CQ Today

March 12, 2008

A first for Governor, but Congress has had blind lawmakers

By Edward Epstein

America will get its first legally blind governor March 17 when David
Paterson succeeds Eliot Spitzer as chief executive of New York.

The Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus in Congress where the last blind member
served in 1940 views it as a great step forward.

"It's exciting for all people with disabilities,'' said Rep. Jim Langevin,
D-R.I., who in 2000 became the first quadriplegic elected to Congress.

"It highlights the fact that someone of his intellect through hard work can
attain high public office.''

According to the House historian's office, there have been at least three
congressmen who were legally blind. The most recent, Democrat Matthew Dunn
of Pennsylvania, served from 1933 until
1941. There also was Republican Thomas Schall of Minnesota, who left the
House in 1925 to become a senator. He was killed in a road accident in 1935.
The other blind House member was Nehemiah
Hezekiah Earll, D-N.Y., who served from 1839 to 1841.

In the Senate, Schall served with another blind lawmaker, Democrat Thomas
Gore of Oklahoma, the grandfather of writer Gore Vidal. Gore served until
1937. In all, there have been three
senators who were blind, including Democrat Hernando De Soto Money of
Mississippi, who served from 1897 to 1911.

Langevin said he looks forward to a blind member again serving in Congress.
"There's no reason a blind person couldn't serve in any elected office,'' he
said.

No link available.
Posted by:
Lawrence Carter-Long
Director of Advocacy, Disabilities Network of NYC