A Representative from Maryland; born in New York City, N.Y., on June 14, 1939; graduated from Suitland High School, Suitland, Md., 1957; B.S., University of Maryland, College Park, 1963; J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C., 1966; lawyer, private practice; member of the Maryland state senate, 1966-1979, and president, 1975-1979; member of the Maryland state board for higher education, 1978-1981; delegate to Democratic National Conventions, 1968, 1974, 1976, and 1984; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-seventh Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy created by H. Res. 80, which declared United States Representative Gladys Noon Spellmans seat vacant due to an incapacitating illness, and reelected to the sixteen succeeding Congresses (May 19, 1981-present); chair, House Democratic Caucus (One Hundred First through One Hundred Third Congresses); minority whip (One Hundred Eighth, One Hundred Ninth, and One Hundred Twelfth and One Hundred Thirteenth Congresses); majority leader (One Hundred Tenth and One Hundred Eleventh Congresses).