Ronald V. Dellums

Congressman Ronald Dellums represented California’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1971 to 1998 (92nd-105th Congresses). Before entering Congress, Dellums had a career as a psychiatric social worker and served on the Berkeley City Council (1967-1970). A leading voice for peace and disarmament in Congress, Dellums was the principal congressional leader fighting to curb and reverse military spending and the nuclear arms race during his time in Congress. He was also a leader in the effort to terminate U.S. government support for the apartheid in South Africa. While in office, Dellums served on the Foreign Affairs, National Security, Post Office and Civil Service, and Select Intelligence committees. He also chaired the District of Columbia Committee during the 96th through 102nd Congresses and the Armed Services Committee in the 103rd Congress. In December 1988, Dellums was elected chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, a post he held for the 101st Congress. Dellums went on to become Mayor of Oakland (2007-2011). Dellums served two years in the Marine Corps and earned a bachelor’s degree at San Francisco State College and a master’s degree in social welfare from the University of California at Berkeley. He is the author of several books, including Lying Down with the Lions: A Public Life from the Streets of Oakland to the Halls of Power (2000) and Defense of Sense: The Search for a Rational Military Policy (1983).