William “Bill” Delahunt represented the 10th congressional district of Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat from 1997 to 2011.
- Died: March 30, 2024 (Who else died on March 30?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Quincy, Massachusetts after a long illness at the age of 82.
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Bill Delahunt’s legacy
Delahunt was inspired to enter politics as a young man watching another notable politician from his home state of Massachusetts, President John F. Kennedy (1917–1963). After graduating from law school and serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, Delahunt began his career in public service on the Quincy town council. Other local and statewide political work included a spot on the Massachusetts House of Representatives and serving as the district attorney of Norfolk County.
In 1996, Delahunt joined the race for the U.S. House of Representatives spot that had been held by Gerry Studds (1937–2006) for many years. After a close primary race, he went on to win the seat. He was reelected six times before his 2011 retirement. He served on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, chairing two of its subcommittees: the Subcommittee on Europe and the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight. Delahunt also served on the House Judiciary Committee and created the bipartisan Coast Guard Caucus, which he also co-chaired.
Delahunt authored the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, which grants automatic U.S. citizenship to any child born outside the U.S. and adopted by U.S. citizens. It was a cause close to his own heart, as he and his wife, Katharina, adopted a daughter from Vietnam in 1975 as part of the “Operation Babylift” evacuation of orphans from the war-torn country.
Delahunt on political gridlock
“I read history. This is a moment in our history where there is cynicism, but that’s not unknown to us. Thomas Jefferson introduced negative campaigning, against John Adams.” —from a 2010 interview for the Vineyard Gazette
Tributes to Bill Delahunt
Full obituary: MassLive.com
