Blackwell, Lucien, 1931-2003

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Lucien Edward Blackwell (August 1, 1931 – January 24, 2003) was an American politician. He served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1973 to 1975, Philadelphia City Council from 1975 to 1991, and the United States House of Representatives from 1991 to 1995.

Born in Whitsett, Fayette County, Pennsylvania on August 1, 1931, he attended West Philadelphia High School for a period before dropping out and taking a job as a dockworker. In 1953, he was drafted into the United States Army and served in the Korean War. After his service ended, he returned to the docks as a longshoreman. In 1973, he became the president of the International Longshoremen's Association, Local 1332.

Blackwell's professional political career began with election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives where he served from 1973 to 1975. "Lucien the Solution" was best known as a vibrant member of the Philadelphia City Council from 1975 to 1991. While serving on the Council, Blackwell served several terms as Chairman of the Finance Committee, where he led the charge to divest pension funds from businesses doing business in South Africa. Blackwell was perhaps best known for his fiery oratory on the Council floor and for serving as a mentor to the former Philadelphia Mayor (and Council President) John Street. During his City Council tenure, Blackwell was an unsuccessful candidate for mayor of Philadelphia in both 1979 and 1991.

Blackwell was elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Second Congress by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Representative Bill Gray, and reelected to the succeeding Congress. In Congress, Blackwell was a member of the United States House Committee on the Budget and a reliable advocate for President Bill Clinton's economic policies. He was ultimately an unsuccessful candidate for renomination to the One Hundred Fourth Congress in 1994, losing the primary to Chaka Fattah, and served as a lobbyist following his tenure in Congress.

On January 24, 2003, Blackwell died at the age of 71.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Records of the Council on Environmental Quality (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 2001. Kathleen McGinty's Files, 1993 - 1998 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Records of the Task Force on National Health Care (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 1994. Steven Edelstein's Files, 1993 - 1994 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Records of the National Security Council Defense Policy and Arms Control Office (Clinton Administration), ca. 1993 - ca. 2001. Robert Bell's Files, ca. 1993 - ca. 1999 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Records of the White House Office of Records Management (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 2001. Subject Files on Human Rights, 1993 - 2001 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Philadelphia Special Investigation Commission. Records, 1985-1986. Temple University Libraries, Paley Library
referencedIn Records of the Task Force on National Health Care (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 1994. General Files, 1993 - 1994 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Wilds, Scott,. Papers, 1973-1992. Temple University Libraries, Paley Library
referencedIn 1993 Neptune Plaza Concert Series Collection, 1993 Archive of Folk Culture (U.S.)
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Public Liaison (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 2001. Alexis Herman's Files , ca. 1993 - ca. 1996 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Evening Bulletin (Philadelphia, Pa.). Lunch with the editors 1978-1979. Temple University Libraries, Paley Library
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, 1984 - . Congressional Correspondence Committee and Sub-Committee Files, 2015 - 2019. National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
Relation Name
associatedWith American Folklife Center corporateBody
associatedWith Evening Bulletin (Philadelphia, Pa.). corporateBody
memberOf International Longshoremen's Association, AFL corporateBody
memberOf Pennsylvania. General Assembly. House of Representatives corporateBody
memberOf Philadelphia (Pa.). City Council corporateBody
associatedWith Philadelphia Special Investigation Commission. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Army corporateBody
associatedWith Wilds, Scott, person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Philadelphia PA US
Fayette County PA US
Subject
Occupation
Boxers (Sports)
City council members
Longshoremen
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Soldiers
State Representative
Union President
Activity

Person

Birth 1931-08-01

Death 2003-01-24

Male

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6485267

SNAC ID: 85339185