) looks on as President George W. Bush signs an extension to the African Growth and Opportunity Act in 2004
Rangel speaks to international educators visiting the U.S. Capitol in 2007 under the U.S. Department of State's Global Connections and Exchange Program
Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee
Rangel receives book written by U.S. consul general Gregory Slayton, in Bermuda in 2009
Rangel with fellow U.S. Representative Joseph Crowley in 2011
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References
- ↑ "Black Lawmakers in Congress". Ebony: 122. February 1, 1971.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Roberts, Sam (May 26, 2025). Charles B. Rangel, Longtime Harlem Congressman, Dies at 94. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/nyregion/charles-rangel-dead.html. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ↑ Neuman, William (June 29, 2016). Adriano Espaillat Is in Position to Replace Rangel and Become First Dominican in Congress. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/29/nyregion/adriano-espaillat-charles-rangel-first-dominican-in-congress.html.
- ↑ Joseph, Cameron (January 3, 2017). New York's newest Congressman Adriano Espaillat to make history. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/new-york-newest-congressman-adriano-espaillat-history-article-1.2932252.
- ↑ Who Are Prominent New Yorkers Endorsing for President?. City & State. January 29, 2020. https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/politics/campaigns-elections/new-york-presidential-endorsements.html. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
- ↑ Charles B. Rangel (1930 – 2025), war hero, history-making Congressman, and longtime friend of CCNY. May 26, 2025. https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/news/charles-b-rangel-1930-2025-war-hero-history-making-congressman-and-longtime-friend-ccny. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
Other websites
Media related to Charles Rangel at Wikimedia Commons
Quotations related to Charles Rangel at Wikiquote
- Charlie Rangel for Congress Archived 2014-12-19 at the Wayback Machine
- Rangel Appearances on C-SPAN
- Charles Rangel at the Open Directory Project
- Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Congressional profile at GovTrack.us
- Congressional profile at OpenCongress
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
- Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Appearances on C-SPAN programs
- Appearances on Charlie Rose programs
- Appearances at the Internet Movie Database
- Collected news and commentary at The New York Times
- Works by or about Charles Rangel in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
- Profile at Notable Names Database
- Profile at Ballotpedia
- Charlie Rangel's oral history video excerpts at The National Visionary Leadership Project
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