Gary Ackerman, Politician
Politician

Gary Ackerman

Born 19 November 1942 · United States

Serving fifteen terms as U.S. Representative from New York between 1983 and 2013.

Gary Leonard Ackerman is an American retired politician and former U.S. representative from New York, serving from 1983 to 2013. He is a member of the Democratic Party. On March 15, 2012, Ackerman announced that he would retire at the end of the 112th Congress on January 3, 2013, after fifteen terms, and would not seek re-election in November 2012.

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A detail that
surprised us

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In 1969, Ackerman's successful lawsuit against the NYC Board of Education helped establish the right for fathers to receive unpaid leave for child care, decades before national legislation caught up.

The Story

1
In 1969, Gary Ackerman challenged New York City’s Board of Education by suing for unpaid child-care leave, a right then reserved only for women, setting a legal precedent that foreshadowed the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.
2
🌍 After leaving his teaching career in 1970, Ackerman founded The Flushing Tribune, a weekly community newspaper in Queens that soon evolved into the Queens Tribune, where he served as editor and publisher.
3From 1979 to 1983, Ackerman served in the New York State Senate, participating in the 183rd through 185th legislatures, before moving to federal politics.
4In a special election held in 1983 triggered by the death of incumbent Benjamin Rosenthal, Ackerman won his first U.S. House seat with 49% of the vote, marking the start of a 30-year congressional career.

🏅 Awards & Honours

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🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 1969, Ackerman sued the NYC Board of Education for denying him unpaid child-care leave, a policy then exclusive to women, making him a pioneer in parental rights law.

🖼️

Through the Years

1 photograph from the archives
Gary Ackerman meeting Vice President Al Gore and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Middle East peace (1999)
Gary Ackerman meeting Vice President Al Gore and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Middle East peace (1999)
1999

🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Born in Brooklyn, New York
Gary Leonard Ackerman was born to Jewish immigrant parents from Russia and Poland, growing up in Flushing, Queens.
1942
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Education
Graduated Queens College
Ackerman completed his education at Queens College and began teaching social studies, math, and journalism in Queens public schools.
1965
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Career
Challenged NYC Board on Parental Leave
Ackerman sued for unpaid child-care leave, a policy exclusive to women, winning a landmark case that influenced future family leave laws.
1969
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Career
Founded The Flushing Tribune
Leaving teaching, Ackerman launched a weekly community newspaper in Queens, which became the Queens Tribune under his leadership.
1970
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Career
Elected to New York State Senate
Ackerman served in the 183rd, 184th, and 185th New York State Legislatures, marking his entry into formal politics.
1979
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Career
Won Special Election to U.S. House
After Benjamin Rosenthal’s death, Ackerman won a special election with 49% of the vote to become a U.S. Representative for New York.
1983
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Career
Announced Retirement from Congress
Ackerman declared he would retire at the end of the 112th Congress, ending 30 years and 15 terms in office by January 2013.
2012
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Ackerman founded The Flushing Tribune in 1970, transforming it into the Queens Tribune, a key voice for Queens community issues during his editorship.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Ackerman won his first congressional seat in a 1983 special election with just 49% of the vote, filling the vacancy after Benjamin Rosenthal’s death.

03 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

In a 2008 congressional hearing, Ackerman bluntly questioned the SEC’s failure to detect Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, highlighting regulatory shortcomings.

No quote recorded for Gary Ackerman yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Remarks by Congressmen Gary Ackermann and Brad Sherman

🌱 What changed because of them

Gary Ackerman’s 1969 legal victory laid foundational groundwork for the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, expanding family leave rights to include fathers nationwide. His role as Congressional delegate to the UN and leadership in the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans helped shape diplomatic and community ties between the U.S. and India. Post-politics, his work in terrorism research has contributed to understanding domestic radicalization processes.

💬 Social Buzz

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