Tom Lantos (February 1, 1928 - February 11, 2008) was a prominent American politician and former U.S. Representative. Born in Budapest, Hungary, Lantos and his family immigrated to the United States in 1940. He experienced the horrors of Nazi concentration camps during World War II, which profoundly shaped his political beliefs. Lantos entered politics and was elected to the California State Assembly in 1957, later becoming a U.S. Representative in 1981, serving until his death in 2008. Known for his unwavering commitment to human rights and democracy, Lantos played a significant role in promoting democratization in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. He was the first Jewish Representative in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives and served as the chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
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