Jeffery Cohelan

Jeffery Cohelan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 7th district
In office January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1971
Preceded by	John J. Allen Jr.
Succeeded by	Ronald V. Dellums
Personal details
Born	(1914-06-24)June 24, 1914 San Francisco, California
Died	February 15, 1999(1999-02-15) (aged 84) Washington, D.C.
Party	Democratic
Alma mater	San Mateo Junior College University of California, Berkeley B.A. economics 1950 (with honors) Leeds University Oxford University
Awards	Fulbright scholar at Leeds and Oxford universities in 1953-54
[1][2][3][4]

Jeffery Cohelan (June 24, 1914 – February 15, 1999) was an American politician who served six terms as a United States representative from California from 1959 to 1971.

He was born in San Francisco, California and attended the public schools and San Mateo Junior College. He earned his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley in Economics in 1950. He was a Fulbright research scholar at Leeds and Oxford Universities in England in 1953 and 1954.^[3]

He worked driving a milk truck from 1935, and was the secretary-treasurer (1942–~1958) of the Milk Drivers and Dairy Employees, Local 302, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. In the 1958 election, he campaigned from a milk truck and was elected to Congress. He was a consultant to the University of California Institute of Industrial Relations.^[2][3][5]

Cohelan was a member of the Berkeley Welfare Commission from 1949 to 1953, the Berkeley City Council from 1955 to 1958, and the San Francisco Council on Foreign Relations.

He was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-sixth and to the five succeeding Congresses, from 1959 to 1971. He was known as a Johnson liberal for his support of progressive programs, but also American involvement in the Vietnam War.^[2][3]

In 1966, he faced a tough primary challenge from Ramparts magazine editor Robert Scheer, who was supported by local activists from the civil-rights and emerging anti-war movement.^[2]

His previous support for the war helped lead to Cohelan's defeat in the 1970 primary by Berkeley City Councilman Ron Dellums, who won the race and the general election to begin a long tenure in Congress.^[6]

He was executive director (1970–1979) of a trade association of Health Maintenance Organizations, Group Health Association of America.

After retirement, he enjoyed cooking and sang in the All Saints Episcopal Church choir. He resided in Washington, D.C. until his death at home February 15, 1999.^[2][3][7]

The University of Oklahoma has papers from his congressional office.^[1][8]

• Jeffery Cohelan Collection and Photograph Collection at the Carl Albert Center
• United States Congress. "Jeffery Cohelan (id: C000596)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Jeffery Cohelan Former U.S. Representative from California's 7th District, 1961-1971 (Democrat) Govtrack