Julian Carey Dixon (August 8, 1934 – December 8, 2000) was an American Democratic politician from California who was a member of the California State Assembly from 1973 to 1978 and then a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1979 until his death. He chaired the House Ethics Committee from 1985 to 1991.

Julian Dixon
Chair of the House Ethics Committee
In office
January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1991
Preceded byLouis Stokes
Succeeded byLouis Stokes
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from California
In office
January 3, 1979 – December 8, 2000
Preceded byYvonne Brathwaite Burke
Succeeded byDiane Watson
Constituency28th district (1979–1993)
32nd district (1993–2000)
Member of the California State Assembly
In office
January 8, 1973 – November 30, 1978
Preceded byYvonne Brathwaite Burke
Succeeded byGwen Moore
Constituency63rd district (1973–1974)
49th district (1974–1978)
Personal details
Born
Julian Carey Dixon

(1934-08-08)August 8, 1934
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedDecember 8, 2000(2000-12-08) (aged 66)
Marina del Rey, California, U.S.
Resting placeInglewood Park Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseBettye Lee
Children1
EducationCalifornia State University, Los Angeles (BS)
Southwestern University (LLB)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1957–1960
RankSergeant

Biography

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A member of the aristocratic Syphax family, Dixon was born in Washington D.C. and served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1960. He attended Dorsey High School, and graduated from California State University, Los Angeles in 1962.[1] He was elected to the California State Assembly as a Democrat in 1972, and served in that body for three terms. Dixon was elected to the House of Representatives in 1978. In 1983 he joined with 7 other Congressional Representatives to sponsor a resolution to impeach Ronald Reagan over his sudden and unexpected invasion of Grenada.[2] He chaired the rules committee at the 1984 Democratic National Convention and the ethics probe into Speaker Jim Wright. Dixon won re-election to the 107th United States Congress, but died at a hospital in Marina Del Rey, California on December 8, 2000, aged 66, following a heart attack.[3]

The busy 7th Street / Metro Center / Julian Dixon transfer station for the A Line, B Line, D Line, and E Line in downtown Los Angeles is named after Dixon, with a plaque commemorating his role in obtaining the federal funding that enabled construction of the Metro Rail system.[4] His alma mater, Southwestern University School of Law, in 2004 opened the Julian C. Dixon Courtroom and Advocacy Center in the former Bullocks Wilshire building. The Culver City branch of the Los Angeles County Library is also named in his honor, Culver City Julian Dixon Library.

The third revised edition of Black Americans in Congress 1870-2007 (House Document 108-224, Serial Set v.14904) is dedicated to the memory of Dixon. Remarks requesting this were made by several of his colleagues March 21, 2001 on the House floor during consideration of House Concurrent Resolution 43 of the 107th Congress which ordered the printing of the revised edition.[5]

Dixon was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He was interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Simon, Richard; Anderson, Nick (Dec 9, 2000). "Julian Dixon, 66, Dies After Surgery in L.A.". Los Angeles Times. After graduating from Dorsey High School, he served in the Army.
  2. ^ John Nichols (2016). "The Genius of Impeachment: The Founders' Cure for Royalism". The New Press. ISBN 9781595587350. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  3. ^ Simon, Richard; Anderson, Nick (December 9, 2000). "Respected lawmaker Julian Dixon dies". Los Angeles Times.
  4. ^ Jager, Rick (August 2, 2001). "MTA Unveils Plaque Honoring Late Congressman Julian Dixon" (PDF). MyMetro (employee news digest) – via Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library and Archive.
  5. ^ Congressional Record [bound edition] v.147 pt.3, pp.4107-4112
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California Assembly
Preceded by Member of the California Assembly
from the 63rd district

January 8, 1973 - November 30, 1974
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the California Assembly
from the 49th district

December 2, 1974 - November 30, 1978
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 28th congressional district

1979–1993
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 32nd congressional district

1993–2000
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus
1983–1985
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the House Ethics Committee
1985–1991
Succeeded by