Tom Lantos
The native form of this personal name is Lantos Tamás Péter. This article uses the Western name order. Tom Lantos Chairman of the House Committee on International Relations In office January 3, 2007 – February 11, 2008 Preceded by Henry Hyde Succeeded by Howard Berman Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 12th district In office January 3, 1993 – February 11, 2008 Preceded by Tom Campbell Succeeded by Jackie Speier Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 11th district In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1993 Preceded by William Royer Succeeded by Richard Pombo Personal details Born Lantos Tamás Péter (1928-02-01)February 1, 1928 Budapest, Hungary (present-day Budapest, Hungary) Died February 11, 2008(2008-02-11) (aged 80) National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. Political party Democratic Spouse(s) Annette Lantos Alma mater University of Washington, University of California, Berkeley Occupation politician, college professor, international affairs analyst, business consultant Religion Secular Judaism Thomas Peter "Tom" Lantos (February 1, 1928 – February 11, 2008) was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from California, serving from 1981 until his death as the representative from a district that included the northern two-thirds of San Mateo County and a portion of southwestern San Francisco. Lantos had announced in early January 2008 that he would not run for reelection because of cancer of the esophagus, but died before finishing his term. A Hungarian-American, Lantos was the only Holocaust survivor to have served in the United States Congress. In speaking before the House of Representatives after his death, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated that Lantos "devoted his public life to shining a bright light on the dark corners of oppression... He used his powerful voice to stir the consciousness of world leaders and the public alike." U2 lead singer Bono called him a "prizefighter", whose stamina would make him go "any amount of rounds, with anyone, anywhere, to protect human rights and common decency". In 2008, after his death, the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, which he founded in 1983, was renamed the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. Its mission is partly "to promote, defend and advocate internationally recognized human rights". In 2011, the Tom Lantos Institute was set up in Budapest to promote tolerance and support minority issues in central and eastern Europe and in the world.