Representative Adam Benjamin

Adam Benjamin Jr. (August 6, 1935 – September 7, 1982) was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who represented Indiana’s 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1977 until his death in 1982. Over the course of three terms in Congress, he participated actively in the legislative process and represented the interests of his northwest Indiana constituents during a period of significant economic and political change in the United States. He holds the distinction of being the first Assyrian-American ever elected to the United States House of Representatives.

Benjamin was born on August 6, 1935, and was of Assyrian heritage, a background that placed him within the broader community of Arab and Middle Eastern Americans who would later serve in the United States Congress. His family’s roots in the Assyrian community connected him to the traditions and history of the Assyrian Church of the East and to a small but visible ethnic minority in American public life. This heritage would later be noted in lists of ethnic Assyrians and compilations of Arab and Middle Eastern Americans who attained national office.

Before entering national politics, Benjamin built his career in Indiana state government. He was first elected to the Indiana House of Representatives, where he served from 1967 to 1971. In that role he began to establish himself as a capable legislator, gaining experience in state-level policymaking and constituent service. In 1971 he moved to the upper chamber of the state legislature, serving in the Indiana Senate until 1977. His decade in the General Assembly provided him with a detailed understanding of Indiana’s political landscape and the economic and social issues facing his region, laying the groundwork for his subsequent election to Congress.

In 1976, Benjamin was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Indiana’s 1st congressional district, a largely industrial area centered in northwest Indiana. Taking office in January 1977, he entered Congress at a time when the nation was grappling with economic restructuring, energy concerns, and shifting foreign policy priorities. As a member of the House of Representatives, he contributed to the legislative process over three consecutive terms, working within the Democratic caucus on matters important to his district, including employment, infrastructure, and the needs of working-class communities. His service coincided with the administrations of Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, and he participated in debates that reflected the broader national transition in economic and political philosophy during those years.

Benjamin’s tenure in Congress was cut short by his sudden death. On September 7, 1982, while still in office, he died of a heart attack in Washington, D.C. His passing placed him among the members of the United States Congress who died in office between 1950 and 1999, and it brought an abrupt end to a rising career in national politics. At the time of his death, he was still serving his third term as the representative of Indiana’s 1st congressional district, and his loss was felt both in his home state and among colleagues in the House.

Following his death, Benjamin’s life and career continued to be documented in official and public records. He is listed in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress and has been the subject of appearances and archival material on C‑SPAN, reflecting his role in late twentieth-century congressional history. His gravesite is recorded in public memorial resources such as Find a Grave, and his name appears in reference works that highlight ethnic Assyrians in public life and members of Congress of Middle Eastern descent. His legacy endures as that of a dedicated Indiana legislator and the first Assyrian-American to serve in the United States House of Representatives.